Point Fraser, Perth City

What: Point Fraser Reserve
Where: Corner Causeway and Riverside Drive, Perth MAP
When: All year
Who: All ages
Cost: Parking is $2.50 per hour, otherwise the reserve is free to visit.
Facilities: Toilets, benches, information boards, bike hire available, shaded playground area with liberty swing.

Saturdays in our house tends to be housework day. Which means we sit around doing not much and procrastinating. This typically ends with me getting a bit of cabin fever and cursing that I yet again didn't make any plans. Not this time! This Saturday we were going out! 

The plan was to park at Point Fraser Reserve, let the girls have a play, then walk along the river to the Barrack St Jetty, have morning tea, look at the bell tower, have a bounce on Sacrilege (part of the Perth Arts Festival), and then finish off with the walk back to the car. The bad part of my plan was that I didn't check the weather - forecast of 35 degrees!

The playground at Point Fraser Reserve is quite small, but it acts as a great base to go and do other things. About Bike Hire is located here, so you could hire a bike and ride around the river (or bring your own), Heirisson Island is only a short walk to the east, or you can do as we did and head to the Barrack St Jetty/Bell Tower. Most of Riverside drive has two paths - 1 for cyclists, and 1 for walkers.

Path along the river - lots of room.

There is plenty of parking, however it is paid parking and costs $2.50 per hour.

The playground is quite unique as it is shaded by giant metal umbrella like structures. They are a sight to see in themselves. There are swings, a slide, rock climbing wall, large spider net, plank crossings, as well as a liberty swing. I was a bit hesitant at first that maybe the equipment was a bit too grown up for my 2.5 year old, but she jumped straight in, and climbed up the rock wall. I was impressed!

Rock climbing wall and giant shade structures. This part of the playground is covered in softfall.

Another way to get up the mound to the spider net.

Spider net and view of the wetlands and city.

Planks and bridges as part of the playground.

The playground is surrounded by reclaimed wetland, with lots of information boards and boardwalks. Across the road is Ozone Reserve which has more of the same.

Wetlands

Boardwalks around the wetlands - keep a close eye on littlies!

I was exhausted and sweaty after our morning out, but it sure did beat doing the housework at home. Both girls fell asleep in the car on the way home (the big one fell asleep in the pram on the walk back!), which is always an added bonus.