Herdsman Lake Regional Park is Perth’s largest inner metropolitan wetland and consists of permanent water bodies, seasonally dry wetlands and open parklands. It is part of a narrow chain of wetlands that extends parallel to the coast from Yanchep in the north to Mandurah in the south. It is home to over 100 species of birds and serves as an important breeding ground and a summer refuge for migratory birds. This park has a rich history and cultural heritage. Local Noongar an

Perth Zoo is a great day out with over a thousand different animals to see, a fabulous play area and special attractions and events throughout the year. If you plan your day ahead you can book one of the many Close Encounters which will get you up close and personal with the animal of your choice from otters and penguins to giraffes, orang utangs, elephants and more. Bookings for Close Encounters may be made on the day but are subject to availability so it's best to book in

The word Yanchep is derived from Yandjip or Yanget which is the aboriginal name for the local bulrush reed found fringing the lakes. Nyanyi-Yandjip (Yanchep National Park) is named after the reeds and the lake which were thought to resemble the hairy mane of the dreamtime creature the Waugul . This area is culturally significant to the Noongar people and has been inhabited and used as a hunting ground for thousands of years prior to European settlement. In 1834 the first Eur

It has taken a while to get this blog up and running as Kings Park has so much to offer I didn't really know where to start but here goes... Kings Park and Botanic Gardens perch high above the Perth (Boorloo) CBD atop the Mt Eliza escarpment. The park and gardens are open 24 hours and entry is free. Entering from the city you will drive or walk along Fraser Avenue which is lined with stunning white lemon-scented gums Corymbia citriodora. standing tall and framing the city an

We found ourselves shipwrecked at Alkimos recently and spent the day reading treasure maps, walking the plank and climbing the rigging. Fortunately there are barbecues, picnic benches and large grassy areas so we could to sit down, rest and enjoy our vittles (have a picnic)! The nearby Shore Cafe kept the Captain and his Missus happy with some ill gotten coffee while we kept an eye out for other pirates out to sea in the Indian Ocean behind us. On arrival from the 21st cen

Tucked in behind the wineries and eateries along West Swan Road is Swan Valley Station - a fabulous place to stop in for a completely novel experience. Swan Valley Station has everything: a 400m sculpture trail around a deep marron lake with options to go fishing a delightful gift shop and cafe (no outside food permitted) a nursery selling plants and pots and with a wonderful natural garden maze to wander through a back to basics playground with loads of sand and imaginar

Kalamunda History Village occupies the site of the old Upper Darling Range Railway Station and is unique in Australia with two periods of heritage listed station buildings standing side by side. But it is much more than a Railway Heritage site as many original Kalamunda buildings have been brought on site creating a "living" village reflecting the economic, social and domestic history of the area since the first settlers. The first white settlers arrived in the 1860's to har

Historic Toodyay is one of Western Australia’s oldest towns and is located less than an hours drive from Perth. Enjoy learning some fascinating early WA history wandering through town and visiting these beautiful heritage buildings which are now Museums. Newcastle Gaol Precinct The Newcastle Gaol Precinct includes Newcastle Gaol, the Police Stables, the 1907 Lock-up and the Wicklow Shearing Shed. After falling into disrepair the gaol buildings were restored and opened as a

I had saved this map some time ago and added the trail to my list of places to explore. When I finally found the time I was unable to source the map on the City of Subiaco website but I printed out the copy I had previously saved and we set off to explore. We have done a lot of exploring in and around Subiaco but even some of the places on this trail were new discoveries for us. Special plaques are located at each stop along the walk and form part of the adventure. The turt

Claughton Reserve in Bayswater has a new fairy trail and a new nature playground making this a delightful place to bring the kids. The fairy trail meanders through the reserve with lots of wonderful little discoveries to be made along the way. The nature playground is small but has some interesting features including a basket swing with a wheelchair accessible soft fall rubber pathway, 2 other swings, a tightrope walk, climbing fort, horizontal spider net and turtle shaped s

Tucked away on James Street in Guildford is an old theatre which is jam packed with all sorts of animals including every child's favourite - DINOSAURS! Welcome to the Museum of Natural History also known as the Academy of Taxidermy! You can see everything from man made life size models to real stuffed animals and skeletons. There are shells and eggs and teeth and everything your budding naturalist will enjoy. There are plenty of books for older children and there is a play

This blog is a combination of a planned and an unplanned walk to explore the street art in Northbridge. For our first walk (the orange trail on maps below) we explored the centre of Northbridge. We started at Chinatown where there are numerous artworks within the restaurant precinct. The artist I am the Wong chose a Chinese expression 'If people are of one heart, even the yellow earth can become gold' for his mural. This expression underpins the idea that when people stick

I've previously blogged the Art City Walking Trail in Perth City but as I did so I realised that there was a new updated version which gave me an excuse to hit the streets of the CBD again to find all the new artworks on this trail. The new trail starts at Elizabeth Quay, winds it's way up to Kings Square and finishes at the Perth Concert Hall and will take up to 2 hours on foot or you can also use public transport options along the way. It may also take you all day if you g

When John Septimus Roe, naval officer, surveyor and explorer, first laid out the City of Perth in 1829, he envisaged a powerful city at the centre of a strong economy. St Georges Terrace was the focus of this design, a broad avenue running parallel to the shores of the majestic Swan River. Today, St Georges Terrace continues it's role as the city’s powerhouse. Follow this trail to discover the history of the city through its iconic places of influence. As you walk along, keep

When urban art started to become a "thing" in Perth I did quite a bit of research about where the various artworks could be found. My main go to for this was the Streets of Perth interactive map and facebook page and over time I managed to draw a mud map to follow. My mud map sat around for a while as I was busy exploring other trails around Perth but one day it just fitted into my plans for the day. Usually we walk early in the morning but this time we set off in the lat

We had a little bit of spare time after hiking around the Mundaring area so decided to explore Mundaring's 2km Heritage Trail. We called in to the Information Centre and they supplied us with a photo copy of the trail map to follow. You can also access an interactive map online here. We started the trail at the Information Centre as we had picked up the map there. The Heritage Trail had some lovely buildings but many have been replaced. When we got to Sculpture Park and d

Zanthorrea Nursery - Maida Vale Zanthorrea Nursery in Maida Vale is not only a fabulous nursery specialising in native plants but it is also a great place to visit with the kids. The kids can explore the sensory garden, look for 8 different sculptures scattered around the beautiful gardens and then enjoy a play on the shaded playground which has a fort and a slide. With so many beautiful giant trees within the gardens the kids can have a go at measuring the height of the tr

Ngarkal (Seagull Beach) is a lovely protected beach within the Port Coogee Marina development. With the whalebone ribs of the Maraboo Loop bridge to the south and the canal alongside Othello Quays to the north it is a very pretty little spot. I'm not sure if it is the council or the resident that has painted a wonderful sealife mural around the edge of the corner property on Othello Quays but it certainly adds a wonderful backdrop. Ngarkal Beach has shallow, calm waters ideal

Within Perth City are numerous public art works reflecting the city's identity, both past and present. This trail includes a small sample or public art works between the CBD and Northbridge. The self guided trail will take up to two hours and you can join or depart the trail anywhere along the way. The city's free CAT buses intersect the route at various points. This Art Trail has now been superseded by a new trail ( see blog post of new trail at https://www.outandaboutfnc.

Fishing Boat Harbour at Freo is not just about the fish and chips! The food might be the main reason you head there but don't forget to have a look around and enjoy the unique heritage the harbour has to offer. Enjoy a ride on the iconic Fremantle Tourist Wheel or wander through the Esplanade Park where you will find a Parkour course, skate park and a playground. Continue towards the railway and make sure you pat Blondie the dog on your way across the tracks before posing