Burswood: Swan River, Park and Matagarup Bridge

The Swan River, Burswood Park and Matagarup Bridge shape Burswood, along with its cultural and event venues. Its attractions range from Joorolup stories and the symbolism of the bridge to mini golf, theatre, sport and concerts. If you’re looking for a hotel in Burswood, start by deciding what you want to focus on during your trip: are you most interested in the landscape and river, a cultural theme, or planning your stay around an event?

Park and Swan River

Burswood Park covers 53 hectares along the Swan River on the Burswood Peninsula. Its features include city views, birdlife and other wildlife, as well as walking paths and a heritage sculpture trail. The same park brings together scenery, wildlife watching and a culturally themed trail. For your plans, you can focus on the views and wildlife or make the walking paths and heritage sculpture trail the centrepiece of your visit.

Bridge and cultural interpretations

Matagarup Bridge is 370 metres long. Since July 2018, it has provided pedestrian access between Burswood and East Perth, connecting Optus Stadium and the Burswood Peninsula with East Perth. As a tourist attraction, it also connects the Burswood Peninsula with the Perth CBD. Its curved arches can represent black and white swans or the Wagyl, a water serpent of significance to the local Noongar culture.

The River Journeys Interpretation Node adds to this connection with the bridge by bringing the traditional stories of Joorolup to life. Here, you can also learn about the significance of the land where jarrah forests once grew, and the role of the yakkan in sustaining life along the river. One possible interpretation of the bridge focuses on its shape; the Interpretation Node explores stories and the relationship between land and river.

Mini golf, climbing and events

Matagarup Mini Golf is located in Burswood Park on the Swan River. It’s an 18-hole course with themes from Western Australia. The front nine holes are wheelchair accessible. If this accessibility information is important for your visit, plan to focus on this part of the course.

Matagarup Zip Climb is a family adventure area on the Burswood Peninsula. The climb includes 314 steps and leads to an open viewing platform 72 metres above the Swan River. Mini golf and the Zip Climb offer different experiences: an 18-hole course with regional themes and a stair climb to an elevated platform.

Crown Theatre in Burswood presents musicals, concerts and live theatre performances. Its two-level auditorium has up to 2,260 seats. Optus Stadium hosts AFL, soccer, rugby league and rugby union games, as well as concerts by some of the world’s biggest musicians. Theatre shows and stadium events offer different reasons to stay; if a particular date determines your visit, check it when planning.

Getting to the riverbank

Burswood Station is on the Armadale/Thornlie railway line, at the northeastern end of Burswood Park. The walk from the station through the park to the Swan River takes 15 minutes. This time refers to the walk from the station through the park to the riverbank.

Discover more destinations: Hillarys, Bayswater, Metricup, Port Hedland, Chapman Hill, Nedlands, Redmond, Collins.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.