Whiteman Park
- Out and About
- Nov 5, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Whiteman Park is a 4000 hectare piece of bushland located close to the Swan Valley in Perth's north. As well as being a biodiversity hotspot offering many nature activities it also houses a wildlife park and several museums. Entry is from Beechboro Road North (off Tonkin Highway), Drumpellier Drive or Marshall Road. Access is also available from the Whiteman Park Train Station with shuttle bus (weekends only) or Heritage Tram connections (check timetable) into the Park. Both options are free for 2025. The park is open from 8.30am until 6pm every day of the year and entry is free. Please note the the Park may be closed on days of High Fire Danger.
There are maps scattered around to show you all the things you can do in this area or you can visit the Visitor Centre open 10am – 3pm daily to find out about the many things to do in Whiteman Park. Click on underlined text in this blog to go to linked information.
WHITEMAN VILLAGE
Whiteman Village is a compact area of buildings including the Visitor Centre. Grab a bite to eat at the Village Café before you wander around to explore the Print Shop, Village Art Gallery, Handcraft Centre, Lolly Stop Shop and Old School House.
Most things are within walking distance in Whiteman Park but if it seems too far there is a wide network of BICYCLE TRAILS weaving through the park. They are mostly flat, well signposted and easy to navigate so pack the bikes and scooters. Download a map at: https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/recreation/walk-cycle-paths
Alternatively you can hire a Pedal Cart from Pedal Play and pedal your way around the various paths in style! Open Sat, Sun school and public holidays from 10.30am - 3pm.
You can grab a ride on the Heritage Tram which can take you via the Tractor and Motor Museums to Mussel Pool. The Tractor Museum of WA is hard to miss with the colourful mural by Mural Nomad covering it's entire facade. The mural features iconic Aussie wildlife, scenery and of course, tractors! The Tractor Museum is open Wed, Sat and Sun from 10am - 4pm for a small entrance fee. A parade of restored vintage tractors chugs its way up to Revolutions Transport Museum, before returning through the Village Mall on the second Sunday of every month.
The Motor Museum of WA also features some magnificent murals. On the viIllage side you will find an enormous mural by Shakey reflecting the transport history of WA. The front of the building showcases a number of cars as painted by students from Ellenbrook Secondary College. Even if you don't go in to the museum venture around the building for the old signs on the eastern facade and peek through gate to the multitude of signs inside. Here there is also a display of character vehicles which didn't quite make it to the restoration stage. The museum features 200 cars including Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull F1 racing car. It is open daily 10am - 4pm: fees apply (Family Pass $25).
The kids can splash around in the 30cm deep wading pool and enjoy the water spouts at the WHITEMAN PARK MINI WATER PLAYGROUND open October to April. It is situated directly across from the Village Cafe and right next door is VILLAGE EAST PLAYGROUND, a newly refurbished playground fabulous for younger children. It is covered by shade sails, has barbecues and picnic benches and toilets located nearby.
Off the main car park at Whiteman Village is CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK where you can have close up encounters with lots of Aussie animals. Open daily from 9.30am to 5pm. Entry fees apply. https://www.outandaboutfnc.com/post/2019/11/02/caversham-wildlife-park
If you fancy a quick game of tennis there is also a tennis court!
West of Whiteman Village is the super sized, fully fenced and shaded PLAYGROUND WEST surrounded by large grassy areas with barbecues, large picnic shelters (for hire) and with toilets nearby.
If you follow the various paths through the lawns west of the Village you will arrive at VILLAGE JUNCTION TRAIN STATION where you can jump on a steam (winter) or diesel (summer) train for a loop through the bush.
Across the tracks is the REVOLUTIONS TRANSPORT MUSEUM open daily 10am -4pm for a gold coin donation.
The WUNANGA WALK TRAIL starts from here and winds it’s way through the bush on dirt tracks looping around the Bennett Brook Railway. There is a 4km extended option or a 2km short loop. Wildflower season is the best time to walk this trail.
WOODLAND RESERVE is a 200ha protected area of bushland. It is a fenced sanctuary protecting quenda, tammar wallabies and black gloved wallabies as well as endangered dibblers and critically endangered woylies. You can explore Woodland Reserve on guided NOCTURNAL WOYLIE WALKS every Friday evening from Spring through to Autumn.
From Whiteman Village you can walk, cycle or pedal south to explore the CHILDREN'S FOREST dotted with intriguing artworks for the kids to spot. Pick up some I-Spy work sheets or a Fairy Door Trail chart from the Visitor Centre or download before you go.
MUSSEL POOL EAST has large grassy areas, picnic shelters and barbecues. Explore the Melaleuca Boardwalk and the all abilities nature based PIA’S PLACE playground.
From here you can access the DOG PARK – A fenced area where dogs are permitted off lead. There is an obstacle course for the dogs to enjoy or they can simply run around and play with other dogs. A special area is reserved for small dogs under 10kg. There are benches for the hoomans to sit on or you might like to walk around the park. Doggie bins and bags, a water trough and taps are provided. There are toilets located just outside the dog park. Dogs are also permitted in other areas of Whiteman Park but must be on lead.
The WERRILYIUP TRAIL walk trail starts just past the Dog Park fence looping around Horse Swamp. This is a stunning flat walk at it's best when Horse Swamp is full of water in winter and spring.
MUSSEL POOL WEST - Separating Mussel Pool East and Mussel Pool West is BENNETT BROOK and WEDDING ISLAND. The walk around Wedding Island is rather lovely with a short boardwalk and interesting steep bridges (foot traffic only no wheels unless you can carry them). The paved paths around the outside are great for kids on bikes or scooters or for wheelchairs and prams. Information signage around this area explains the special history of this area including the clever FISH LADDER. If you fancy a game of cricket there is a dedicated cricket pitch with picnic facilities nearby however you are only permitted to play with tennis balls.
MUSSEL POOL WEST also has large areas of grass, barbecues, picnic shelters and toilets. The Tram from Whiteman Village stops at Mussel Pool West. The Bennett Brook Railway also runs trips to Mussel Pool West. Mussel Pool West has various items on display as part of the OPEN AIR MUSEUM and is home to the new HEALING PLACE.
The GOOLOORTO TRAIL follows Bennett Brook from Fish Ladder to the edge of the park and is a pretty walk through paperbarks. The best time is late Winter or Spring when there is still water flowing but not too much to make the trail muddy.
ORIENTEERING
Whiteman Park has two permanent orienteering courses, a short course centred around the Village area, and an overall course that covers both the Village and Mussel Pool and areas in between. Get out and give it a go. https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/attraction/park-facilities/orienteering/?fbclid=IwAR1k8Pxhg82UPVSvFc14IpmJqJ8yiw25E1MMyAOATFQDsfDNK00ESj_hGbg
A lookout on the road in from Beechboro Road North affords a view across to the hills in the distance. You can also see the city skyline in the distance - unfortunately marred by giant power towers.
There is ample free parking available at Whiteman Park with car parks scattered across the three main areas. Whiteman Park does host large events so parking around the Village may be full on these occasions.
In the above article all text which is underlined will lead to a linked page if you click on the text. Separate blogs are available for the three trails: Wunanga, Werrilyiup and Goo Loorto and also for the Children's Forest, Pias Place Playground and Caversham Wildlife Park.
We hope you have an amazing time exploring Whiteman Park!
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I love wandering along trails, both marked and unmarked, and sharing my discoveries with my Out and About FNC community. If you enjoy reading my blogs please consider a small donation which will be used towards the costs of keeping the website up to date and relevant.
In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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