The principal aim of Out and About - Family Nature Connection is to get kids out and about in nature. I love hiking in the bush or walking in urban settings along the river or the coast but I realise that hiking and long walks don't suit everyone so I also try to explore playgrounds around Perth. My theory is that you take the kids out for a walk or a hike (most kids will love being in nature and exploring the environment) and then use an exciting playground as the reward fo

Weeip Park opened in September in the New Junction open space development in Midland's CBD. It is a fabulous play space with a grassed kickabout area, a youth zone, a playground with nature elements, a path for cycling and a toilet. Weeip was a traditional clan leader of the Noongar Whadjuk Boora Clan. His territory covered South Guildford, the Swan River, Ellen Brook and into the hills. In August 1934 Weeip negotiated a truce with Governor Stirling to improve relations wit

Willagee is a lovely suburb with some wonderful playgrounds and artworks. We started by finding Webber Reserve with it's small nature playground tucked away on the north eastern corner of Webber Reserve. Designed and built by the community for local children this is a lovely play space situated at the edge of playing fields and next to a traditional playground with a BBQ, a picnic bench and a basketball half court. Parking is on the verge and there are no toilets. This pla

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

This Heritage Trail consists of three different loops around the Scarborough and Trigg Coastline, extending into Trigg Bushland. Each loop can be walked in isolation or combined, as we did, into a 7.5km (2 Hour) walk. Although there are some heritage markers along the way this is really just a combination coast/bush walk starting from the Scarborough beachfront so don't let the "Heritage Trail" put you off trying this lovely walk. We started from the carpark near Trigg Sur

We were actually searching for the new mural in Bayswater when we came across the Bayswater Heritage Trail brochure online so we decided to follow the heritage trail and see what we discovered in the way of urban art along the way. We parked at Bert Wright Park behind the Bayswater Community Centre where we discovered some beautiful mature trees, a nature playground designed for younger children, picnic and barbecue facilities and public toilets located on the outside of the

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

An easy day trip from Perth the small hamlet of Gingin was gazetted a town in 1871 and will celebrate it's 150th Anniversary in 2021. The Historical Gingin Trail (click to download link or grab a map from the Information Centre) is an easy 45 minute walk past several heritage buildings, along the lovely Gingin Brook and extending out to the Old Stock Route and the Cemetery. At the time of our visit the Stock Route was closed for maintenance so we looped through the town and

THE STORY Pia’s Place was created in memory of baby Pia Maeve Rudd who died suddenly from SIDS. Pia’s Mum, Amy Rudd, dreamed of creating a space where children of ALL abilities could enjoy playing without the barriers often experienced by people with disabilities. Pia’s Place was developed with the support of The Touched by Olivia Foundation, the Livvi’s Place National Network of inclusive play spaces and the Lions Club of Noranda to provide an inspirational nature based incl

Lake Fresca is located in the Italian themed Bridges community in Ellenbrook off Milano Parade and Ponte Vecchio Boulevard. As a suburban park there is no street side parking around the park but you can use the small carpark at the retail precinct off Ponte Vecchio Boulevard. This is also where you will find the beautiful (and accurate) sundial tower, picnic benches and a fully fenced playground. There are no toilet facilities. Near the playground is the main blue bridge cr

After exploring Manning Park we noticed a small playground called Joel's Playground nearby so set off to find it tucked away in a the new Shoreline development in North Coogee. As we turned onto Reinforcement Parade from Anchorage Drive we were delighted by a beautiful sculpture of a horse and rider - a tribute to the 10th Light Horse Regiment which camped and trained on nearby South Beach before heading off to serve in WW1. Around the statue we found plaques with historical

Woodlupine Brook Reserve in Beckenham is a narrow park that follows Woodlupine Brook between Mills Park Reserve and Roe Highway, where it disappears under the road. The brook has been developed as a living stream combining it's drainage function with grassy parkland. Footpaths criss-cross over the stream at various intervals allowing you to interact with the brook as you wander through the park. We started our walk heading east from Mills Park Nature Playground through lands

We came to explore the Davilak Trail in Manning Park and to look at the Azelia Ley Homestead and Davilak Ruins but decided to do a loop around Manning Lake and I am so glad we did as it is absolutely STUNNING! Perhaps we got lucky with high water levels and early morning winter sunshine streaming through the paperbarks but it was a truly memorable walk. Having just completed the Davilak Heritage Trail and wandered around Azelia Ley Homestead we found ourselves at the large

Starting from either the carpark on Rosslare Promenade in Mindarie or from the car park at Quinns Beach Surf Life Saving Club this path meanders along the coast for just over 1 km, taking about 15 minutes each way. Heading north you get lovely views over the water to Quinns Beach and heading south you get views down the coast to Mindarie Harbour. There are interpretive signs along the way... and you can keep the kids busy scanning QR codes or see if they can spot the osprey i

We came across this park by accident but hopped out to have a wander around. From our starting point on the eastern edge it just looked like a park with a walking path around a lake. The lake was quite pretty as we wandered the path, passing some swings and enjoying the birdlife. As we got further around we came to a picnic gazebo and discovered a second lake which had a playground on the far side, built to jut out into the lake. This second lake definitely had a bit of w

Rosehill Waters Estate is a new residential community set on the site of the former Rosehill Golf Course in South Guildford. We discovered this estate when we visited Noah's Playground which is situated within the development. Entering from the west on West Road we were immediately impressed by the entrance statement gardens and pulled over to have a wander through Lockhart and Berckelman Parks. These parks are designed for local community use so there are no parking bays but

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

After exploring the Urban Art in South Fremantle and on another occasion exploring from the Omeo Wreck south to Woodman Point I felt we had to close the gap and explore north from the Omeo Wreck to South Beach. Previously at the Omeo Wreck I noticed there was a Noongar Tourist Trail which went between Socrates Park and the Port Coogee Marina so this was our starting point. The Noongar Tourist Trail visits a number of parks which feature the glass Kidogo Artworks before movi

The Nyungar Tourist Trail is located within an important traditional gathering place for the Nyungar people at Wardan Gepa Boodjaralup (the sea shore) at Port Coogee. The trail features Ngarkal (Seagull) Beach and The Lookout plus Kidogo Glass Artworks. The trail includes signage and audio that shares important Aboriginal stories in traditional Nyungar language. We couldn't really hear the audio as we were walking around so decided to listen later and fill in any gaps. Kidog

This unique all ages and abilities play space features play and social opportunities for wheelchair users and visitors with other physical or intellectual impairments. There are tactile pathways and "how to sign" communication visuals to foster play interactions. Play zones feature sand and water play, a boat themed play area a carousel and spinners a sway fun boat a double cable way flying fox with accessible and pommel seats a rope swing and swings. twin slides with a soft