Out and About
Perth's best picnic spots
05 Aug '223 min read
There are few things in life that are as universally loved as a picnic.
Queens Gardens
It’s relaxing, enjoying a meal outdoors surrounded by nature. Its idyllic, sitting with friends and family in a picturesque location. And it’s affordable, BYO’ing all your own snacks to enjoy in a scenic location. Plus, when you live in a city like Perth, the weather is - more often than not - pretty amazing, making picnicking all the more delightful.
So make like Yogi Bear and get yourself a picnic basket, and head to one of Perth’s best picnic spots.
Queen’s Garden, East Perth
Queen’s Gardens in East Perth is a beautiful open space with lakes, waterlilies and flowers as far as the eye can see. The manicured lawns, undercover gazebos and endless trees mean finding a picnic spot in Queen’s Garden is incredibly easy. And, for the movie buffs, this garden is home to a very convincing replica of the park bench made famous in the movie Notting Hill.
Stirling Gardens, Perth
Stirling Gardens is the oldest garden in the City of Perth, officially opened as Perth’s first botanical garden in 1845. These days, it’s a popular space for people to escape the hustle and bustle in Perth CBD, offering a quiet space to relax and reflect. The kangaroo sculptures, huge Moreton Bay Fig Tree and fabled May Gibbs’ creations Snugglepot and Cuddlepie make this one of Perth’s more interesting picnic destinations.
Stirling Gardens Matilda Bay Reserve, Crawley
Matilda Bay Reserve is as close to a little slice of heaven as you can get. The options for a picnic spot are plentiful, whether it’s on the grassy parkland, at the picnic benches or at one of the barbeques.
The views are spectacular, with the sun sparkling on the waters of the bay and Perth city beyond in the distance. The ambience is delightful, with people sailing on the river, kids splashing about and people walking their dogs through the winding footpaths. And - just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any more idyllic - about 20 bottlenose dolphins inhabit the Swan River and can occasionally be seen from Matilda Bay Reserve. Honestly, you couldn’t get any more perfect if you tried, could you?
John Oldham Park, Perth
John Oldham Park is a slightly lesser-known picnic spot, but stunning nonetheless. Situated just outside Kings Park off Mounts Bay Road, this lush park offers beautiful city views, plentiful barbeque facilities and even a tranquil waterfall. All those factors combined make this is a wonderful picnic spot.
John Oldham park Harold Boas Gardens, West Perth
Harold Boas Gardens is an inner-city oasis, offering a dose of peace and calmness to the workers of West Perth. A serene lake, waterfall and rock cascade are surrounded by plenty of grassy areas and park benches. Plus, the trees in Harold Boas Gardens date back to 1900, so they are enormous and offer boundless shady picnic spots.
Harold Boas Gardens Victoria Gardens, East Perth
This little strip of nature perched on the river banks in East Perth is a great spot to take your picnic basket. The gardens are one of Perth’s first, originally planted in the 1800s. A number of original trees still exist, and Victoria Gardens also feature artwork that celebrate the Indigenous history and culture of the area.
Kings Park, Perth
The park that needs no introduction. Kings Park, one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner city parks, is obviously a fantastic picnic location. Wherever you choose to set up in this spectacular spot, you can be certain you’ll have a great picnic experience.
Kings Park Looking for more things to do in Perth? Check out Perth's best breakfast spots or the City's best bookstores.