Parks, pasta and summer music: Discover the City of Melville’s hidden gems!
We’ll be the first to admit we’re absolutely guilty of sometimes getting a little too stuck in our Perth CBD bubble – but our ‘burbs are positively heaving with parks to explore, delicious snacks to find and unique art to embrace!
And situated on the southern banks of the beautiful Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), the City of Melville has hidden gems on practically every corner – check out just a few of our favourites below.
EAT & DRINK
Hulme Court
Running between Leach Highway and McCoy Street, Hulme Court is an unexpected treasure trove of tasty eats – keeping you well-fed from sun-up to sun-down! Kick off your visit with an excellent coffee from the legends at Grouch & Co: a sustainable, inclusive and most importantly, delicious award-winning small-batch coffee roaster. The street is also home to Pedal Cafe, which has been keeping Perth’s lycra-clad legends fuelled with great coffee for four years.
That’s just the start, though – dive into comforting bowls of Korean favourites at Sticks, before nibbling on a few Korean corn dogs at Krunchy across the road and stocking up on kimchi and banchan at its neighbour, the aptly-named grocer Perth Kimchi.
Haven’t had your fill of nourishing broth and noodles? District 1 Saigon Cafe cures any cravings for pho, while Oishii are serving up some stellar ramen loaded with tender chashu. Make sure your pantry is chock-a-block with all the must-have staples with a visit to Yee Seng supermarket, and finally round out your delicious adventure with some of Chop Chop BBQ’s signature succulent meats.
Applecross Village
You’re truly spoilt for choice when you visit Applecross Village. There’s a few lovely boutiques to satisfy any retail cravings you may have, but it’s the cafe set where your cravings really kick in. From Nic and Kolo’s iconic pancakes and sweet treats galore at Crumbs Patisserie, to serious caffeine hits at Cheeky Boy Espresso and Cioccalato Espresso, there’s much to love. Head to the latter options before going for a stroll down to the foreshore and Applecross Jetty and Goolugatup Heathcote, or join in the Applecross Parkrun on Saturday mornings.
Finally, Canteen Pizza has been a hit since relocating from Cottesloe in 2023. Open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Canteen’s bloody mary + breakfast pizzetta combo is as enticing as their pizza and pinot Wednesday nights.
Riseley Centre
Pop down the highway to the Riseley Centre for even more tastiness – although we’ll be stopping in at the Quarter Acre for a pint or two first. Artem Coffee is serving up some of Perth’s best brews – along with a Reuben that’ll knock your socks off, plus breaky smash hits like creamy egg scrambles or mazesoba topped with scorched pastrami. One of the area’s newest additions, Kona Cafe’s classic brunch offerings are guaranteed crowd-pleasers – but in the thick of the summer heat, we’re eyeing off those Mont Blancs for a refreshing caffeine boost.
It doesn’t end there though! Riseley Centre’s twists and turns are also home to spots like the sweet-as-pie dessert café NaNa, Himali Gurkha Nepalese Restaurant’s succulent momo, Thai Corner’s vibrant curries and the tempting smashburgers of Hoodburger’s Applecross outpost – not to mention the endless aisles of Scutti’s continental groceries, and the famous bucket-list pies from Marco’s Fussy Meats!
Canning Bridge
Take in stunning river views in the Canning Bridge precinct, which features old favourites and new alike. The Rowing Pavilion has gone gangbusters since launching at the tail end of 2022 – and it’s about as close as you can get to the river without getting your feet wet! Just across Canning Highway, the Raffles Hotel is a classic spot for a Sunday sesh with a view – but if you’re looking for something even more low-key, just around the corner you’ll find Delish Pho & BMT, where you can grab a takeaway banh mi for a relaxing riverside picnic.
Just make sure to grab a little something sweet from Maison Saint-Honoré’s local outpost Praline for dessert. And don’t forget to allow for some extra time to find the hidden art gallery underneath the bridge or explore the mural art trail.
SEE & DO
Dyoondalup Point Walter
With a bike park, two shaded playgrounds, newly refurbished tennis courts and a golf course (both mini and regular-sized!) Dyoondalup Point Walter is the perfect spot to get outside and blow off some steam this summer – and that reminds us, we nearly forgot to mention the relaxing Alchemy sauna located at the reserve. We haven’t even touched on the actual river, yet: famous for its sandbar, it’s a favourite spot for frolicking in the river – made even easier with stand up paddleboarding, kitesurfing and swan pedal boat sessions on offer. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the very conveniently located Walter’s River Café and Restaurant for snacks and sips.
Bicton Baths
Ready for a dip? Bicton Baths have been in use for almost 100 years, and remain a popular spot for picnics on the Quaadaa Gabee (Bicton foreshore) – as well as splashing in the river! Calm waters and an enclosed shark barrier (plus ongoing upgrades to amenities) make it one of the best spots for families to make the most of the river.
Goolugatup Heathcote
With a rich history and spectacular cliffside views, Goolugatup Heathcote has transformed into an impressive heritage-listed cultural precinct with something for everyone. Set within picturesque grounds overlooking the river, the gallery is always home to an intriguing program of exhibitions from up-and-coming and established artists, including the upcoming Relic and Fall Damage exhibits opening February 8-March 23.
Within the precinct, head to the recently renovated and relaunched Tucci for modern Italian – with tempting weekend specials for family lunch, plus the Tucci Gelato Kiosk for when little ones have tuckered themselves out on the famous pirate ship playground.
Explore even more art
Another heritage-listed space transformed into an artistic hub, get to know some more of the City of Melville’s vibrant artistic community at Atwell House and Gallery. As well as their program of exhibitions, the space also hosts a huge range of workshops for kids and adults covering heaps of different styles, all led by talented Perth artists.
Just next door, Karlup Ceramics Studio is a mecca for all things pottery – and with workshops for all ages and skill levels, their talented roster of ceramicists can teach you all the tips and tricks for creating your own masterpiece.
Play a little longer!
From practically endless foreshore parks along the river to nature playspaces and community gardens, the City of Melville has parks a-plenty to keep you and the kids entertained!
We’re particular fans of Bob Gordon Reserve’s UFO-inspired playground, flying fox and BMX tracks, while Carawatha Park’s nature-inspired playground with sand and water play is the perfect way for kids to get their hands dirty – while keeping the house clean!
Kadidjiny Park has four hectares of space for kids to explore, with a unique playground at its northern end featuring giant blue mounds to scramble over, a musical sensory play area with percussion instruments, two slides set into rock walls and heaps more to explore.
Piney Lakes Reserve boasts its own community garden and picturesque walking trails, as well as an Eco Hub where kids and grown-ups can learn all about the local Banksia woodlands and paperbark wetlands, sustainability and how you can get involved in Citizen Science research!
Explore Yagan Mia Wireless Hill’s heritage walking trails, or check out the all-abilities playspace, which combines nature play with the area’s history as a communications hub for the past century. As the sun sets, stick around for the sweet sounds of the Melville Summer Music program, which rotates between Yagan Mia Wireless Hill Park, Piney Lakes Reserve, Centennial Park and Kadidjiny Park until March.
To discover more of the City of Melville’s hidden gems and things to do, head to the City of Melville website.
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