Location: Gnangara Pines, Pessoa Road, Lexia
Opening Times: 24 hours
Opening Days: 7 Days
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pram Friendly: Yes
Dog-Friendly: Yes (when there isn’t a sledging event on)
Mode of activity: Exploration and Adventure (walking)
Time Taken: From 30 mins to endless hours
What to Pack: Nappy bag, buckets for collecting pine cones and other treasures, drinks/picnic, sun scream, hats. If it’s a wet day with muddy puddles; gum boots, rain coat and leave a towel and change of clothes in the car.
Safety: The only issue we have ever had is once the kids disturbed an Ants nest and the Ants started crawling on them. Took a few seconds to dust them off and move them to a new exploration site. No Ants were harmed.
Ever been to an oxygen farm? Well the entry to Pessoa Road, Lexia is a limestone road off of Gnangara Road, across from Beechboro Road. It has low to the ground white gate that is locked and is completely fenced in. The limestone road leads North and goes into the Pine Plantation. Running left and right off of the limestone road are tracks that trail under the protection of the pine trees. If you take your pram you will need to lift it over the white gate (it’s not high). We tend to rush the kids past any puddles at the entry and let them lead the adventure after that. Climbing logs, collecting and smelling pine cones, we have even collected pine needles for the compost.
About 250 meters down the limestone road you will come across a logged seating area on the right. It’s quite cute to stop and have a meander around there. The kids also like to get crafty and design mandala like patterns with sticks/pine needles/pine cones etc.
To get them to leave we politely remind them of the muddy puddles at the entry, and they promptly get moving! (woohoo, using nature as bribery) When we get to the puddles we chill on the gate with a drink while the kids enjoy some time in the water. Then it’s a quick change in the back of the car and off to lunch/errands/appointments/bath!
We love this place as it is a soft and gentle way to get the kids into nature.
Tash & Linds X x x
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Place Categories: Walks and Picnic Spots, Swan Valley Attractions, and Swan Valley
2 Reviews on “Gnangara Pines, Lexia”
I think it is time warnings were posted at the gate in regards to Emus and Snakes. This is not a place to allow children and dogs to run in the long grass. Large Dugites are present and Emus can be a very dangerous animal when they have babies.
My partner, son, dog and myself visited on the 17th of May at approximately 12 midday for a picnic. Two days before I came for a walk and about 10-15 cars were parked in the middle on the main access road with marquees/cabanas set up having a picnic. I have come here on multiple occasions weekly. Sometimes the gate is locked, other times it isn’t. On this particular day we drove in to it being unlocked, had a picnic, a truck drove past us and locked us in. No warning, nothing. We called up Wanneroo Parks & Wildlife and got put through to a bloke who spoke to us like we were idiots. 20-30 minutes later he came and opened the gate which another car drove out in front of us and then we drove out as well. Whilst driving though I gave him a wave and he shook his head and said we can’t access here with a smug look on his face. I reversed up and again he talked down to us as if we shouldn’t have even been in there. I told him of my recent experience and the multiple vehicles that were here the two days before and the gate was unlocked. He replied that the dog lady has access and waved off what I said with no decent reply. I assumed the other car in front of us was the “dog lady”.
Now, having experience in the profession I work in, one thing I know is the signage at the entry through those gates is inadequate. It does not specify “no access to unauthorised vehicles” or “keep gate locked at all times”. Also, no vehicles that have entry had any specific permit to prove they have authorised access.
If my son had of been injured or had an allergic reaction, a serious incident could have occurred. And I dare say a story worthy to be on A Current Affair.
How about you get some proper signage, some respectable shire workers or whatever you are, and lock the damn gate after driving through. Not that hard. It’s a public place after all with picnic benches, a road, paths, signs etc and multiple people come there daily. Easy to be confused in my situation. To put blame onto myself and my partner is utter garbage and immature. Grow up and take responsibility Wanneroo Parks & Wildlife, bit of professionalism wouldn’t go astray.