The first day of Spring needs to be celebrated outdoors so we set off for a quick walk before tackling the weekend chores.
Beenyup Swamp lies within Yellagonga Regional Park on the south side of Ocean Reef Road in Woodvale. The trail is an easy, flat 2.4 km loop on it's own or it can be incorporated into longer walks or bike rides within Yellagonga. It is universally accessible with mostly hard limestone or paved paths and some dirt tracks. It took us about half an hour to walk around the trail including Perry's Paddock and it's historic buildings.
We started from Ocean Reef Road stopping to explore John Perry's historic cottage and stables.
Once past the heritage buildings you can cross a small bridge over a stream to walk the loop trail around Beenyup Swamp in an anti-clockwise direction or you can turn left and follow the trail in a clockwise direction. Water levels are high after our extremely wet winter and there are glimpses through the paperbark trees to the water beyond. There were plenty of birds including kookaburras and cockatoos singing in chorus with the banjo frogs.
The boardwalk across the wetlands is very short but picturesque, surrounded by moody paperbarks. There were lots of little tadpoles swimming in the water at the edge before the water turned inky black as we continued along the boardwalk.
The loop around Beenyup Swamp will take about 40 minutes'
For a longer walk you can do a second loop taking in the southern section of Lake Joondalup. From the carpark at Perrys Paddock turn right at the entrance way following the path west. This dual use path emerges alongside Ocean Reef Road so you have to put up with the traffic for a short while but on the plus side you get some lovely views through the trees to the southern section of Lake Joondalup and also a glimpse across Ocean Reef Road to the lake stretching into the distance to the north.
Turn left back into Yellagonga Regional Park before the traffic lights and follow the path for a few hundred metres. You can choose to turn left off the main path and cross the grassy area before joining the rougher dirt track which follows the southern end of the lake or remain on the paved dual use path which also skirts the lake. There are some stunning paperbark trees along here.
The path/track passes the small bridge crossing the creek where you can loop back to Perrys Paddock or continue on to Beenyup Swamp and the Boardwalk. This full circuit will take you about an hour to walk plus any time spent exploring the buildings. The path closer to the lake is not universally accessible so the paved dual use path is better for prams and kids on bikes or scooters.
Off road parking is available on the southern section of Ocean Reef Road. Dogs are permitted on lead. There are no toilets available.
If you are interested in local heritage why not visit nearby Cockman House (check opening hours). There is a Nature Play WA Play Trail to keep the kids busy at Cockman House.
Orange Trail is the Beenyup Swap Loop with Perrys Paddock
Green Trail is the extended loop.
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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.
EDITED: March 2023