It is no secret that Perth’s beauty and attractive lifestyle comes at a price when it comes to dining – so opt to put down a rug instead!
Despite the mining boom being over, the boom of meal expenses has yet to deflate – sigh! Time to save those pennies and pack a lunch in at one of my favourite Perth picnic spots that provide priceless views from along the coast to the hills.
Leighton Beach
Just a short drive away from Fremantle and its famous coastal counterpart Cottlesloe, Leighton Beach is a cosy spot to get the best of both worlds; some grass if you are keen for some picnic sports and also, the placid beach itself. Even better, there are free barbecues so you could become a beachside chef. Cook under the sun while you work that grill!
This spot hardly draws in the crowds as most people flock to up the coastline for Cottlesloe but that does not mean this beach is anything less than perfect – oh no. If you are wanting something quiet and a bit more chill in terms of being that tad more remote and having more beach space than you can possibly dream of, than Leighton Beach it is!
Leighton Beach, Leighton Beach Boulevard, Fremantle, 6159
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Kings Park
A trip to Kings Park is like an unofficial mandatory must-do for all visitors coming to Perth for the first time. Really, after visiting, you would have only been more than happy to have walked through one of the world’s largest inner city parks. Even better, found the Perth picnic spot with an unbelievable vantage point.
Located in West Perth, this premier park of WA really captures the wide-open-spaces charm of Perth with its sweeping views across the city, the Swan and Canning Rivers and untainted natural surrounds of Mt Eliza. It is also home to botanical gardens, commemorative monuments including the State War Memorial and the (literally) breathtaking 620-metre arched walkway over Eucalypts treetops.
See why my hometown of Perth has been given the title as City of Lights from King’s Park best vantage point in the Pines Picnic Area (my top pick for a romantic sundowner). Overlooking the Swan River, a view from here is such a treat as the brightly lit CBD, including the hard-to-miss nighttime LED rainbow that is Perth Council House really does make the Perth skyline that extra bit magical.
The playgrounds here are not just limited to kids with the DNA tower also ready to make your heart rate go faster too – just make sure to pack the sneakers.
King’s Park, Fraser Avenue, King’s Park, 6005
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Trigg Beach
If you are chasing the view as well as the waves, then head north and you will find your coastal paradise at Trigg Beach. Work up an appetite by surfing along the coast or simply catch some free entertainment by watching the surfers themselves. Never-mind sand between your toes as sitting along the grassed clifftop Clarko Reserve, you can still soak up the beach vibes. Plus, you can even use their free barbeques so multi-beach tasking at its finest! In addition to its magical clifftop setting, this is a superb spot to catch sight of a glistening Perth sunset.
Trigg Beach, Clarko Reserve, South West Coast Highway, Trigg, 6029
Araluen Botanic Park
Leave the coast and ride the ranges with a day trip to the colour supreme, Araluen Botanic Park. Just 35km south-east of the city centre, you can feel like Alice in Bushland, strolling through its gardens of native and international exotic flora, making it one brightly hued paradise.
Save on the roses for Valentine’s day as Araluen boasts the biggest rose collection in WA – so you can admire them from afar without the hefty price tag! The park is also famous for its pretty-in-pink Camilla, its nature walkways and striking, forever autumn red Liquidambar (American Sweetgum), which appears stunning in contrast to its 50 shades of native green bushland.
Despite the small road trip inland, you will feel a world away from the city itself as it is pleasantly quiet with enough areas to set down the basket and unwind in an Instagram-worthy hashtag haven.
Araluen Botanic Park, 362 Croyden Rd, Roleystone, 6111