Kings Park
Perth’s 400-hectare (4 km2) Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner-city parks. Opened in 1965, Kings Park has the best views of where the Swan and Canning Rivers meet and is visited by close to 6 million people every year.
Two-thirds of Kings Park is natural bushland, and the rest of Kings Park is the Western Australian Botanic Garden, walking trails, lookouts, monuments, and open recreation areas.
The Western Australian Botanic Garden is unique from most other botanic gardens around the world in that it focuses on local flora.
During the wildflower seasons, Kings Park is where you can see the most variety of Western Australia’s wildflowers in one place.
Other than the Swan and Canning Rivers, Kings Park also offers stunning views of Perth City, South Perth, and the distant Perth Hills.
Check out the map of Kings Park.
Lotterywest Federation Walkway
The 620m Lotterywest Federation Walkway through Kings Park’s Western Australian Botanic Garden is one of the most popular walking trails in Kings Park where walkers can appreciate the diverse flora of Western Australia on display along the walkway and enjoy spectacular views of the Swan and Canning Rivers, and Perth city skyline from the 50m glass and steel arched bridge elevated above treetops.
The Giant Boab
The amazing 750-year-old Giant Boab is a must-see in Kings Park. As a gift from the Gija people of Warmun in the East Kimberley region, this 37 tonnes and 18 m tall tree was transported 3200 km from the Kimberley region to Kings Park in 2008.
Boabs are deciduous trees that lose their leaves while going into dormancy during the winter months – the dry season in the tropics. New leaves will usually grow in October/November. Even without leaves, boabs can photosynthesise through their bark.
Do you know boabs can live to 1500 years?
The Walk
The best place to start walking the Lotterywest Federation Walkway is the Floral Clock, which features Western Australian native plants.
In the spring months, the Floral Clock will be especially spectacular with all the colourful flowers in full bloom. The names of the plants and flowers are well-signed so you will learn more about them.
Not far from the Floral Clock, you will come through the Western Australian Botanic Garden entrance. From here, the walking paths lead to the amazing 750-year-old Giant Boab.
From the Giant Boab, walking paths lead to Pioneer Women’s Memorial and Water Garden Pavilion, which feature a bronze woman & child statue which is the artwork of Margaret Priest, fountains, ponds, and connecting streams.
Continue on the walking paths and you will come to the 50m glass and steel arched bridge and boardwalk elevated above treetops. After the treetop boardwalk, you will complete the loop by heading back to the Giant Boab and then the Floral Clock.
The loop distance is approximately 1 km.
Want to discover more great walking locations around Perth? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
Perth’s 400-hectare (4 km2) Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner-city parks. Opened in 1965, Kings Park has the best views of where the Swan and Canning Rivers meet and is visited by close to 6 million people every year.