Top 5 Picnic and Play Spots in Perth and Peel

Western Australia is a picnicker’s dream. With our warm weather, huge blue skies, and so much outdoor space that we could fit Kenya, France, Thailand, Sweden, the UK, and Guatemala within it and still have change.

Which makes finding a good spot to roll out the picnic blanket and let the kids muck around about as easy as anywhere on the planet. And that is great because picnics are a fantastic way to reconnect with family and friends while enjoying all the physical and mental health benefits of the outdoors without falling foul of WA’s current COVID-19 restrictions.

Frankly, the biggest challenge (other than politely avoiding the carrot and raisin salad) is picking between great spots. To help, Nature Play WA has selected five great locations for a day of food, play, and generally having a good time outdoors during the cool Autumn weather. They are just to get you started – but remember there are thousands of great picnic locations in WA.

The spots we’ve picked are all close enough to the centre of Perth to qualify for a day trip, are still loads of fun for kids despite playgrounds currently being closed, and aren’t Kings Park. We love Kings Park, but if you’ve been in Perth for longer than five minutes and you don’t know that Kings Park is one of the world’s great inner-urban parklands, full of spectacular picnic spots – well, you may need more guidance than we can offer in this short list.

While this list is Perth-centric, we will be compiling and sharing similar lists in the other regions of WA in the coming weeks and months.

Matilda Bay, Crawley

The spot we now call Matilda Bay has been a favourite for families for tens of thousands of years, which is no surprise given its sheltered waters and shady riverbank. These days there are free gas barbecues, ample space to maintain social distance and for the kids to run and play. Add to that a picture-perfect view across the river to Kings Park and the City skyline, and good coffee at hand, and you are on a winner.

Location

  • Region: Perth
  • Distance from Perth CBD: 5km

Facilities

  • Gas BBQs
  • Sandy beaches
  • Toilets
  • Shaded grassy banks
  • Café

Notes

  • Activities
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing/paddling
    • Outdoor games
  • Nearby (within 30 mins drive)
    • Kings Park
    • Pelican Point
    • JH Abrahams Reserve
    • Point Walter Reserve

Point Walter Reserve

A fantastic place for families with children of all ages. The shallow beaches are perfect for wading (and careful swimming), the spit out into the river is a great place to observe bird and river life, and there are multiple paths for riding or walking. The banks of the Swan River at Point Walter are grassed and well shaded, and there are plenty of facilities to make it an easy excursion.

Location

  • ​Region: Perth
  • Distance from Perth CBD: 18km

Facilities

  • ​Gas BBQs
  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets
  • Cycling/walking trails
  • Jetty
  • Boat ramp
  • Cafe

Notes

  • Activities
    • Walking
    • Swimming
    • Paddling
    • Fishing
    • Outdoor games
  • Nearby (within 20 mins drive)
    • Paddleboard hire (Soulkite)
    • Attadale Conservation Area
    • Alfred Cove Nature Reserve
    • Blackwall Reach Cliffs
    • Bicton Baths

South Beach, South Fremantle

Not just for hipsters and backpackers, South Beach is one of Perth’s best urban beaches. Combining the calm swimming waters of the Cockburn Sound with an expanse of grass to spread out on, a long dual-use path for walking/cycling/scooting, and a great outdoor basketball court, with all the amenities of the port city.

Location

  • Region: Perth
  • Distance from Perth CBD: 25km

Facilities

  • Gas BBQs
  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets
  • Basketball Court
  • Cycling/walking trail
  • Cafes

Notes

  • Activities
    • Swimming
    • Sandcastle building
    • Outdoor games
    • Basketball

Nearby (within 10 mins drive)

  • Cycle Hire (South Beach Cycles)
  • Fisherman’s Harbour (restaurants etc.)
  • Fremantle Markets
  • Maritime Museum & Shipwreck Museum

Walyunga National Park, Bullsbrook

Walyunga is a beautiful National Park in the Darling Range that is home to the upper reaches of the Swan River. The river flows swiftly through the park after the winter rains and forms pools in the dry months. The park is bursting with flora and fauna is rich in Noongar cultural heritage. According to the Explore Parks WA website, Walyunga translates roughly from the Noongar language as ‘happy place’ – the perfect name for this cool, nature oasis near Perth.

Location

  • Region: Perth
  • Distance from Perth CBD: 39km

Facilities

  • Gas BBQs
  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets
  • Walking trails

Notes

  • *Park entry fees apply.
  • Activities
  • Bushwalking
  • Outdoor games
  • Birdwatching
  • Kayaking (only for experienced paddlers)

Serpentine National Park, Serpentine

Serpentine National Park is a scenic wonder where the Serpentine River tumbles over granite outcrops into the rock pool below, and native wildlife is abundant. Swimming isn’t recommended at the park (and may be banned at the moment), but don’t let that stop you heading out and enjoying this beautiful spot with your family – it’s too cold to swim anyway! Find more information at the Explore Parks WA website.

Location

  • ​Region: Peel
  • Distance from Perth CBD: 65km

Facilities

  • Gas BBQs
  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets
  • Basketball Court
  • Cycling/walking trail
  • Cafes

Notes

  • *Park entry fees apply
  • Activities
    • Bushwalking
    • Birdwatching
    • Outdoor games
  • Remember
    • Don’t feed native animals
    • It is not safe to swim

Nearby (within 20 mins drive)

  • Serpentine Dam
  • Walking, mountain biking and bridle trails
  • Cafes and restaurants

Download our TOP 5 PICNIC AND PLAY SPOTS IN PERTH AND PEEL Resource, and be sure to share your photos and videos of your adventures to our Facebook or Instagram, using the hashtags #natureplaywa #natureasmedicine

All of these trails can be found in our free Play in WA app. Enjoy!

We’ll be sharing some other Top 5s in the coming weeks. In the meantime, get out, discover new nature spaces in our wonderful region and enjoy the sanctuary of distance.

Be sure to keep up to date with information about COVID-19 at the official Australian government website – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Alert and the Western Australian government website – Coronavirus: COVID-19
*Check Regional Travel Restrictions to be sure these trails are within your travel area.

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