This is a loop walk so you can start at a number of places. Limited car parking is available at Peninsula Farm or at the small shopping centre where Noggos Kitchen and Coffee is situated. Larger car parks are available at Maylands Golf Course, Maylands Foreshore, Clarkson Reserve or Tranby Reserve.
We started our walk from Peninsula Farm, one of WA's first farms. We walked around the outside of Tranby House, built in 1839 and now a National Trust property, this is the oldest metropolitan house still standing. Free entry weekends operate mid to late April otherwise entrance fees apply. The Peninsula Farm Cafe is located behind Tranby House.
At Peninsula Farm there is a very degraded sign for the Swan River Heritage Trail which traces part of Captain Stirling's 1827 expedition upriver. This 14.7 km driving/cycle trail links with the Swan Valley Heritage Trail. Rediscovering Eric from the Swan River Ramble at Peninsula Farm we followed the shared use footpath along the river reserve upriver enjoying the views across to Kuljak Island. The day we walked was a few days after a massive storm passed through so although all the paths had been cleared there was quite a lot of small debris, such as branches, around and there were also larger logs which had either fallen or been cut off the trees as they waited to be cleared away. Some local kids had been busy making a cubby with the loose branches - nature play at it's best!
At the end of the path follow Hillside Crescent a short distance and you will come out at Bath Street Reserve. There are picnic and barbecue facilities here as well as a small shaded natural playground. You can also access the jetty from here. We had previously visited this park on our Baigup Wetlands walk (part of the Swan River Ramble).
This time we wandered up to De Lacy Reserve to play on the flying fox, bird's nest swing and small playground (toilets here are open if games are being played) before heading west along Richard Street, crossing Peninsula Road and following Fogerthorpe Street to Mary Street, emerging at Berringa Park Wetlands Conservation Area.
From here you can extend your walk by turning right and heading up the river along the shared use path to Malgamongup (Bardon Park). The lower level has a small playground and toilets whereas the upper level has a large nature playground, picnic and barbecue facilities. There are paths for the kids to ride bikes and scooters and a lovely lake and waterfall area (unfenced). The side trip is 1km in each direction and will take 15 minutes to walk, each way.
We turned left and followed the path towards Maylands Golf Course using the tall chimney stack from the old Brick Works as a marker. Eric from Swan River Ramble also makes an appearance approaching the historic Maylands Brickworks. This section rewards you with some lovely views of the city and Optus Stadium.
Detour behind the brickworks to the little nature play ground in Brick Works Reserve, between Brick Works Lake and Lake Bungana. This is a great spot for a quick play and a snack (toilets are available across the road at the Golf Course when it is open).
Follow the shared use path around the western edge of Lake Bungana and then past the Police Complex emerging at Maylands Foreshore Reserve where you can visit the Aviation Commemorative Park, on the site of the former Maylands Aerodrome. It marks the aerodrome’s historical significance as the birthplace of commercial aviation in Western Australia and its role as Perth’s first official airport. Interpretive signs at the park tell the story of the aerodrome, which operated between 1924 and 1963, and was home to several pioneering aviation companies and national organisations such as Australian National Airways, the Aircraft Production Commission and the Bureau of Meteorology.
Follow Clarkson Road around the newly opened Maylands Waterland, crossing into Clarkson Reserve to look at the samphire flats before following the riverside path around the tennis courts. Here you will come across another nature playground, picnic and barbecue facilities where Clarkson Reserve meets Tranby Reserve.
We continued through Tranby Reserve checking out the statues reflecting the indigenous land use before European settlement. The Chase Farm archaeological site is marked out by the wooden fence. Inside this area an archaeological dig discovered the footprint of Schulstad's Dairy Farm and the engineering works that used to be on this site. The information panels on the reconstructed "homestead" provide background on how the land was used and how important this area was for the Methodist church. You can still look down the old well. From here we followed Hardey Road past the Maylands Amateur Boat Building Club and back to our car at Peninsula Farm.
This walk covers around 5 km, depending on the detours you might take and will take about an hour and a half, excluding stops to play at the various playgrounds. You can enjoy a Noggos coffee before, after or during the walk. The path is mostly flat with a few inclines and is suitable for kids on bikes and scooters.
Nearby walks
Lakes Brearley, Bungana and Brickworks - a 4km walk around the lakes on the Maylands Peninsula including the Maylands Brick Works.
Baigup Wetlands and Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary - wander up river from Maylands to discover wonderful wetlands.
Swan River Ramble - the Swan River Ramble officially follows both north and south banks of the Swan River but this blog focuses on the southern banks between Burswood and Ascot Waters.
Kuljak Island - Across the Swan River is Black Swan or Kuljak Island which has no traffic so is a great place for a walk or a bike ride.
Claisebrook Cove - down river from Maylands you can walk the Tony di Scerni pathway to Claisebrook Cove which has a wonderful Art Trail to discover.
To read more blogs go to:
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 emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.