Last week we braved the winter onslaught (it happened to be the first rainy day in almost 2 weeks) and headed off to Perth’s botanic gardens, King’s Park. The park envelopes 400 hectares of Mt Eliza in the middle of the city and gives breathtaking views of the Swan River below.
It’s a great place for the family, so our extended mix (including the grandparents) embarked on a picnic in the park.
Kings park has an array of different gardens which span the site. These are interlocked with roads or bicycle paths and many people prefer to use the paths for walking; stopping every now and then to gaze on or draw in the fragrance of a local native. As we had the kids with us we decided that the Western Power Playground (formerly the Children’s Playground) was probably the safest place to head.
The views of the city and surrounding Swan River are incredible and there are many lookouts to avail yourself of some great photos.
One of the major features of King’s Park is the suspended tree-top bridge. It meanders slighltly through the top of some great marri and eucalyptus trees and offers visitors a great birds-eye view of the understorey
One of the highlights for me is the dedicated Banksia garden. These would have have to be a top 10 plant in my book and I haven’t found a varietal that I haven’t loved. If you haven’t experienced Banksia flowers then I would highly recommend organising a trip here. They amaze me with their softness and vivid colours while the foliage can seem so harsh. Here’s what I mean…
King’s Park is also a vast memorial for fallen war heroes. There are many monuments and statues that dot the park and this is the ‘mecca’ for Anzac Day parades.
This monument remembers the Vietnam campaign
Throughout the park, each road is lined on both sides with various species of trees. Eucalypts are the predominant planting and there are many varieties of these. In front of many of these trees are memorial name plates honouring those servicemen and women who had fallen during the various wars that Australia has been engaged in. It’s a very sobering drive as you read the names and visualise friends who are similar ages. Each tree was planted by a friend or family member in their honour.
King’s Park is Perth’s Botanical Garden and is wonderful to visit. It predominantly grows plants and trees that are native to WA while vast sections of the park are still virgin scrub.