Serpentine Dam has long been a favourite Perth Hills day trip, and the Playground here makes it even more enticing for families. The fenced and gated play space is inspired by the surrounding forest and rocky landscape, and sits just a short stroll from the dam and Bistro By the Dam café. It’s a brilliant base for a full day of exploring, playing and picnicking.
The Playground has been designed with a wide range of ages in mind, with most of the equipment low to the ground so even toddlers can confidently have a go. Little ones will love the nest swing, small slide and the spinning rope “merry-go-round” style climber. The whole space feels very approachable for younger kids, but still interesting enough for older siblings who like to climb, balance and scramble.
There is a strong focus on climbing and nature play throughout the Playground. Kids can test their skills on rope structures and climbing frames, before hopping across the many timber stepping logs and boulders scattered around the space. These natural elements blend the Playground into the bush setting and encourage imaginative play – it’s easy to turn the rocks into mountains and the logs into a forest obstacle course.
A major upgrade to the Serpentine Dam recreation area, completed in 2024, added the Playground along with plenty of extra family-friendly facilities. Visitors will find picnic tables and benches, accessible toilet facilities and additional parking close to Bistro By the Dam. This makes it easy to mix and match your day – play first, then head over for coffee, ice cream or lunch, or do it the other way around and let the kids burn off energy after a meal.
One of the highlights of visiting Serpentine Dam with kids is being able to show them where some of Perth’s drinking water comes from. From the back of the café, a pathway with lots of steps winds down towards the dam wall and control tower. It’s a steep walk, so best suited to school-aged kids and not pram-friendly, but it’s a great learning opportunity and a very scenic wander if your crew is up for it.
Down near the base of the dam you can also see the wide rock-lined spillway, where water would rush through to the Serpentine River if the dam were ever full enough to overflow. Even when it’s dry, it’s an impressive engineering feature and a good spot to chat about how dams work and how water is managed in WA. Between the views, the bush surrounds and the birdlife, it’s a lovely way to extend your Playground visit into a proper nature outing.
Serpentine Dam is one of several Perth Hills dams that offer free recreation facilities such as walk trails, lookouts, Playgrounds and picnic areas, making it perfect for a budget-friendly family day out. You could easily pair a visit here with other local favourites like Churchman Brook Dam or Mundaring Weir, or simply linger for the day enjoying the Playground, picnics and short walks.
If you’re looking for an easy, scenic escape from suburbia with a great Playground, toilets, café and plenty of space for kids to explore, Serpentine Dam Playground is well worth the drive.
Serpentine Dam Playground
Address: Kingsbury Drive, Serpentine WA 6125
Location
Place Categories: Fenced, Nature, Playgrounds, and With Toilets
