Type
Mix of bush and Urban Walk
Region
Beeliar Wetlands; Bibra Lake
Experience
Family Friendly, Native Flora & Fauna
Time
1-2 Hours
Length
2.25 km (2250 metres)
Difficulty
Easy, wheelchair friendly (Assisted)
Trail Legend
Begin at Point 1 or at whatever point you want to start your trail or know more about! There's do much to discover!
Click on any of the links on this table to jump to that section.
| POINT 1 | The Wetlands Centre, Cockburn | POINT 6 | Transition Zone |
| POINT 2 | Jarrah- Banksia Woodland | POINT 7 | Old Birdwalk & Bird Hide |
| POINT 3 | Balga Grove | POINT 8 | Narma Kullarck Boardwalk |
| POINT 4 | Moodjar Corner | POINT 9 | Seed Production Area |
| POINT 5 | Kondil Place | TRAIL END | The Wetlands Centre, Cockburn |
Point 1: The Wetlands Centre, Cockburn
The trail begins at the southern end of the parking lot at TWC. The Centre was established in 1993 to provide educational and land care services to the City of Cockburn. It has become a regional hub for landcare, conferences, environmental education, meetings and scouting activities. The Centre sits in landscaped grounds surrounded by local native flora. Information about Bibra Lake and the Beeliar Regional Park is available from TWC.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.0862798 S,115.8309063 E
What to look for:(Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Chenille honey myrtle ( Melaleuca huegelii ); Banksia Grandis (observe flowers)
Point 2: Jarrah-Banksia Woodland
As you walk along the trail you will initially pass through a section of jarrah/banksia woodland in which jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and three species of banksia (Banksia attenuata, B menziesii, B ilicifolia) are dominant. Most of the understorey in this area has been disturbed by past grazing activities when this site was a dairy farm. However, since the farming activities ceased in 1985 considerable regeneration has occurred with species such as jarrah, banksia, sheoak (Casuarina fraseriana), marri (Corymbia calophylla), balga (Xanthorrhea preissii) and spearwood (Kunzea ericifolia).
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.086742 S, 115.831239 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ), The Jarrah cycle- buds, Jarrah flowers, Jarrah nuts- the seed pods, Jarrah wood and bark, Old Jarrah remnant logged last century- 4 metre circumference, Banksia ( B ilicifolia ) ( Banksia menziesii ), Seed Cones of the Banksias, Zamia ‘palm’ – a cycad, ( Macrozamia reidlii ) Seed formation on Zamias, end of season shrivelling, ( Banksia attenuata ), Flower spikes, cones, Western Australian golden wattle ( Acacia saligna )
Point 3: Balga (Grass Tree) Grove
Approximately 200 metres down the trail you will come to a magnificent grove of balgas or grass trees. These grow very slowly and some of these specimens are thought to be more than 300 years old.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.087203 S, 115.831344 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Grass Trees ( Xanthorrhoea preissii ), flowering, flower spikes, remnants of grass trees
Point 4: Moodjar (Christmas Tree) Corner
Another 100 metres down the trail you will arrive at a small stand of the spectacular WA Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda). These trees are covered in brilliant orange blossoms in December. They are parasitic and belong to the mistletoe family and they often attach their roots to those of the biara or candlestick banksia (B attenuata). Jarrah is also common in this area.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.087663 S, 115.830928 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Christmas Tree ( Nuytsia floribunda ), various stages of flowering
Point 5: Kondil (Marri) Place
Another 50 metres down the trail you will arrive at a small grove of ancient marris (Corymbia calophylla). There is a bench here where you can rest and contemplate the tranquil scene. Many bush birds can be seen in this locality, including parrots, honeyeaters, fantails and ravens. One of the marris has a nesting box for bats, high up on its trunk. The holly leaf banksia (B ilicifolia) is also prominent in this area.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.089382 S, 115.829330 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Marri (Corymbia calophylla), Marri bark, Marri buds, Marri flowers, Marri nuts, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, Bush birds- Australian Ringneck,
Bush birds- Magpie-lark
Fun Fact: There are 92 birds on the Birdlife Australia list for Bibra Lake!
Point 6: Transition Zone
Leaving Marri Place you soon reach a junction where you turn right to descend to the Lake. This area was cleared by the farmers many years ago and is now undergoing assisted regeneration. You will see some different species here, including tuarts ( E gomphocephala ), coastal blackbutt ( E todtiana ), dwarf sheoak ( C humilis ) and several kunzeas. Look for the explanatory signs.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.087663 S, 115.830928 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Interesting foliage, Hackett’s hop bush ( Dodonea hackettiana ), Hackett’s Hop Bush- flowers, bush blooming and fading; Hemiandra glabra, Coastal Sheoak ( Allocasuarina fraseriana ), Dwarf Sheoak ( Allocasuarina humilis ) and its nuts, Eucalyptus todtiana, in flowering, Nature's artistry, Grey Stinkwood ( Jacksonia furcellata ), Green Stinkwood ( Jacksonia sternbergiana ), Spearwood ( Kunzea ericifolia ), the cycleway, Moonah or Modong ( Melaleuca preissiana ), Cape Leeuwin Wattle ( Paraserianthes lophantha ), Banksia littoralis, Banksia in bloom
Point 7: Old Boardwalk & Bird Hide
Another 100 metres down the trail you will reach the cycleway. Here you should turn right and proceed along the cycleway for 50 metres until you reach the pathway on the left that takes you through the fringing zone of the Lake to the Walliabup jetty. This pathway passes through a thick forest of flooded gums (E rudis), swamp paperbarks (Melaleuca rhaphiophylla), and the swamp banksia (B littoralis). This area was also cleared in the past by the dairy farmers and it has been revegetated by volunteers and the City of Cockburn. There are many introduced species in this area, including tuarts, river red gums and Tasmanian blue gums. There are also many attractive shrubs, such as Melaleuca lateritia which flower profusely in the Spring. As you approach the jetty you will see extensive reed beds of Juncus pallidus and Baumea articulata and the swamp paperbark (M teretifolia). Waterbirds (such as black swans, black ducks, coots and shelducks) are also often seen in this area. You may wish to walk to the end of the jetty and observe the abundant wildlife on the Lake from the bird hide.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.090881 S, 115.827029 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): The Old Boardwalk, Swamp Paperbark ( Melaleuca raphiophylla ), its flowers and nuts, Walk through the old boardwalk, gaze at the placid lake, explore the birdhide, Waterbirds- Eurasian Coot with chick, Purple Swamphen, Eastern Great Egret
Point 8: Narma Kullarck Boardwalk
Return to the cycleway and take a left turn. Head north for about 200 metres until you reach the path that leads to the floating boardwalk. Turn left and walk along the boardwalk to the bird hide. Along the way you will pass through a dense area of revegetated fringing vegetation. You may see many birds including willie wagtails, grey fantails, and purple swamphens. Dragonflies are also often seen in this area. The bird hide provides a place to rest and observe the waterbirds on the Lake. There is a display of paintings of waterbirds in the bird hide.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.0870619 S,115.8270964 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): Boardwalk shaped like the western snake-necked turtle,
Swamp Peppermint ( Agonis linearifolia ), Regelia ciliata, the Birdhide, part of the mural in the new birdhide, views from the hide, bullrushes, and the wildlife within (closeups), Glossy Ibis with a Shelduck family, Glossy Ibis, Australasian Shovelers and Coots, Black-winged Stilt with Pacific Black Duck, sword sedge, Baumea articulata, Knotted Club Sedge, Juncus pallidus, Bibra Lake from the west
Point 9: The Seed Production Area (SPA)
Leaving the boardwalk you should walk a short distance along the cycle way until you reach the limestone track that leads through a revegetation area towards the Wetland Precinct. Find your way around the precinct to the new nursery, which is close to Hope Road, to the north of The Wetland Centre building. This area is used to produce seeds for revegetation projects. As you approach The Wetlands Centre you will see the Native Animal Rehabilitation Centre on the left.
Information
GPS Coordinates: -32.08586 S, 115.83042 E
What to look for: (Browse through our slideshow for the following and look for these on your trail): The Seed Production area, propagated plants, recent platings around the centre, the Wetlands Amphitheatre
General advice for walkers
- Always take water and a mobile phone with you on your walks.
- Stay on the trail at all times and follow the trail markers.
- Do not walk through long grass or rushes as snakes are often found there.
- If you see a fire, please report it immediately to DFES (000 or 132500).
- Do not pick wildflowers. It is an offence for which large fines apply.
- Do not leave litter behind and use rubbish bins available at the facility.
- Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
- Please do not feed the birds and animals as bread/biscuits will make them sick.