The Piney Lakes Reserve is located in the suburb of Winthrop in the City of Melville and is bounded by Leach Highway to the north and Murdoch Drive to the east.
This reserve encompasses approximately 67 hectares, comprising of around 50 hectares of bushland and wetland environments and 17 hectares of developed parkland to the south and the west. Piney Lakes Reserve is also home to the Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre.
The reserve provides a picturesque open space suitable for large functions and wedding ceremonies. With several walking trails available where you can connect with nature, learn about Piney Lakes Aboriginal History and explore the beauty and biodiversity of the bushland and wetland. The reserve is also features the Piney Lakes Sensory Play Park.
History of Piney Lakes Reserve
Piney Lakes Reserve is a culturally significant site for Noongar women.
Before European settlement, women’s rituals and the education of young children were conducted here. Today this is recognised by the Bidi Katitjiny Aboriginal Women’s Trail.
After settlement the area was used as a piggery, horse stables and as grazing land for cattle. In the 1920s bushland was cleared for a pine plantation, which caused the wetlands to dry up by the 1950s. Between the 1960s-1980s the plantation was phased out, and the suburb of Winthrop was developed. Since then, a lot of work has gone into restoring the bushland in the reserve.
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Location
Walking Trails at Piney Lakes Reserve
There are several walking trails of varying lengths and accessibility around Piney Lakes Reserve download our
walking trails brochure for more information on each walking trail.
If you find hazards or items requiring maintenance while walking, please
contact us. To report sick or injured wildlife call Wildcare Helpline 9474 9055 or WA Wildlife 9417 7105.
Bidi Katitjiny Aboriginal Women’s Trail
Piney Lakes Reserve is a site of significance for local Noongar women. This trail shares knowledge about the
Noongar Six Seasons, which allows First Nations people to conserve and protect natural resources and ensure sustainability of the environment for future generations. The name of the trail, Bidi Katitjiny, comes from the word Bidi which means trail or pathway, and Katitjiny which means knowledge.
Download the Trail Brochure for more information.
- Distance: 400m (20minutes)
- Accessibility: This trail is sealed and accessible, making it suitable for most groups.
- Starting Location: See trail start location
Climate Watch Trail
ClimateWatch allows every Australian to collect and record data that will help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change.
Climate change is affecting rainfall and temperature across Australia, and is triggering changes in established flowering times, breeding cycles, migration movements and more.
This trail at Piney Lakes spotlights local indicator species and encourages visitors to record their observations as they walk.
Download the ClimateWatch app and record what you see!- Distance: 1.5km (45 minutes to 1 hour)
- Accessibility: Part of the trail is a sandy track, so will not be suited to all visitors, however this section will be upgraded in 2022, making the entire trail accessible for wheelchairs and prams.
- Starting Location: See trail start location
Wetland Walk Trail
Walk around the natural wetland and through our paperbark forest. See local plants and animals including birds, Quendas and orchids and listen out for frog calls! Wetlands are a very important part of our natural environment providing food, habitat and water to local animals and acting as a filter in the water cycle.
We suggest wearing long pants, enclosed shoes and long sleeves as mosquitos can be more common near the wetland, and some of the plants are spikey. Please make sure to use the shoe cleaning station at the entrance and exit to the natural wetland area to help stop the spread of
dieback (a disease that kills plants).
- Distance: 650m (30 minutes)
- Accessibility: Sandy trails and uneven ground make this trail unsuitable for prams or wheelchairs.
- Starting Location: See trail start location
Piney Lakes StoryMap
Created in collaboration with the
Parks and Wildlife Service WA, the
Piney Lakes Reserve StoryMap allows you to discover the beauty of the Banksia woodlands and paperbark wetlands. The StoryMap includes ten stop points with information about plants and animals and supporting photos.
Pre-load the Piney Lakes Reserve Story Map on your mobile device.
- Distance: 1.4km (1 hour)
- Accessibility: The entire trail is accessible for wheelchairs and prams. Please note that dogs are only allowed on the concrete footpaths (not the limestone path).
- Starting Location: See trail start location
Piney Lakes Play Trail
Looking for a trail to do with your kids? Check out the new Piney Lakes PlayTrail – a digital scavenger hunt with various challenges to unlock and points to win!
To access the Piney Lakes Play Trail:
- Download the free ‘Play Trails’ app (search ‘Play Trails’ in Apple App Store of Google Play Store)
- Select ‘Redeem Invitation’ and enter the code: PINEYLAKES
- Click on ‘Download Trail’
You will need a device with mobile data and location services turned on, as all resources needed for this trail are in the app. You can start anywhere on the trail but you will need to be at the right location to access the activities through the app.
- Distance: 1.5km (1.5hours)
- Accessibility: This trail is sealed and accessible making it suitable to most groups and dog friendly (they must be kept on leash).
Piney Lakes Self-Guided Walk Explore Piney Lakes Reserve to discover its history, learn about Noongar culture and experience the diversity of Perth’s unique natural environment. This tour is designed to be self-guided using this brochure and incorporates the Bidi Katitjiny Aboriginal Women’s Trail as well as the Wetland Walk Trail. There are seven stop points to visit on this tour with other educational signage to read along the way.
We suggest wearing long pants, enclosed shoes and long sleeves as mosquito’s can be more common near the wetland, and some of the plants are spikey.
- Distance: 1.8km (1.5 hours)
- Accessibility: Part of this trail includes sandy trails and uneven ground. You can adjust the walk to stay on accessible asphalt paths by excluding the section that goes through the natural wetland.
- Starting Location: See trail start location
Please note: If you plan on bringing your dog along to any of the walking trails, refer to the
dog walking area map for areas in which dogs are permitted on or off leash.
Piney Lakes Video Tour
If you're unable to make it to the park, explore the virtual tour. Highlighting all that Piney Lakes Reserve has to offer from playgrounds to walking trails and unique and endangered species.
Reserve Hire Information
This reserve is suitable for wedding ceremonies with up to 200 guests and other large functions (gatherings, family reunions, children’s birthday parties) with up to 300 guests. For large public events, an approved Event Application is required to secure an event on City of Melville reserves.
Please note there are some things you can't do or bring to this reserve:
- Bouncy castles and marquees may be permitted with required approval
- Petting zoos, animal farms and pony rides are not permitted
- Pegs/stakes are not permitted to secure structures or bouncy castles. Weights must be used to secure any structures (such as marquees)
- No confetti is permitted
Other important information to note when making a booking:
- The waterfall only runs when the lake is low. It can not be guaranteed to be running during your booking.
- Bookings are not accepted for Public Holidays, 18th and 21st birthday parties
- Large functions may need to arrange overflow parking on the reserve. Additional charges may apply
- All bookings will be considered tentative until full payment is made
To check for available dates, please contact the Customer Relations Team on 9364 0666 or use the Hire Enquiries form below.
Once you have consulted Customer Relations, please lodge a booking application:
Book Online
Fees and Charges