Friends of

Plan Your Visit

Galah, Jenny Christenson

There are two regions in the Melville Bird Sanctuary – the East Region (Alfred Cove) and the West Region (Point Walter). Boundaries for each region are specified below in “Wondering Where To Start”.

Opening hours: The Melville Bird Sanctuary is public space - open 24/7!

What to bring/wear: Enclosed walking shoes, sunscreen, a sun hat, water, binoculars, camera and probably a snack.

The best time to visit: Early morning, late afternoon, evening/dusk. The tides also play a role. During low tide when mudflats and sandbars are exposed, these attract birds to feed and rest. Birds can be seen anytime of the day, but best times for shorebirds tend to coincide with low tides. Find information on tides here.

The Basics

Trans-equatorial migratory birds that breed in the Northern Hemisphere on Arctic Islands and along Alaska, Canada, Asia, Mongolia and Siberia migrate south, generally arriving in Australia from August onwards, where they stay until April/May before returning to the Arctic. Nomadic birds such as Red-necked Avocets can be seen from Sept/Oct to March/April.

East Region - entrance opp 194 Burke Drive, Attadale, 6156
West Region - Pt Walter, Honour Ave, Bicton, 6157

  • West Region (Pt Walter, Blackwall Reach)
    Parking at Pt Walter Reserve; Blackwall Reach Pde & Kent St; Quarantine Park

    East Region (Attadale Alfred Cove foreshore, Pt Waylen)
    Parking at Melville Bowling Club carpark, Atwell Gallery carpark, Tompkins-on-Swan carpark, various points on shoulder of Burke Drive, Troy Park carpark

    1. From the Fremantle metro station exit to the bus port just south of the metro station

    2. Board bus #910.

    3. Travel south along the Canning Highway just past Ince Rd. Walk one block east to Lentona Rd, turn left.

    4. Walk north on Lentona Rd.

    5. At Burke Drive go left on the Burke Dr. footpath to the access road opposite 194 Burke Drive.

    6. Near the access road is a Melville Bird Sanctuary information shelter.

    7. At the shelter is a map of the MBS and the sites to see. There is a variety of other information about the Sanctuary and the birds you might find there.

    1. Walk from the metro station to Canning Bridge Bus Port Stand #4

    2. Board Bus #910 heading toward Fremantle.

    3. Exit just past North Lake Rd

    4. Cross to the north side of the Canning Highway (safest at the North Lake traffic lights).

    5. Walk west to Lentona Rd

    6. Go north on Lentona Rd

    7. At Burke Drive go left on the Burke Dr. footpath to the access-road opposite 194 Burke Drive.

    8. Near the access road is a Melville Bird Sanctuary information shelter.

    9. At the shelter is a map of the MBS and the sites to see. There is a variety of other information about the Sanctuary and the birds you might find there.

Getting Here

Facilities

    • Tompkins Park near Dunkley Road and Cunningham Street 

    • Caltex at corner of Canning Hwy and Northlake Rd 

    • Troy Park Sports Club on Burke Drive, Attadale  

    • Point Walter Reserve east of Walters River Café 

  • There is a Friends of Melville Bird Sanctuary Information Shelter opposite 194 Burke Drive, Attadale which will have useful information including a map of the Melville Bird Sanctuary. 

  • East Region

    Tompkins, Alfred Cove (check hours online)

    Coffee Van on Applecross foreshore – carpark at end of Cunningham St (Open 7-11am weekdays and later on weekends; please check Facebook)

    West Region

    Walters River Café (Open 8.30am-4pm weekdays and 8am-4pm weekends)

  • West Region

    Pt Walter Reserve

    East Region

    Next to Troy Park Clubhouse

    Next to Tompkins on Swan, 632 Canning Highway, Alfred Cove

    Foreshore near Cunningham St, Applecross

Please Note

Dogs are prohibited entirely within the West Region (Pt Walter/Blackwall Reach) and within the East Region (Alfred Cove/Tompkins Park) apart from the bitumen walking/cycle paths at Attadale Reserve/Burke Drive/Tompkins Park foreshore up to Ness Rd, Applecross where dogs are allowed on leash.

There are currently three wheelchair-accessible Bird Viewing Platforms (BVPs) in the East Region of the MBS, as follows:

Bird Viewing Platforms

One
Opposite 210 Burke Drive, Attadale – entry through a small gate. Views of Alfred Cove, Musk Ducks in season, Migratory Birds in season, Black Swans, Egrets, landbirds.

Two
On the right of the entrance to Troy Park (opposite 194 Burke Drive, Attadale) – entry through a small gate. Views of samphire and sedges, Alfred Cove, shorebirds incl White-faced Herons, Pied Stilts, Pelicans, Migratory Birds in season, land birds.
(Pictured)

Three
Enter Troy Park (opposite 194 Burke Drive, Attadale), walk towards Pt Waylen and bird viewing platform is on the right, a few metres before Pt Waylen, views of coastal saltmarsh community of plants, samphire and sedges, migratory birds in season, shorebirds, excellent views of the Osprey nesting pole, Osprey family and land birds.

How to Choose Binoculars

Binoculars are one of a Birdwatcher’s most important pieces of equipment. There are plenty of options to choose from, so it’s important to know how to find the right pair for you. We recommend checking out this guide from Birdlife Australia.

Wondering where to start?

There’s no right or wrong way to explore the Melville Bird Sanctuary, but if you’re looking for a bit of direction here are some of our suggestions.

East Region

Pt Waylen, Alfred Cove and Attadale foreshore, Swan Estuary Marine Park, Treed areas between end of Troy Park Oval and Haig Road, Attadale

1. Start at the Viewing Platform located on the right at entrance to Troy Park carpark, take in views of shorebirds at Alfred Cove including Egrets, Herons, Musk Ducks (Autumn/Winter), trans-equatorial migratory birds (Spring/Summer), Egrets, Buff-banded Rails, land birds including Striated Pardalotes, Honey-eaters, Welcome Swallows, Raptors, Cormorants. You’ll occasionally even spot a dolphin or two! Continue into Troy Park towards Pt. Waylen. Another Viewing Platform on the right just metres from the Point has great views of coastal saltmarsh, shorebirds and the Osprey nesting pole – with chicks in season (Spring/Summer). Overhead are Mistletoe birds, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos, Red-tailed Cockatoos, Rainbow Bee-eaters (spring/summer) and many more.

Please take care not to disturb birds and do not climb over the fence into vegetation.

Along all of Point Waylen and along the foreshore, check out the mudflats for numerous shorebirds including migratory ones.  End your walk by checking out the Tawny Frogmouths in the trees behind the Troy Park Sports Clubhouse.

2. Alternatively, you can continue your walk along the Attadale Foreshore towards the Pt Walter Reserve.  The licensed Walters River Café is located at the Pt Walter Reserve.

3. Starting at the foreshore of the Melville Bowling Club at Tompkins Park, walk along the footpath taking care to use the Pedestrian section of the Dual-Use Path (watching out for cyclists). Admire the River and its birdlife on the mudflats, including Pied Stilts, Egrets, Black Swans and migratory birds in season. Ospreys soar overhead looking for their next fish meal, as well as Rainbow Bee-eaters in season. You might sight Buff-banded Rails and Purple Swamphens in the sedges.  Stop for a coffee at the Coffee Truck on the foreshore near Cunningham St, Applecross. Sit on a nearby bench, admire the views, forget your worries and let nature and the birds take over to soothe and calm. Continue your walk along the foreshore to Ness Road, Applecross. An approx 1.2k one-way walk.

4. If you’re up for it, continue along the foreshore from Ness Road to the Applecross Jetty – an approx 1.8k one-way and very rewarding walk, with gorgeous views to encourage your step-count to 10,000!

All images by Jenny Christenson.

West Region

Pt Walter Spit, Blackwall Reach Reserve, Blackwall Reach Parade up to but not including Bicton Jetty

1. Start at the Pt Walter Spit and view with care the numerous shore and water birds including trans-equatorial migratory birds (in season) eg. Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, Red-necked Stints, Pied Oystercatchers, Black Swans, Terns (Great Crested,  Caspian, Fairy), Herons, Egrets, Cormorants.

During the Australian Fairy Tern breeding season, the tip of the Spit is fenced off and inaccessible to the public from November to March. This is important to note. The Australian Fairy Terns are listed as threatened (vulnerable – Criterion 3) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and need protection against their nests and eggs being trampled underfoot as well as predation from foxes, dogs and cats. 

2. Take either the dirt path or paved route from Honour Ave through Blackwall Reach Reserve to Blackwall Reach Parade – distance around 1.3 kms. In the early part of the 1900s, what is now the dirt path served as a tram route between Canning Highway and Pt Walter. Both the dirt path and paved route have inclines but the paved route more so. At least medium fitness required to do this walk.

Within Blackwall Reach Reserve see Australian Ringnecks, Striated Pardalotes, White-Cheeked Honeyeaters, Rainbow Bee-eaters (in season), Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Brown Goshawks, Eastern Ospreys and others. In addition, if you take the paved route through Blackwall Reach Reserve, you will be treated to amazing views of Blackwall Reach and its limestone cliffs from a few lookouts along the way.

Images by Jenny Christenson.