Perth’s Abundant Beauty: Where to Explore

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” – George A. Moore

George was right on the money. Many a proposed distant odyssey has been postponed due to Covid, but here in Perth you can do worse than head off on a local peregrination.

We’ve ventured to many a fine city park and suburban oasis during these days of contagion and have discovered, or rediscovered, our own fine metropolis.

Last weekend you could find us down on the shores of Lake Manning creeping about among those delightfully ghostly paperbacks.

We’ve popped over to Bayswater and strolled the beautiful riverside parkland at the Banks Reserve, before toddling inland for a cappuccino and focaccia on funky Whatley Crescent, Maylands.

Just over the Garrett Road Bridge, and south of the Ascot gee gees we crossed onto Kuljak Island (some may recall it used to be a dump back in the Jurassic), which has been transformed into marvellous flora and fauna reserve with waterside trails.

Then, of course, there are the bush and wildflower tracks and paths of Bold Park, City Beach, an important foraging and roosting ground for Carnaby’s cockies. The 360-degree views from lofty Reabold Hill take in the sweeping seascape on one side and over the city out to the Darling Range.

We have circled Lake Claremont many times and marvel at the fine restorative flora and fauna work carried out by Friends of Lake Claremont and the students at adjacent Scotch College.  Every year the lake and surrounds look more beautiful.

The South Perth Foreshore Walk is always a cracker with marvellous views across the Swan to the city and some smart cafes for the sauntering flaneur.

The Starfish has also turned up at Attadale and Alfred Cove and enjoyed the wetlands and conservation areas, both very important water bird sanctuaries.

We’ve strolled around the Old East Perth Cemeteries, housing some remarkable pioneer graves, then down through Gloucester Park and over the impressive new Matagarup Bridge to the stadium.

When it North Perth we make a point of swinging down Angove Street, which has come a long way in the last few decades and has some fabulous cafes and chic boutiques and shops.

Of course, we can’t forget spectacular Kings Park, currently a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour with Wildflower Month in full swing.

…Don’t even start us on our adventures in parks and reserves of the Perth Hills.

Needless to say, there is a wonderland out there to discover. We send a mighty salute to the Councils and Parks and Wildlife for their dedication to making this city the extraordinary place it is.

In this edition you’ll find our story on Julia Sprigg’s life-changing experience as a physio in Ethiopia. She has written a fascinating book about her time in the African nation.

We were also in the Margaret River wine region for the annual CinefestOz event. While the borders made it a smaller affair this year, the focus was very much on WA talent, and there is plenty of it. There is word that a new movie studio might be built in Perth, so could we become the new Antipodean Hollywood? Time will tell.

Margot has filed a review on the movie Adam, which gets the thumbs-up, and we have a deelish exotic fishcakes recipe from Sabrina Ghayour’s latest book.

Enjoy this edition of The Starfish!

Peter and Jacqui