Claughton Reserve, Bayswater

Claughton Reserve in Bayswater is a gorgeous riverside park tucked away at the bottom of Katanning Street, right on the banks of the Swan River. This reserve combines a fun nature play space, a whimsical fairy trail and wide open green spaces, making it a lovely destination for families with kids of all ages.

The Playground at Claughton Reserve has been designed to feel adventurous while still being accessible for younger children. Built largely from logs and ropes with a woodchip base, it offers plenty of climbing, balancing and imaginative play without the worry of sand-filled shoes on the way home.

Kids can tackle balancing logs and rope crossings, clamber up a wooden fort using either the ladder or climbing wall, and zip back down again via the slide.

Nearby, a tangle of spider web–style ropes is perfect for kids who love to pretend they’re Spiderman, and there’s a quirky turtle sculpture created from logs and cement cylinders that invites climbing and sitting.

Swing lovers are well catered for, with a small swing zone featuring a toddler seat, a regular swing and a basket swing, making the space suitable for a broad age range and abilities. The basket swing is particularly popular for siblings or friends who like to ride together.

Accessible pathways wind through the area and help connect families using prams or mobility aids, ensuring everyone can enjoy the space. The Playground itself does not have shade sails, but the reserve’s tall mature trees cast generous natural shade over much of the area, especially in the mornings and late afternoons.

One of the standout features of Claughton Reserve is its colourful fairy trail. Designed as a loop leading from the Playground and back again, the trail adds a layer of magic and discovery to a normal park visit.

Children can wander along the gravel path, spotting tiny doors, stairways and windows attached to tree trunks in every colour of the rainbow. There are little ladders, flags and other playful decorations tucked into branches and bark, creating the feeling of a hidden fairy village. Many of the details are placed high up in the trees, encouraging kids to look up, slow down and really explore their surroundings.

At the heart of the fairy trail is a striking bright blue tree, part of the Blue Tree Project. This bold splash of colour is hard to miss as you arrive and is a great conversation starter with older children about mental health and the message that “it’s OK to not be OK.”

The fairy magic doesn’t end on the trail either – near the Playground you’ll find a pair of charming fairy houses nestled into a garden bed, looking like they’ve stepped straight off the pages of an Enid Blyton story and ready to fuel imaginative games.

Beyond the formal play equipment and fairy features, Claughton Reserve is full of open grassed areas shaded by mature trees. It’s ideal for a picnic rug, a game of chasey or kicking a ball around, and there’s plenty of room to walk the family dog.

The riverside setting makes the whole reserve feel peaceful and close to nature; during a visit you’re likely to hear kookaburras laughing, bellbirds chiming and see a variety of parrots flitting between branches. Kids who are into planes will also enjoy watching aircraft flying in and out over the river, with far less noise than watching right by the airport.

Families planning a barbecue or gathering will find the reserve well set up. There are multiple barbeque facilities and picnic tables scattered around the park, including some across the road from the main Playground area. The layout works well for casual birthday parties or extended family catch-ups, with children able to move between play equipment, fairy trail and riverside lawn. Do note that, like the Playground, these areas rely mostly on natural shade from existing trees rather than built shade structures, so hats and sunscreen are recommended on sunny days.

Even the toilet block at Claughton Reserve is worth a mention. Rather than a plain amenities block, this one has been thoughtfully designed as an architectural feature inspired by local flora and fauna. The roof shape echoes a tortoise shell, stone egrets stand tall at the corners, and the entrances are decorated with brightly coloured tiles.

Between the two toilet entrances there’s a low tap and bowl to provide water for dogs or to top up drink bottles, which is handy if you’re spending a few hours at the park. The combination of creative design and practical features makes it one of the more memorable public toilet facilities around.

The Swan River is a constant presence along the edge of the reserve. There are gentle, beach-style entry points where children can paddle and play at the water’s edge on warmer days, making it a lovely spot for a quick splash. However, as there is also a boat ramp at the end of the street and the area is used for fishing – complete with a special bin for discarded hooks and fishing line – it’s important to keep a close eye on little ones near the water. This is particularly crucial because the reserve is unfenced: there are no barriers between the Playground, roadway and open water. Families with toddlers or children who tend to bolt or wander will want to stay nearby and consider this carefully when planning a visit.

Across the road from the main Playground, you’ll find an additional swing set and more picnic and barbecue spots, giving families a few different spaces to spread out in. Altogether, Claughton Reserve offers a lovely mix of active play, gentle nature exploration and quiet corners to sit and listen to the birds. Kids can climb, swing and run off energy, before wandering the fairy trail and spotting rainbow doors and the iconic blue tree. Parents and carers can relax under the trees with a coffee or enjoy a riverside stroll.

Claughton Reserve is also within a short drive of several family-friendly cafes, making it easy to turn a Playground visit into a half-day outing.  For families who love fairy trails, nature play and peaceful riverside settings, this Bayswater gem is well worth adding to your list – whether you’re meeting friends for a barbecue, going rock hunting and hiding, or simply looking for a new park to explore with the kids.

Claughton Reserve, Bayswater

Address: Katanning Street, Bayswater, WA 6053 (at the bottom end, by the Swan River)

If you kids are keen to spot more gnomes and fairies, there’s also our list of other fairy trail locations around Perth.

Find other Things To Do With Kids in Perth.