Tag: perth WA

SUPing Around

Welcome to my first newsletter.  You are here because you paddle or are paddle-curious. Or maybe you just thought SUP has something to do with food or drink? I will try to satisfy all comers. Perhaps there are recipes we can share 🙂

I recently did a round up of some of my favourite standup paddle locations around Perth so I thought I would start with those.  These are not the only places you can paddle in Western Australia; we are very lucky to have so many spots to splash, and I will continue to review and add places to paddle in future issues.

Claughton Reserve, Bayswater

Looking for a sheltered upriver paddle location. Claughton Reserve in Katanning Street, Bayswater is one of my favourite SUP launch spots. 

💦there’s heaps of parking

💦a toilet block (in fact one of the funkiest toilet blocks I have ever seen!)

💦water fountains for filling your water bottle

💦easy to get in and out of the water

💦coffee stop at Ascot Kayak Club on weekends

It’s a great place to explore up or down the river depending on the winds.  A nice short paddle from there is up river and around Ron Courtney Island.

Ocean Paddling Perth

Perth’s southern beaches; Leighton, South Beach & Coogee Beach are wonderful when the conditions are right.  It’s knowing when the conditions are right that is the tricky part.

As with most outdoor activities in Perth I always go out in the mornings – the earlier the better.

In the Summer months from November to March the morning winds are more likely to be offshore (Easterly) and light.  Once the Freo Doctor comes in it’s too late and too windy. 

Use weather apps such as:

Willy Weather

Seabreeze

BOM

Windy.com

Not only is getting up early to paddle good for getting the right or no winds, but also to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Perth’s southern beaches:

💦are easy to get to

💦have free parking – but can be busy the later you arrive (see, getting up early has other benefits!)

💦have great cafes

💦have showers and changerooms

💦you can sometimes see dolphins, whales & sealions

💦North Coogee has the Omeo Wreck – great for SUPing around but also a very popular snorkelling spot. Pack your gear!

Go with a group or a buddy if you are a first timer on the ocean, ALWAYS use a leg leash and don’t go out further than you are comfortable with.   Be prepared to get wet and HAVE FUN!

Point Walter Reserve Bicton

You can paddle down river from the Point Walter sandbar, up past the cliffs at Blackwall Reach. Depending on the wind it can be quite sheltered through there.

Keep paddling down to Bicton Baths  and turn around or alternatively (depending on wind) do the reverse.

Handy tip: always paddle into the wind on the way out so you get a free ride on your return. It makes a difference

💦parking is usually available closeby  and if it’s not you can drop and park.

💦there’s  a great cafe at Point Walter

💦the scenery is amazing along Blackwall Reach

💦dolphins also love this part of the river

Freshwater Bay, Peppermint Grove

Freshwater Bay in Peppermint Grove is a beautiful spot to get out on the water. There’s usually sheltered waters close to the shore for those venturing out for the first time. Or for the more adventurous, a paddle along the cliff’s edge to the yacht club is a lovely paddle. Dolphins 🐬 are common in this area.

💦the water is clear

💦the shore easy to access

💦parking not usually a problem

💦 cafe close by for coffee and snacks

Some links to previous articles and websites of interest:

Top Water Activities in Perth to Try Today
Choosing the Right Waterproof Bag: Tips and Reviews
Avon Descent Paddle Challenge 2019
All In A Day #14 – Sealion the deal

Interested in racing and SUP events including the SUP Loop check out Perth’s SUP body SUPWA https://supwa.tidyhq.com/

Next newsletter: Kent Street Weir, Maylands Breakfast Paddle, Heirisson Island, Matilda Bay

All in a day # 1 Fremantle Western Australia

Wondering what to do with your day? A quick trip down the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) to the port of Fremantle is a fine thing to do on a Summer’s day.

Perth to Fremantle – Boats, trains and cocktails

January 2023

One sunny Saturday in January, we were home with no plans. It was one of those perfect Perth summer days – not too hot with the promise of a breeze. So an afternoon in Fremantle was just what the doctor ordered (see what I did there). If you are not from Perth, you may not know that the sea breeze is fondly known as the Fremantle Doctor.

The train is usually my transport of choice when heading to the port city as parking can be a nightmare, and what’s not to love about riding the train along the coast? However, today we decided to do as the tourists do and jump on the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) for a boat ride. I quickly checked online and discovered a Captain Cook cruise departing from Elizabeth Quay at 2:15 pm. $43 for a one-way trip – probably not something I would do every day. So without overthinking it, I booked!

Elizabeth Quay
Captain Cook Cruises

We threw on some hats, grabbed the camera, and caught a bus to Elizabeth Quay. The boat was ready to board when we got there, so we headed for the top deck. The bar was open, and beer was on the menu, so we ordered a beer and sat back to enjoy the trip of just over an hour. There was a commentary of course, which is not always to my liking – but this was OK. The skipper pointed out landmarks and told us about some of the houses we passed.

Swan Brewery
Perth City

We arrived in Fremantle Harbour, where we caught sight of frolicking dolphins and could see the bustling Gage Roads Brewery, now situated on the wharf in one of the old passenger terminals. We decided to go and check out the brewery first. The brewery was impressive, with views of the harbour and enough seating configurations to suit groups of all sizes. A playground at one end with a real boat and an old four-wheel drive for the kids to climb on.

Freo Giraffes
Maritime Museum
Gage Roads Brewery
Gage Roads Brewery
This might be the best bar view in Perth!

Next stop was the Fremantle Markets – I must admit I last went there some time ago, and it feels a bit tired. Even though it was bustling, it didn’t have the same vibe as the old days when permanent markets like Fremantle were king (or queen). I enjoy the outdoors of a farmers market these days. We did a quick circuit, breathed in the flavoured coffee smell that always assaults the senses when you enter the market and decided to head back to the other end of town. We meandered and stopped to check out op shops and bookshops. Fremantle wins hands down when it comes to secondhand books and killer op shops.

Op Shop
Vintage clothing

The next stop was the Jungle Bird, where the cocktails were flowing – so when in a rum bar… We stopped for a cocktail and soaked up the atmosphere before deciding that we should think about getting on the train for home.

The Jungle Bird
Rum bar

The train was in the station, so we boarded and sat back to enjoy the coastal view. By this stage, we were starting to feel a bit hungry, so we decided to get off the train in West Leederville and duck into Besk for some share plates and one last drink. The food was delicious and really hit the spot – we over ordered, of course, and had to abandon the basket of french fries!

Besk Bar – West Leederville

We could have gotten back on the train and continued our journey as we started by returning home on the bus. But with full stomachs and all that fresh sea air, we were happy to jump into an Uber for the trip home.

We arrived home as the sun set and agreed that our adventure had met all expectations considering we had none about 30 minutes before we had set off.

What’s the skinny?

  • Fremantle is around 30 minutes from Perth City.
  • The train departs every 15 minutes during peak hour and every 30 minutes on weekends and at other times.
  • Fremantle is a port city with a rich maritime history.
  • Gage Roads Brewery is worth a visit, if not for a beer, just for a gander.
  • Its best to catch a train (or ferry) because parking can be tight.
  • Captain Cook Cruises depart from Barrack Street Jetty in the city & arrive at B Shed in Fremantle.
  • Give yourself a day to meander.
  • Go and visit the Maritime Museum – there are two.