About
Castle Rock is the name given to this natural rock formation found within the Porongurup National Park, a fascinating area of nature found deep within the Great Southern Region of Western Australia. The national park is eminent due to the towering Karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor) and interesting granite rock features. It is thought that these natural geological features were formed around 1.1 billion years ago, when the earth's crust collided between Australia and Antarctica to form Gondwana. Castle Rock sits at an altitude of 570 meters above sea level and is aptly named due to the prominent position it has, providing fantastic views over the nearby Stirling Ranges to the north.
In 2012, the Granite Skywalk was constructed with stainless steel beams that are anchored into the vertical rockface, allowing visitors to get to the top of Castle Rock by maneuvering over metal holds before climbing a ladder to the top. Built at a cost of $1.5 million, this marvel of engineering was set up through the use of helicopters which delivered parts of the large metal platform to the summit before riggers abseiled down onto the rock to drill the points into the granite below.
Eagled-eyed visitors may also spot many of the native animals among the towering trees including western grey kangaroos and brush wallabies. The colorful flora also adds to the natural beauty of the area and flowering species such as the Australian bluebell and Bossiaea linophylla may be found here.
Related Tags
Know Before You Go
Castle Rock is reached via a 4.4km return trail through the forest. Care should be taken due to uneven surfaces, particularly on higher ground. There is a parking lot at the bottom and there is an entrance fee.
Published
March 7, 2023
