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 (off Tonkin Highway) or Lord Street. The park is open from 8.30am until 6pm every day of the year except Christmas Day and entry is free.
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 – 4pm 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.
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 open Wed, Sat and Sun from 10am-4pm for a gold coin donation. 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 is open daily 10am-4pm - fees apply (Family Pass $25). Among the 200 cards at the Motor Museum you can see Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull F1 racing car.
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 9am – 5pm.
The kids can splash around in the 30cm deep paddling pool and enjoy the splash fountains in the WHITEMAN PARK POOL PLAYGROUND (October to April) across from the Village Cafe. 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.
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. 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.
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 GOO LOORTO 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.
There is a wide network of BICYCLE TRAILS weaving through the park. They are mostly flat and easy to navigate.
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
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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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.