Gooseberry Hill: Views, Walking Trails and Railway Heritage

Gooseberry Hill combines sweeping views across the plain with walking trails and traces of railway history. From Gooseberry Hill National Park, the view stretches across the Swan Coastal Plain far below. Park lookouts, a downhill scenic drive and trails through native bushland each offer something different. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, there are several ways to experience the hills: from a drive with opportunities for landscape photography to a clearly defined loop walk or a trail with railway connections.

Views and the Zig-Zag

The scenic drive known as the Zig-Zag runs downhill in one direction and offers opportunities for landscape photography. Several walking trails cross the Zig-Zag, bringing visitors closer to nature and the hills. This gives you two distinct ways to experience the landscape: a scenic drive and exploring on foot. The national park adds views across the Swan Coastal Plain far below. As you plan your stay, you can consider whether you’d prefer to take in the landscape mainly from the park, experience it photographically along the road or explore it on walking trails.

Walking through bushland and forest

For a clearly defined walk, the Hill Street Walk is an easy 2.4-kilometre loop through a reserve of native bushland in Gooseberry Hill’s Kalamunda National Park. The trail passes through a jarrah and red gum forest dotted with balga palms. Wildflowers bloom along the Hill Street Walk during wildflower season, which typically lasts from August to October. Here, the trail type, length and difficulty are clearly specified. This sets the Hill Street Walk apart from the more generally described trails that cross the Zig-Zag, giving you a particular loop walk to use as a guide. The blooms also add a seasonal highlight to the landscape, while the forest and palms define the trail’s character.

Walking, cycling and railway heritage

The Railway Heritage Trail links paths suitable for both walking and cycling. It starts in Gooseberry Hill, runs as far as Pickering Brook and partly follows the former Upper Darling Range Railway. Outdoor activity and railway history meet here: the route partly follows the former railway line, while the connected paths can be used on foot or by bike. If you’re interested in the region’s heritage, the trail offers a different perspective from simply taking in the landscape. When planning, you can also decide whether walking alone is enough or whether you’d like cycling to be part of the experience too.

A walking destination at Statham’s Quarry

A walking trail in Gooseberry Hill National Park provides access to Statham’s Quarry, a disused quarry. This means the trail leads to a specific destination whose former use differs from the railway route of the Railway Heritage Trail. If you enjoy exploring a place’s history on foot, you can consider these two themes separately: here, the disused quarry is the trail’s destination; there, the trail partly follows the former railway line.

Shape your stay around your interests

The different types of trails and landscape experiences give you a practical starting point for planning your trip. If you’re travelling with family, you can decide together whether views, a clearly defined walk or a combination of cycling and railway heritage should shape your stay. If you choose Gooseberry Hill as your destination, you can search for a hotel based on these interests and then decide which options suit your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Scarborough, Midland, Gosnells, Stoneville, Carmel, Canning Vale, Millendon, Henley Brook.

For the main travel overview: Perth.