- Start or End: Loop walk. Officially starts and ends at the carpark at the end of Spring Road, Kalamunda (Google Map Directions). Best public transport access is via the Kalamunda Bus Station (Google Map Directions), then walk east along Mead Street and follow the Bibbulmun Track until it merges with the Rocky Pool Walk Trail.
- Length: The official Rocky Pool Walk is 5.0km (3.1mi) but if you start at Kalamunda Bus Station and take the scenic route via the Bibbulmun Track (as suggested in the map) it is 10.0km (6.2mi) in about 3.5hr.
- Grade: Medium to Hard. All gravel trails with both low and high gradient slopes. Some sections very steep and rocky.
- Markers: Blue Arrows for the Rocky Pool Walk and Black/Yellow Waugal Arrows for the Bibbulmun Track.
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Fancy experiencing a small section of the famous 1000km Bibbulmun Track followed by a dip in the scenic Rocky Pools, a popular pre-1930's swimming hole? If so, then the Rocky Pool Walk is for you. Along the way, you can also experience bountiful wildflowers (at the right time of year of course), wildlife and valley views. But a word of warning, the Rocky Pool Walk is also rather rocky and steep in sections, but the effort is well worth it.
The Kalamunda local government has done a great job marking trails around the local area. One of my favourites would have to be the Rocky Pool Walk, a loop walk in Kalamunda National Park. For more information on the trail please visit Kalamunda.wa.gov.au, which provides a map and trail details in .pdf format.
As the name implies the trail passes by the Rocky Pools (i.e. pools of water amongst rocks), a scenic spot easily accessed from the path. The Rocky Pool Walk is also aptly named as the trail can be rather rocky and the gradient of some sections will leave you in pools of sweat.
Officially the walk starts at the carpark at the end of Spring Street, Kalamunda. If you don't have a car the best public transport access is via the Kalamunda Bus Station on Mead Street. From Kalamunda Bus Station, walk east along Mead Street until you hit a round-a-bout at Railway Road. Here you will see the northern terminus of the Bibbulmun Track, a 1000km hiking trail which makes its way down to Albany on Western Australia's southern coastline.
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Follow the Bibbulmun Track through a small section of bushland, down Spring Street and into Jorgenson Park. The yellow and black trail markers with a Waugal (the rainbow serpent of the Aboriginal Dreaming) will lead the way.
The Bibbulmun Track passes through Jorgenson Park and then into Kalamunda National Park.
If you are here at the right time of the year (late winter and spring) there will be wildflowers in abundance and you may be able to hear the rushing of water in the distance. Once you reach the source of the sound you have found the Rocky Pool Walk, which is indicated by blue trail markers. However, if you are here in the summer or autumn you will find a dried-up creek bed and not many wildflowers at all.
Being a loop walk you can either take a left (upstream) or right (downstream). Officially the Rocky Pool Walk loops in a clockwise direction, which is probably the best option as it gets the harder climbs out of the way first and ends with the best part of the walk, the Rocky Pools. So, take a left, cross the stream and head uphill. Soon enough you will find yourself at the official start of the Rocky Pool Walk at the end of Spring Street.
From here it is up into the hills via some steep rocky paths.
After a little puffing and panting the path soon flattens out (though still a little rocky in places), making way for a pleasant bushwalk along a hillside with great views to the east over Kalamunda National Park.
After completing the western section of the Rocky Pool Walk loop the path heads south-east along Schipp Road (not an actual road, road, but a rocky steep 4WD track).
As you can see it does get rather steep and rocky along Schipp Road so watch your footing and take your time.
At the bottom of the hill, you will find a blue trail marker directing you into the bush. You don't have to take this bushland section but can continue to follow the obvious wide track. The diversion into the bush is only needed after heavy rains when the main track can get flooded.
Either way, you will soon find yourself under high-tension power lines.
At this point, the path heads in a southerly direction towards Rocky Pools. If you opt to take the Rocky Pools Walk trail during the drier months you will find Rocky Pools like this ...
very rocky, but not much pool.
If you opt to take the Rocky Pools Walk trail during the wetter months you will find Rocky Pools like this ...
Ahhhh ... how much nicer is that. After all that hiking you may want to take a dip, but be warned the water can be mighty cold. Rocky Pools was a popular swimming hole in the 1930's (as per the signage at the entrance to the pools) but has become less so with the construction of public swimming pools in Kalamunda and Mundaring. I have never taken the dip, but some people still do swim here.
Heading south along the trail from Rocky Pools you again join the Bibbulmun Track, which you can follow back to Kalamunda.
Q: How long is the Rocky Pool Walk?
A: The official Rocky Pool Walk is 5.0km (3.1mi) in about 2hr but if you start at Kalamunda Bus Station and take the scenic route via the Bibbulmun Track it is 10.0km (6.2mi) in about 3.5hr.
Q: How do I access the Rocky Pool Walk?
A: The Rocky Pool Walk officially starts and ends at the carpark at the end of Spring Road, Kalamunda. Best public transport access is via the Kalamunda Bus Station, then walk east along Mead Street and follow the Bibbulmun Track until it merges with the Rocky Pool Walk Trail.
Q: Are there trail markers for the Rocky Pool Walk?
A: Yes, they are blue arrows with "Shire of Kalamunda WALK TRAIL" written on them. They are usually nailed to trees along the trail.
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Q: When is the best time to visit the Rocky Pool Walk?
A: The best time to visit is after heavy rain. Statistically the wettest months are June, July and August but Rocky Pool will still flow into September and beyond. August onwards is also good for wildflowers. I would not recommend walking from December to April as it is regularly too hot.
Q: Is water available at the Rocky Pool Walk?
A: No potable water, but there is plenty of water at Rocky Pool after heavy rain (not sure of the quality though).
Q: Is the Rocky Pool Walk dog friendly?
A: No, the Rocky Pool Walk is in a National Park.
Q: Is there mobile phone reception at the Rocky Pool Walk?
A: Yes, the walk is not that far from the City of Kalamunda.
View Photographs
Kalamunda.wa.gov.au: The Kalamunda local government website which details the walk and provides a .pdf format map and trail notes.
TheLifeofPy.com: Great write up on the Rocky Pool Walk.
NatureMondays.com: Another great write up on the Rocky Pool Walk.
Hello, I'm Marc and welcome to metrotrekker.
Be it seeing the city sights, exploring parklands and gardens, urban walks or day-hikes in the city outskirts, the metrotrekker website details walking routes and hiking trails accessible by foot and public transport in metropolitan areas.
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Pleasant Trails,
Marc
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