Perth is probably the world’s only substantial city where it is possible to walk for more than a kilometre along an unspoiled spit, on which shore birds nest, surrounded by a great expanse of clear, relatively unpolluted water.
Point Walter’s sandbar will take you right out into a magnificent estuary.
Generally, one can safely walk a considerable portion of it, but the best ( “island” ) bit is not within safe reach
At the moment, however, a walker can safely reach even the very tip, which is much nearer to Peppermint Grove than to the Pt Walter side of the Swan.
At low tide one’s knees will not even get wet!
Since moving to Perth in 1983, my beloved and I have many times walked onto the Swan’s great sandbar, but only this week were we first able to walk its entire length.
i do not know how long this “window” will remain open (a major rain event could be enough to reverse the spit’s “accumulation” phase), but if you are anywhere near Perth, this is an opportunity worth taking.
Do not bring a dog with you, and when you reach the spit’s vegetated, “island” portion, walk only on the sand, near the shoreline; that done, the nesting birds should not be much troubled by your presence.
For an indeterminate time (which “should” have already ended – mobile wifi modems are among the items whose supply trains have been “derailed”. by “the virus”) I lack regular/reliable internet access.
When I regain it I will publish a substantive post about Thursday’s “full Monty” walk.
Click here for Pt Walter tide times.
Hi Doug, Keep it up when the wifi permits. Enjoy the walk on the “spit”. Over here in the east, we can only wonder how long it will be before we’re allowed to cross first the SA border and then the WA border so we can visit friends and locations in both places. All the best. Keep Covid-free ….