We walked this as an extension of our Deepwater Point Two Bridges walk and crossed under Canning Bridge to the northern side of Canning Highway. Parking in this area is somewhat limited so I would recommend this as either a loop walk or a there and back walk starting from Jeff Joseph or Heathcote Reserves, If you are doing a loop it is more scenic walking from the Raffles Hotel towards Point Heathcote as you have city views.
As you walk past the Raffles Hotel there are some lovely landscaped riverside gardens before you continue along the river all the way to the South Perth Yacht Club. Continue to follow the path past the Yacht Club - pausing to admire all the boats!
The path winds around Point Heathcote (Goolugatup) and explores the Noongar heritage of the area. The lower area was traditionally used for camping and fishing and as a men's site for lore and rituals and the Heathcote scarp was used as a lookout. This was Beeliar Territory and home to Midgegooroo and his son Yagan, who would light fires to signal Yellagonga, leader of the Mooro people across the river. The western aspect of Heathcote down to Waylen Bay is known as Kooyagardup, which in Noongar means 'the place of the big nose frog'.
Point Heathcote was named by Captain Philip Stirling after a midshipman, the first European to set foot on the point in 1827. We have walked this path on several occasions and missed seeing the Heath Ledger monument. Before you get to Kooyagardup there is a zig zag walkway up the slope - I feel this might be where the monument is and it probably also takes you up into Heathcote Reserve. Past the Point there is a staircase which will take you up into Heathcote Reserve, where you can stop at the cafe and the kids can have a play on the fabulous nautical themed playground.
Heathcote Reserve has parking (with overflow parking for busy days), a cafe, gallery, museum and toilets. Heathcote Reserve often hosts events like markets and parking is at a premium on these days.
Be sure to wander around the beautiful gardens of Heathcote Reserve and take in the views from the viewing platforms. You might even spot dolphins chasing food in the river below or an eastern osprey. The buildings were part of the Heathcote Reception Home, a government hospital for people with 'recent and recoverable' mental illness, between 1929 and 1994.
After stopping off to explore Heathcote Reserve head back to the foreshore at Waylen Bay . Waylen Bay is an important seagrass habitat and is home to prawns, crabs and seahorses but can also host cobblers so if you are tempted to paddle in the water beware as cobblers can inflict a painful sting from their spine. Continue to Applecross Jetty for some stunning city views. This section will add another 1 km and 20 minutes each way to your walk. There is ample parking at Jeff Joseph Reserve near the jetty as well as a small playground and toilets, making this another ideal starting point.
From Applecross Jetty you can create a loop walk by heading up Ardross Street and then along either Tweeddale Road or Kintail Road to the Raffles Hotel, closing the loop by walking on towards Heathcote Reserve. This stretch is about 2km and will take around 30 minutes. I highly recommend this section during Jacaranda season, mid October through mid November.
The walk from Canning Bridge, around Point Heathcote and through Heathcote Reserve is about 3km return. It will take about 30 minutes to walk to Heathcote Reserve around the point and about 20 minutes on the more direct return walk if you head out the front entrance of Heathcote, down the hill and along Duncraig Road to Coffee Point Reserve and then on to Raffles Hotel.
The full loop from Heathcote Reserve or Jeff Joseph Reserve via Kintail Road or Tweeddale Road to Raffles Hotel and then along the foreshore and around the point is about 6km and will take around 90 minutes in addition to any time spent at Heathcote Reserve.
To read more blogs go to:
I love wandering along trails, both marked and unmarked, and sharing my discoveries with my Out and About FNC community. If you enjoy reading my blogs please consider a small donation which will be used towards the costs of keeping the website up to date and relevant.
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.
.
Comentários