Several years ago we ventured from Lo Quay Cafe to Wadjup Point and realised from walking this small section that the full foreshore walk is a considerable distance but we added it to our list of places to explore. We finally found the time and made the commitment and we were not disappointed!
Because of the distance we decided to start from Shelley Foreshore and head west to Gabbilju (Bull Creek Inlet). We initially planned to do the eastern section on another visit but ended up doing it the same day.
At Shelley Foreshore start your walk at the toilet block as it has lots of interesting information panels about the heritage of the area on it's southern and eastern walls. Without reading the information we wouldn't have known to look for the posts out in the channel which mark the old Convict Fence. We headed out on to the jetty for a better look and for the city views.
Heading west we passed the playground which has a spider web climbing frame and swings, including a Liberty Swing, and followed the dual use path passing Grecian's Spit. If you are lucky you will spot some of the local waterbirds or migratory birds that live on the mudflats and saltmarshes and use the sand spits for nesting and feeding.
Once you arrive opposite the Salter Point spit dogs are permitted off lead. As you pass what was once known as Fig Tree Camp you have views across Aquinas Bay to Aquinas College and the Mt Henry bush where you can see an osprey nest.
You swing around passing Mt Henry Bridge and come to Bull Creek Inlet (Gabbilju - "the watery place at the end of the river"). The small boats moored in the inlet lend a sense of peace and tranquillity as you pass magnificent paperbarks, sheoaks and flooded gum trees.
The birdlife increases as you come to Yagan Park where you will find the Margot Ross Memorial Observation Platform. The signage around the platform provides information on the frogs you might hear and the water and land birds you might see.
It took us exactly an hour to walk from Shelley Foreshore Jetty to Yagan Park at a moderate pace, stopping to read all the interpretive signage (which are very interesting) and to take photos. Instead of returning along the foreshore we decided to cut back through the suburb which took around 40 minutes. It was a pleasant walk along quiet streets, passing through Rossmoyne Park which used to be a quarry and has toilets, and then the playing fields at Shelley Park before returning to the foreshore along Beatrice Avenue.
Doing this gave us a little extra time to explore east from Shelley Foreshore to Wadjup Point. We enjoyed watching the SUP boarders and kayakers out on the river as we rounded Prisoners Point before detouring to the small spit where you will find Logan's ball library and you can see more of the Convict Fence marching along the channel.
The massive trees which line the foreshore on both sides of Shelley Beach are amazing. Hard to believe at one time they were being deliberately vandalised and killed! Thank goodness many were saved.
Rounding Wadjup Point you can see more of the Convict Fence and the river channel, known as "the Sticks", is a renowned fishing spot. Looking across the river you can see Clontarf College poking above the trees. We turned off at Zenith Street and took a short cut through suburban streets to save a little time on the return. This loop took us an hour. If you continue on to Riverton Bridge allow another 25 minutes there and back.
A few years back we had walked from Riverton Bridge to Wadjup Point and back so with that taken into consideration we have now completed the full walk. Looking back at photos from that walk it is interesting to see that the same things caught my eye including the magnificent trees. If you continue to Riverton Bridge you pass under the Leach Highway Bridge and then walk across Riverton Bridge. There is parking here at Fern Park as well as a small playground, public toilet and the Lo Quay River Cafe, a perfect spot to break your walk for a coffee or a bite to eat!
The entire Wadjup Gabbilju Foreshore Walk is a decent undertaking as it is about 6km (90 Minutes) each way. Shelley Foreshore is an ideal spot to split the walk into two long walks but you can also park anywhere along Riverton Drive to tackle shorter sections or start from either end (limited street parking at Yagan Park). Being a longer distance this is an ideal bike ride (I prefer walking as you see more) and the path is not too busy. We found that faster bike riders stayed on the road so it was quite safe walking the dual use path.
Shelley Foreshore Park has barbecues and picnic tables and lots of grassy areas as well as public toilets and the small playground so is perfect for a picnic. You can also can book lessons or hire SUP equipment and have a go in the protected foreshore bay.
Dogs are permitted along the trail but must be on lead for certain sections. The walk trail maps clearly indicate where dogs are permitted on or off lead.
This is the loop we walked from Shelley Foreshore returning through the suburbs.
and this is the walk the other way to Wadjup Point and return (purple) with the red line representing the extended walk to Riverton Bridge which we had undertaken another time.
Having completed this walk we have now walked most of the way along both banks of beautiful Dyarlgarro (Canning River):
Lo Quay Cafe to Bannister Creek on Lagoon to Living Streams Trail
Canning River walks from Kent Street Weir including Butterflies, Birds and Bridges Trail
Heathcote to Applecross and the loop from Canning Bridge to Mt Henry Bridge past Deepwater Point.
Salter Point Lagoon to Sandon Park
and Sandon Park along the Waterford Foreshore to Contarf
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and for more river walks (Swan River, Helena River) search the river walks tab.
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.