This gem of a park is hidden around the freeway interchanges in Perth. From Elizabeth Quay Train Station it is about a 20 minute walk along Mounts Bay Road. After passing under the freeway you will see the motorcycle parking bays. The safest option, particularly if you have young children is to stay on this side of Mounts Bay Road and follow the path which seems to head for the freeway but actually comes out at an underpass below the exit ramp and leads straight into John Oldham Park. If you choose to walk straight ahead past the motorcycles and along Mounts Bay Road you will have to cross the freeway exit ramps to access the park. There is also a small car park on the western side of the park off Mounts Bay Road.
Either way if you are coming from Elizabeth Quay turn left and follow the path around the lake with the Southern Cross Memorial Fountain. Enjoy watching the bird life out on the lake as you pass. You will see the Mount Hospital and other buildings across the lake.
You will eventually come to the bridge - cross over and follow the paths and other bridges through the forest until you come to the waterfalls. From here if you continue you will find a very long slide and a small playground before crossing another bridge for the final exit from the park.
From the playground continue across another bridge and through the forest towards Mounts Bay Road. Once you emerge you can either return the same way or follow the path around under the freeway and back alongside Riverside Drive through David Carr Memorial Park eventually emerging at the First Contact Sculpture at Elizabeth Quay. I did not take this route but it looks like there is one exit ramp to cross and then there is an underpass to take you safely under Riverside Drive to finish your walk on the river's edge. Parts of this route may be quite busy with cyclists so take care. This walk should take you about 25 minutes back to Elizabeth Quay.
Another alternative is to take the overpass across Mounts Bay Road just past the John Oldham car park and follow the track at the base of Mt Eliza on the northern side of Mounts Bay Road towards Kennedy's Fountain, where you can tackle the steep but short Kokoda Track Memorial Walk into Kings Park.
If you have time to spare on a visit to the City head to John Oldham and experience this wonderful park right alongside our busy freeway. Although you can hear the traffic on the freeways the beauty of the park makes the noise recede into the background. There is a barbecue and picnic table at the playground but there are no toilet facilities.
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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.