Matilda Bay

This is definitely one of the better parks close to the CBD.
Great views? Check!
Nice grass, plenty of shade? Check check!
A sandy beach, ample parking, permission to fire up your own BBQ? Check, check, check!!!
We went here for a Sunday BBQ with some colleagues. Sort of like an office pre-​Christmas party. It’s perfect really*. There’s flat ground to set up some tables and chairs, a nice beach along the length of the park for kids to play, toilet facilities, and very importantly, plenty of shade.
* it can be a bit busy sometimes, and during some seasons there can be jellyfish in the water.

Having grown up virtually next door to and studied at UWA, Matilda Bay is woven fairly firmly into my memories. I’ve had birthday parties between the jetties, rescued jelly fish from the shore as a kid (it seemed like a good idea at the time?!), gone to a wedding there, had D&Ms on the grass between tutorials, barbecued, windsurfed, gone prawning, watched fireworks and just gone for a walk along the bike path.
It’s a lovely stretch of the river, offering both shade and excellent views. There are toilets and change rooms, a kiosk, barbecues and a fancy restaurant. The bike path goes for ages in either direction, so it’s good for riding, walking or skating. It’s just a great place to be.

Simply stunning! Somehow the grass quite literally always seems to be greener at Matilda Bay than anywhere else.
There is an abundance of shade, gazebos and picnic benches, barbecues and everything else you would need to have the perfect picnic. Alternatively there are a few different cafés/​tea rooms that you can get a snack or a meal from and enjoy the view.
Matilda Bay is used by quite a few different sporting clubs as well — kayaking, rowing, kite surfing etc which means the area is usually buzzing with some form of activity.
Parking is very close by, although you will need to pay for it!
Matilda Bay is the perfect place to come and relax, or get in a walk and take in the view or partake in one of the aforementioned sporting activities. Without a doubt one of my favourite places in Perth!

Matilda Bay is a lovely park space along the Swan River in the suburb of Crawley. Beautiful green grass, lots of trees providing shade, BBQ and picnic facilities, a small jetty for the kids to play on and even a small pagoda structure in case it rains! There are resident Black Swans that hang around the river front, they are fairly friendly. A bicycle path runs along all the way into the city.
There are some lovely views of the city and the river of course!
I often visit the tearooms for a coffee during the week, sitting outside overlooking the river it is a coffee break with a relaxing view. The tearooms also do breakfast and lunch. There is an upmarket restaurant nearby called Matilda Bay Restaurant.
The bay is within walking distance from UWA and Kings Park. I have often thought about hiring those two seated bicycles from Perth and riding to the tea rooms for fun, the bicycle path curves right around the swan river. Something to do on a sunny Sunday

This is a stunning spot for wedding receptions.
During the warmer months a range of marquees are constructed along the waters edge.
Caterers setup their vans outside, a dance floor and furniture is set up, and voilà you have an instant wedding reception! Add some lanterns sparking in the trees above for your head for extra magic.
The view of the city and its reflection in the Swan River on a balmy evening is pretty spectacular.
On a different note, I have been on a few boat rides where we’ve spotted off in Matilda Bay for a swim off the back of the boat, damn it feels good to be Australian!

Matilda Bay is a crescent-​shaped bay snaking its way around Crawley. Two lanes separates Matilda Bay from the University of Western Australia, so it is a popular place for students who are looking for a shady place to sit while between classes.
Matilda Bay is also popular for families, due to a copious amount of shade and soft, well-​manicured grass. Occasionally, there will be those brave enough to wade into the Swan River for a swim, especially in the summer.
Matilda Bay is a comfortable place to observe the river, especially during sunset.

Matilda Bay is one of the best places to come down for a BBQ or picnic with family and friends. Come down, bring your meat to chuck on the barbie and your blankets to sit on the grass and watch the sun set over the boats in the harbour. There is plenty of park space for groups to spread out and run around. After your feed head down to the beach, if it’s a balmy night go for a quick dip in the water, dare someone to swim out to a boat, sit on the beach and pick out which boat you’d prefer to have if you could and enjoy the evening in this relaxed, happy environment.

Matilda Bay is quite large and even when it is thronged on a Saturday afternoon with picnicing families, birthday parties and couples, you will still find somewhere beside the water to plonk down your blanket and have your lunch.
There is always a crowd of kite surfers and wind surfers on the river. There is obviously a lot of beginners and although watching them can be quite amusing, it also instills a sense of comfort that if you wanted to take lessons that you wouldn’t be the only jelly bean in the pack.
There are plenty of public BBQ’s to use and ample parking.

Matilda Bay is easily one of the best places to have a picnic in Perth. The strip of beach and parkland between the University of Western Australia and the water is overpopulated with picnickers at certain of its ends. But there are pockets of shady unoccupied space along the strip as well and these are one would aim to park oneself and set up camp of an afternoon.
There are places along here to pick up coffee or sit down and have a meal. But you’re best advised to pack a blanket and bring your own food. For one thing, you’ll be saving money, and for another you’ll be able to enjoy the space more fully, more directly. The breeze is beautiful and the water is cool. Not that you’d want to go swimming in it, of course, but you can always half-​bury a bottle of sparkling in the sand and it should be cool within ten minutes.