Carine Open Space
Carine Regional Open Space in Duncraig is a great place to go for a walk, run, bike ride, play or to kick a ball around. There are plenty of wide open spaces ringed by a network of paths. Some paths are paved, others more natural but they are all flat.
If you walk around the perimeter in an anti clockwise direction starting from the painted wall on Beach Road you can measure the distance. Starting with 0 m there are lines painted across the footpath every 100 m until you complete the loop at 2400 m. We parked in the car park off Beach Road, near the Surface Tension sculpture, and walked in a clockwise direction so that we would finish at the playground.
At the northeastern corner on Beach Road the path passes a small wetlands, Small Carine Swamp. The path is closer to the road but you can detour and walk on the grass around the wetland. You will see a variety of bird life including ducks and swans.
Once past the wetlands you arrive at the Riding School for the Disabled. Take the dirt pathway so you can walk next to the paddocks and say hello to the horses. There is also a small playground here and toilets (when open). Between the path and the riding school there are some wooden stepping logs. If you choose to stay on the perimeter path you will walk past the riding fields on the Monyash Road side.
From the riding school the path will lead you through the middle of the park on dirt pathways through an area of bush. We first discovered this network of paths when we explored the City of Stirling's Tree Trail in 2019. The tree trail pointed out the different types of trees and what makes them special. Even without the Tree Trail signage it was a lovely walk through this bush area. Keep your eyes peeled for fungi, insects and reptiles!
When you emerge from the bush the main path veers to the right to go around Big Carine Swamp.
This is the trail we followed when we were on the Tree Trail in 2019.
This time we took the dirt track to the left which took us along the bottom edge of the riding school paddock until we rejoined the outer perimeter path at Monyash Reserve, a large open grassy space with some fitness equipment around the edges. See if you can find the climbing tree and the tree that looks like a person carrying a heavy load (very apt in these times of covid 19).
Before the Carine Girl Guide Hall we walked back across Monyash Reserve rejoining the Big Carine Swamp path which then skirts the edge of Reid Highway (there is an overpass here to cross Reid Highway to Gwelup). These photos are the same spot a year apart (2019 was wetter than this year)
The path continues around the edge of the wetland area past an old green utilities building before emerging into more open grassland.
You will come to the fenced Dog Park and then the large shaded playground. There are toilets and BBQ/picnic facilities here.
You can follow the path across the top of Big Carine Swamp towards the Skate Park or alternatively you can continue around the perimeter to complete your loop walk.
Carine is always busy with people exercising, walking their dogs or enjoying the outdoor spaces. On weekends it is the venue for the Carine Parkrun and the nearby playing fields can also make it very busy during sports seasons.
Parking is available on Okely Road (best for the playground), off Beach Road at Carine Hall (best for sport fields and skate park) and off Monyash Road (best for the riding school). There is also parking near the Carine Girl Guide Hall on Monyash Road and Wessex Street.
With several side loops we managed to walk 4 km in about an hour.
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