With beautiful beaches on our doorstep and amazing bush walks just a stone’s throw away, life in WA really is something special.
While September is when wildflower season hits, you can still experience Western Australia’s natural beauty and see some amazing wildlife at these Perth locations all year round. Bushwalks are a great way to get some exercise, get out of your environment AND keep socially distant at the same time!
The best part? They’re all less than an hour away from City Beach (and the first is only five minutes from Ocean Gardens!).
Keep reading to find out what they are (ranked by travel time to City Beach) and also how Perth retiree’s can benefit from regular bushwalks.
1. Bold Park Reserve, City Beach
Native flora and fauna on your doorstep, Bold Park is only five minutes away from City Beach.
437 ha and filled with a diverse range of native plants, animals and fungi, Bold Park is even bigger than Kings Park and right on our doorstep, only a five minute drive from Ocean Gardens Retirement Village.
You can even enjoy spectacular views of Perth City from the lookout point at Reabold Hill. Accessed via a raised boardwalk, the viewing deck is wheelchair friendly!
Explore the park at your leisure (for free!) or attend a free guided tour or event hosted by The Friends of Bold Park. Find the next walk here.
Distance from Ocean Gardens, City Beach: 2.2km
Drive time: five minutes
2. Kings Park, Perth
Perfect for the whole family, Kings Park is filled with native wildlife, picnic space and playgrounds.
It wouldn’t be right to talk about West Australian wildlife parks without mentioning Kings Park. One of Perth’s most famous attractions, it’s popular for a reason. Less than 10km’s from City Beach, you can be there in under 15 minutes. Not only is it a great spot to admire native wildlife and flowers, but there is plenty of picnic space and playgrounds to keep the whole family satisfied.
If you’re looking for a spot the grandkids will love, this is it!
Distance from Ocean Gardens, City Beach: 8.4km
Drive time: 14 minutes
3. Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, Martin
Wildflowers galore and gorgeous views over the Old Barrington Quarry. What more could you ask for?
At Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, there’s even more than just the wildflowers here and native wildlife. With public barbecues and picnic areas, bring along some friends or family and make a day out of your trip.
Truly something for everyone, you can choose from four different trails, including the wheelchair friendly ‘Easy Walk’ trail. For a more challenging adventure try your hand (or foot) at the ‘Eagle View’ or ‘Blue Wren Ramble’ and for those who really want to go the extra mile, the ‘Sixty Foot Falls Circuit’ will make even the best hikers break a sweat.
Look out for a waterfall which leads into the Old Barrington Quarry after a good splash of rain.
Distance from Ocean Gardens, City Beach: 34.2km
Drive time: 42 minutes
4. Yanchep National Park, Yanchep
Parkland, picnic spaces, kangaroos and caves, Yanchep National Park has it all!
Wildflowers, native Australian wildlife, picnic space and more.
If you’ve got friends and family north of Perth, Yanchep National Park is a treasure. Plenty of parkland, native wildlife and even some kangaroos if you’re lucky, it’s well worth the drive. Feeling in the mood for some spelunking? There are even caves to explore!
Distance from Ocean Gardens, City Beach: 50.4km
Drive time: 46 minutes
5. Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone
Most famous for their tulip season in September, Araluen Botanic Park is a WA gem all year round.
Nestled in beautiful Roleystone, it’s worth making a day trip out of it and exploring the nearby attractions. You can bring a picnic lunch, enjoy the cafes at Araluen or even pop over to the Elizabethan Village for “hearty fare, beer and ciders” in an old English-style tavern, modeled after Shakespeare’s childhood village.
Distance from Ocean Gardens, City Beach: 47.8km
Drive time: 58 minutes
Benefits of bushwalks for retirees
You may have heard us harp on before about the importance of staying active as we enter retirement. Staying active means you can:
- Support your bones, joints and muscles
- Maintain your independence for years to come
- Reduce chances of injuries and falls
- Look after your mental health and more.
Staying active doesn’t mean you have to run marathons or go on a 10 kilometre hike on the regular. Simply going on leisurely nature walks and enjoying the fresh air can be a great way to keep fit.
In fact, the National Parks Association of NSW has called bushwalking “a natural tonic for the modern world” saying:
“Bushwalking also works your legs, glutes and core muscles more than street walking.
–– NPANSW
Add to this increased heart and lung fitness, reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, and improved management of health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, and you can see that the health benefits of bushwalking are a no brainer. By connecting with nature, you are setting yourself up for a healthier, happier, and longer life.”
Staying active isn’t the only key to retiring right. Find more tips and tricks to get the most out of your retirement here.
Perth has so much to offer, and City Beach really is in the heart of it all. Learn all about the perks of City Beach living here.
