• Safety
  • For Business
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Site map
Explore Parks AccountMy Parkstay Bookings
Home Parks and Wildlife Service Explore Parks Default

Menu

  • Home
  • Go
    • Park Finder
    • About WA's regions
  • Do
  • Stay
  • Know
    • About this website
    • When to visit
    • Safety
    • Camping
    • Park Brochures
    • Tours and events
    • Conserving our parks
    • Traditional custodians
    • Fees
    • Access to nature
    • Pets in Parks
    • Trails
    • Buy Park Passes
    • Drones in parks
    • Touring WA e-newsletter
    • Travel itineraries, brochures and maps
  • What's On
  • Connect
  • Buy
    • Park Passes
    • Landscope
    • Books
    • Maps
    • Prints
    • Gift Cards
  • Alerts

Search form

Go to whole of WA Government search
Printer Friendly and PDF
Larger Smaller
Facebook Twitter

You are here

  1. Home ›
  2. Experience Perth ›
  3. Perth Coast & Plain ›

Herdsman Lake Regional Park

Bookmark This
 

Regional Park

Herdsman Lake provides a haven for humans and wildlife alike, with shared paths encircling the lake offering the visitor a scenic and peaceful break from the surrounding suburbia.

Essential information for all parks of Experience Perth
Essential information for all parks of Perth Coast & Plain

Horizontal Tabs

Welcome
Sites & Activities
Previous Pause Next
  • Universal Access

Contact Information

Regional Parks

Sites & Activities
Phone: 
+61 (0)8 9442 0300
Send Email

Opening Information

Open every day.

Park Location

7km NW of Perth.

Park Activities

Bushwalking

Park Facilities:

Visitor Centre
Info Shelter

Park Information

Herdsman Lake Regional Park is part of a chain of wetlands that once extended from north of Joondalup to south of Cockburn. Herdsman Lake is one of the few remaining water bodies in the system, most having been drained and filled to make way for development. The lake is now a popular spot for locals to exercise and recreate in, as well as an important breeding ground for waterbirds. 

Cultural Heritage

The first people to use this site were the local Noongar people, the Yellagonga, who call the area ‘Ngurgenboro’ and used it as a food resource.Since colonial settlement Herdsman Lake has been used for market gardens, mining diatomaceous earth, waste disposal, soldier resettlement and at one time was earmarked for a second airport.

Landscape

The Park contains a diversity of landscapes ranging from expansive views over open waters, to dense wetland rushes, fragments of remnant of paperbark and Flooded Gum woodlands and well maintained open grass parklands. Herdsman Lake contains an inner seasonally dry wetland dominated by Bulrush (Typha orientalis) and a moat consisting of four deep permanent water bodies that have been formed by dredging operations; Industrial Lake, Floreat Lakes, Floreat Waters and Powis Lake. Glendalough Open Space contains several smaller artificially created water bodies. Scenic views over the central water body and out towards the city can be enjoyed from most sections of the Lake’s edge.

Getting there

Herdsman Lake is a 15 minute drive from the Perth CBD. Alternatively, Glendalough train station is a short 15 minute walk away.

Walking

An enjoyable way to get up close to the water and experience the activity which takes place on the lake is to walk the perimeter. You will find yourself sharing the path with many locals who regularly exercise in the park. Simply walk the perimeter, or take some time to explore the Olive Seymour Boardwalk which will take you out over the water on the south side of the lake. The walk is universally accessible, but sections are also used by cyclists, so take care. Distance:7.7km. Time: Allow 2 hours. Class: Easy

Cycling

One of the best ways to explore Herdsman Lake is by bike. The circuit which travels the entire perimeter of the lake is relatively flat making it an easy ride for novices and children. Though some of the paths are paved you'll spend most of your ride on compact dirt paths. You’ll cover about 7km on the circuit. The path is dual use so please beware of pedestrians.

Education

The WA Gould League Manages the Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, located on the edge of Herdsman Lake. The Wildlife Centre provides an opportunity for the community to interact with the research being conducted at the site. Activities run by the centre include bird walks, information nights, night stalks and wildlife excursions.

Historical Stories

The Herdsman Lake Settlers Cottage is of significant heritage value, providing an example of a typical early settler’s cottage in the area. It was acquired and relocated under the direction of the National Trust of WA when Pearson St was widened.

Birdwatching

Herdsman Lake and its surrounds are important bird breeding habitats and provide a summer refuge supporting high numbers of waterfowl. Over 100 species of birds have been recorded at the Lake, some of which have come from the other side of the world. Such richness of birdlife in an urban setting is uncommon, so Herdsman Lake should be considered a very special area.

We recognise and acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of Herdsman Lake Regional Park.

Sites & Activities

Activities

Facilities

Load all sites...
Reviews

Reviews

You must be signed in to add a review, simply Click here to create an account or login

No reviews posted, be the first to add a review.

Flora & Fauna

ALA Integration Page Content

The Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas) contains information on all the known species in Australia aggregated from a wide range of data providers: museums, herbaria, community groups, government departments, individuals and universities.

Sites & Activities
Visit the Atlas of Living Australia page for this area.
Herdsman Lake Regional Park - Popeye Lake, DEC
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Parks and Wildlife Service
  • wa.gov.au
Copyright © 2017, Parks and Wildlife Service. All Rights Reserved.