Lake Goollelal

Lake Goollelal sits at the southern end of Yellagonga Regional Park on the Madeley and Kingsley boundary, with a paved path right around it. Dogs walk it on lead, and the one hard restriction to carry in your head is that dogs are not permitted in Neil Hawkins Park further north in the same regional park.

The walk. AllTrails records the loop at 4.8 km and rates it easy, a bit over an hour. Trails WA lists the shared path at 4.5 km, the same circuit. It is fully paved and flat, so prams, wheels and older dogs all manage it. A 380 metre boardwalk with two viewing platforms runs out over the water, and the path passes paperbark stands, jarrah and marri woodland and the old Luisini Winery buildings on the north eastern shore.

The rules. Yellagonga Regional Park is managed by DBCA Parks and Wildlife Service alongside the City of Joondalup and the City of Wanneroo. Dogs are permitted on the park trails on lead, and the councils are explicit that this is about wildlife: a loose dog stresses the birds the wetland exists to protect. Dogs are prohibited in Neil Hawkins Park, which matters practically because that is where the nearest public toilets are. There are none on the Goollelal loop itself, so plan for that before you arrive rather than driving north with the dog in the car expecting to use them.

Water. The lake is off limits. No swimming, no fishing and no kayaks or boards, so this is a walk with a view rather than a swim. Bring water for your dog.

Getting there. The main car park is off Woodlake Retreat Road, Kingsley. The old Luisini Winery car park has been closed for redevelopment, so do not plan around it. Edgewater is the nearest train station, though not within walking distance, and buses run along Wanneroo Road.

Nearby with the dogs. Kingsway Fenced Dog Park is the closest off lead run, Lakeview Cafe and Banksia Food Co. are the nearest coffee, and The Kingsley Tavern takes dogs outside. For a bigger day in the same park, the Lake Joondalup Circuit covers the northern lake.

When to go. Early morning or late afternoon, when the birds are active and the path is quiet. Late July through November is wildflower season and the best stretch of the year here. Weekend mornings between eight and eleven are busiest, and the boardwalk is narrow enough that passing a group on it with a dog is awkward. Good for seniors and for nervous dogs who want a predictable surface.

Sources

• Cats, Dogs and Yellagonga Regional Park - City of Joondalup · api.joondalup.wa.gov.au
• Yellagonga Regional Park - Parks and Wildlife Service · exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
• Lake Goollelal Loop, Yellagonga Regional Park - Trails WA · trailswa.com.au
• Lake Goollelal - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.