
The fantastic playground at Heathcote
Applecross is famous for its abundance of great coffee spots and restaurants, but what you might not know is that it is also home to one of Perth's finest parks. Located just five minutes from the Canning Highway Exit of the Kwinana Freeway is
Heathcote Reserve. The park has tonnes of great features, but none stand out more than the incredible sights you are greeted with when you arrive - 180 degree views of the city and the magnificent swan river. You won't find another park with views like these.

The stunning view of the city from Heathcote
Next to the views, the second big standout feature at Heathcote is the beautifully restored heritage buildings and landscaped gardens. The buildings at Heathcote were once a hospital, but are now home to the Heathcote Cultural Centre and Heathcote Museum and Gallery. If you're thinking about a wedding ceremony, you can hire out the Swan House or Kitchen Building for around $40 - $55 per hour. An appointment time to view the venues can be arranged by calling 1300 300 252.
Heathcote Reserve has heaps of well minted BBQ's, picnic tables, toilets, and shade making it the perfect place for a family gathering or day out for the kids. The reserve also boasts an absolutely huge playground which includes a giant wooden replica pirate ship which kids can climb and run all over. There's heaps of swings at the playground, and even some safer equipment for the younger children. It may be a good idea to keep the little kids well supervised on the pirate ship as there are a lot of high ledges and balconies which might cause an accident.

The BBQ area
You can also enjoy a nice cup of coffee at the kiosk or catch up with friends over a delicious meal at the Break Water Grill - the restaurant and function centre at the park. After your meal you can even go for a scenic bush walk down the path to the river.
There's plenty of parking at Heathcote, however it can get pretty busy on the weekends and school holidays, so you might opt for parking a little further away from the park on busy days. This article doesn't do Heathcote Reserve justice, so I urge you to check it out for yourself this weekend.

The front of the park