Wellya Park

Wellya Park is the neighbourhood park that does double duty for South Yunderup: play equipment and open recreation space for the family, and a designated off-leash dog exercise area for the dog, all on the banks of the Peel-Harvey Estuary. The Shire of Murray describes exactly that mix, which makes it an unusual combination of estuary foreshore and suburban park in the one place.

Leash status and the dog area

The off-leash designation covers the designated dog exercise area within the park, so the move is to walk in on leash, then let the dog off once you reach the marked space. Beyond that zone the normal leash rules of the shire apply, and the estuary edge itself is best treated as on-leash territory unless signage says otherwise. As always in Murray shire parks, effective control and waste pickup are the underlying conditions.

What is on site

The Shire lists play equipment and recreation space alongside the dog area, so it handles a mixed outing well: kids on the playground, dog working the open ground, everyone meeting back at a picnic spot. Because the park sits on the estuary, water views come standard and the breeze keeps summer visits bearable. It is a quieter alternative to the bigger Mandurah-side parks, with a fraction of the traffic.

When to go

Mornings are the estuary's best hour: cooler, calmer water views and the dog can stretch out before the day warms. The park is small enough that a busy hour changes the feel, so weekday mornings beat weekend afternoons for space. Bring water from home because the neighbourhood-park setup does not guarantee bubblers, and keep the estuary edge in mind for a dog that swims; the shallows are inviting but the tide and birdlife deserve respect.

Getting there and making a day of it

South Yunderup sits on the eastern arm of the Peel Inlet, a short drive from Mandurah, and the park is reached through the suburb's residential streets. For a coffee stop before or after, Pelican's Cafe is the local option and Turquoise Mandurah covers the Mandurah side. Sandy Cove Tavern is the dog-friendly pub for a lunch finish, and the wider area list is on the South Yunderup page.