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Butterflies, Birds & Bridges Trail, Canning River Pk

Urban Walk

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inPerth & Surrounds

  • 1-3 hours
  • 4 km
    • Bush Walk Grade 1

One of the most stunning trails in the Canning River Regional Park, this four kilometre dual use trail will take you over sedge meadows, through mature woodlands, over creeks and amongst the crowns of a paperbark forest.

View from Kent St Weir upstream
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Trail Start

Get directions

Canning River Regional Park at the end of Kent Street, 20 minute drive from Perth

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Built in 1928 to prevent salt water moving upstream and destroying the alluvial soils of market gardeners, the weir is now listed on the Register for Historic Places. A beautiful place to have lunch and watch the bird life.
creec_home

A venture of the City of Canning, CREEC aims to increase awareness and understanding of the Canning River Regional Park through environmental primary and secondary educational activities and programmes. CREEC also provides resources for classes, workshops and overall community development for local volunteer groups and corporate organisations.

CREEC is open Monday - Saturday 8:30am - 4:30pm.
castledare_railway

Built in 1963 on the grounds of the then Castledare Boys Home, the Castledare Miniature Railway brings to life a by-gone era. Operating on the 3rd Sunday of every month from the station in Wilson Park, and the 1st Sunday of every month from their Niana station in Wilson.

Operating both steam (Niana station) and Diesel engine trains (Niana and Wilson Park) the attraction is highly worth experiencing.
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Bird married Augusta Maud Earnshaw and they lived in one of the Colony's very few architect-designed homes, named "Woodloes". Built near Masons Landing, the mills finest Jarrah was sourced by Bird to build the masterpiece which still stands today.
It was opened as a museum in 1970s after being restored by the Canning Districts Historical Society.
It can be viewed from 2pm-5pm on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month.
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

The Canning River Regional Park extends 6km along both sides of the Canning River, between Shelley Bridge and Nicholson Road Bridge. The Butterflies, Birds and Bridges Loop encompasses a broad range of the park's ecosystems. The Kent St Weir was built in 1928 to prevent salt water moving upstream and destroying the alluvial soils of the market gardens. This is where the trail begins and immediately the estuarine tolerant plant species of samphires, soft needled swamp sheoak and salt-tolerant melaleucas can be seen transitioning into freshwater dominant species of flooded gums, river banksia and freshwater melaleucas. The trail takes you through the freshwater region, past wetlands constructed to improve the health of the river, parkland and tidal lagoons, to the Greenfield Street Bridge, where you cross over the river and return to the weir on the opposite side of the river.

This wheelchair friendly trail is popular with cyclists, walkers and bird-watchers. The park itself has 97 species of birds, which is approximately half the number of species recorded on the Swan Coastal Plain, many of these birds using the area to breed in.  Commonly spotted waterbirds include cormorants, swamp hens, ibis, pelican, egret, ducks and spoonbills.

Although the trail can be completed in little over an hour and a half, a full day can be spent in the area exploring the many attractions.  Picnic facilities are located at several places along the trail.  Wilson Park the area surrounding Kent St Weir has many attractions including the Canning River Eco Education Centre, Canning River Cafe and the Castledare Miniature Railway.

The river is also popular with canoeists, with designated canoe launch areas located at Riverton Bridge, Kent St Weir, Masons Landing, Hester Park and more further downstream of Shelley Bridge. A canoe trail exists from the Mt Henry Bridge to Hester Park past Nicholson Road.

In addition, several other walk trails can be completed while on this trail including the Banksia Hill Loop Walk trail and the Woodles Walk Trail.

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions - Crawley

(08) 9442 0300

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Be trail ready for Butterflies, Birds & Bridges Trail, Canning River Pk

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

One and a half hours if walking

Length

4km loop

What To Pack

Group A (Urban trails or short trails near facilities) required.

Trail Start

Canning River Regional Park at the end of Kent Street, 20 minute drive from Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Grade 1

No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.

Hazards & Warnings

Beware of snakes during warmer months.

Facilities

  • Access without assistance for the Disabled
  • BBQ Facilities
  • Bicycle Path
  • Bicycle Rack
  • Cafe
  • Car Park
  • Child Activities
  • Coach Parking
  • Dog Friendly
  • Interpretive Centre
  • Parking for Disabled
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet
  • Shaded Area
  • Sheltered Area
  • Toilet Facilities for Disabled
  • View Platform
  • Water Access Points

Best time of year

All year round, more flowers during Spring - September to November

Fees

Trail Access

Road

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