Overview
This page has a full description of this section of the trail, including supporting photographs. You can read this page and/or
NOTE: this is a relatively short walk (3.1km one way). This is because there is a very long beach walk along Swanbourne beach (2.9km) which is adjacent to the Swanbourne Barracks and is only accessible at either end.
Starting point
The starting point is the club rooms and kiosk at Floreat Beach. There are toilets, showers drinking taps and kiosk here.
Getting there using public transport
The best way to the start using public transport is to catch either buses 83 (not on weekends) or 82 (every day). Both buses start from the Roe Street Bus Station, which is a short walk from the Perth central train station.
For Bus 83, take this to the terminus near the roundabout on the corner of Chipping Road and Catesby Street. Head south along the path along Chipping Road once you get off the bus for about 200m, and just near where the road straightens, turn right onto the small side road that takes you to The Boulevard. Turn right and head towards the beach along the path until you get to West Coast Highway, about 250m. Cross over West Coast Highway and head south along the path for about 230m where the path turns into the starting point, the club rooms and kiosk at Floreat Beach.
For Bus 82, get off the bus just after it turns into Templetonia Crescent off The Boulevard. Walk back up the The Boulevard (70m) and turn left towards the beach along the path until you get to West Coast Highway, about 750m. Cross over West Coast Highway and head south along the path for about 230m where the path turns into the starting point, the club rooms and kiosk at Floreat Beach.
Turn around point
The turnaround point is the end of the sand track at north Swanbourne beach.
Getting back to the start from the turn around point – if you don’t want to do an out-and-back walk
Bus 81 terminates near the turn around point but only runs on week days. Walk back to Challenger Parade and turn right and walk about 200m and turn left onto Launceston Ave. The bus stop is about 120m along Launceston Ave. Bus 81 ravels along Oceanic Drive, which becomes Cambridge Street. After the intersection of Cambridge with Lissadell Street, Bus 81 and 82 share the same route back to the City. Get off the 81 bus and then catch the next 82 bus going the opposite way, back to the starting point as described above. You will need to catch a taxi/Uber on weekends. You could catch Bus 82, which terminates at City Beach, which is about half way along the walk (see below). This bus will take you close to the starting point (see above).
Summary of the walk
Figure 1 below shows the route. The total one-way distance is 3.1 km, making it a 6.2 km out and back walk.
Figure 1
Water and toilets
Any toilet blocks are noted below in the text initalics. These are also sources of potable water. Any additional drinking water taps and showers are also noted initalics.
Walking guide
There are toilets, showers drinking taps and kiosk at the starting point.
Head south from the kiosk along the path through a grassed area and onto the main carpark. Walk to the southern end of the carpark where these is a red bitumen path through the sand dunes (Plate 1) which becomes a raised walkway with some excellent views (Plate 2), and ends at the northern carpark at City Beach (about 500m after the start).
Plate 1: The start of the Path at the end of the carpark
Plate 2: The raised walkway
Follow the path that runs next to the beach and along the grassed area (Plate 3) (there are a couple of showers along here) past Clancy’s restaurant, passes the main complex (cafes and surf lifesaving club) – another 150m - and continue on this path until it finishes at a service road (Plate 4). There is a toilet block in the main complex and a couple of showers along the way.
Plate 3: The start of the path that runs next to the beach and along the grassed area
Plate 4: The service road at the end of the path runs next to the beach and along the grassed area
Head up the service road for about 120m where you will come to an intersection between Jubilee Crescent and Challenger Parade (Plate 5).
Plate 5: The end of the service road at the intersection between Jubilee Crescent and Challenger Parade
You could follow the paths that head south from here adjacent to Challenger Parade (Plate 6), but a more interesting walk is to continue along Jubilee Crescent for about 50m and turn right and head south along the path (Plate 7). This path winds through the dunes and there is a look out at the top of the main dune (Plate 8).
Plate 6: The start of the paths that runs adjacent to Challenger Parade
Plate 7: The start of the path off Jubilee Crescent that runs through the dunes
Plate 8: View along the path
This path crosses two roads and ends after about 750m at Falmouth Ave. Turn right and walk along Falmouth Ave for about 100m, crossover Challenger Parade and head south along the path adjacent to Challenger Parade.
There are several paths leading to the beach going off to the right, but walk about 550m along the path and take the Number 1 access track to the beach (Plate 9).
Plate 9: The start of the sand track to the beach and the turnaround point
The beach is the turnaround point. As noted above, the beach south of here (Plate 10) is very long beach walk (2.9km) and is adjacent to the Swanbourne Barracks and is only accessible at either end.
Plate 10: The Beach south of the turn around point adjacent to the Swanbourne Barracks
Garry Middle, February 2018.