South Perth Foreshore

The South Perth Foreshore is a 4.8 km riverside walk along Sir James Mitchell Park, running from the Narrows Bridge to Ellam Street with the Perth skyline across the water the whole way. It is flat, sealed and shared, and it doubles as one of the city's best value dog walks because big grassed sections behind the path are declared off-lead exercise areas.

Leash status

The City of South Perth's dog exercise map is the thing to read before you go: dogs stay on lead on the shared path and in the car parks, while the marked off-lead zones sit on the open lawn on the inland side. Even off lead, dogs must be under effective control, stay five metres clear of playgrounds and play spaces, and stay out of the wetlands, bushland and conservation areas.

Max: the boundary between on-lead path and off-lead grass is signed, not fenced, so know which side you are on before you unclip. The zone boundaries shift along the reserve, so re-read the signs at each new section rather than carrying the first one in your head.

The walk

Allow about an hour at an easy pace for the full stretch, longer if you detour onto the grass or stop at a cafe. It works as an out and back, or as a much longer loop if you cross the river at the bridges. Morning light on the skyline is the drawcard, and the path is popular with runners and prams at all hours.

Water and hazards

Drinking fountains with dog bowls are spaced along the route, and bag dispensers and bins are easy to find. The main hazards are cyclists on the shared path, hot summer sun on the exposed stretches, and the river itself, which is not a swimming spot for dogs. Weekend events and sporting matches can bring lead-only conditions to parts of the park.

Getting there and parking

Parking lines South Perth Esplanade and Mill Point Road in timed bays, and larger foreshore car parks sit near the Coode Street end, filling early on fine weekends. The Mends Street ferry from the CBD drops you at the foreshore's mid point, which is the nicest way to arrive.

When to go

Early morning beats the heat and the crowds, and late afternoon is the second-best window in summer. Spring through autumn are the prime months, though the walk works year round in Perth's climate.

Pair it with

Split on Angelo and Little Angelo around the Mends Street end handle dogs outdoors, and Olives Reserve Fenced Dog Park in Como adds a fully fenced session if the off-lead zones are crowded.

The Perth Water Circuit extends this walk into a full river loop. More options are on the Western Australia dog walks guide and the South Perth destination page.