A river swim at Freshwater Bay, the heritage boatsheds, a picnic at Keane's Point and a coffee with a view: how to spend a free afternoon in Peppermint Grove.
Peppermint Grove is a tiny suburb, and most people only know it for the houses. But down on the Swan River it has one of the nicest stretches of foreshore in Perth, and it’s all public. Here’s how I’d spend a slow afternoon there: a swim, a wander past some very old boatsheds, a picnic under the peppermint trees and a coffee with a river view.
Quick facts
- Where: Freshwater Bay on the Swan River, Peppermint Grove, between Stirling Highway and the river, next to Cottesloe and Mosman Park
- The spots: the Foreshore Reserve on The Esplanade, Keane’s Point (corner of Johnston and Lilla Streets) and Manners Hill Park
- Facilities: public toilets, barbecues, a playground and a kiosk at Keane’s Point
- Dogs: dog exercise areas at Manners Hill Park and in the bushland part of the Foreshore Reserve
- Cost: free
Start with a swim at the Foreshore Reserve
The Foreshore Reserve runs along The Esplanade and the Shire of Peppermint Grove splits it into two parts. The southern end is the Freshwater Bay beach, a river beach for swimming with grassy parkland, shade trees and public toilets. North of the Leake Street line it turns into natural bushland, with walking paths, picnic spots and a dog exercise area.
River swimming is a different thing to the ocean. No surf, and the water is usually calm. On a hot afternoon when Cottesloe is packed, this is where I’d rather be.
Check out the old boatsheds
The little cluster of weatherboard and tin boatsheds on Freshwater Bay is one of my favourite things in the western suburbs. They’re the Roe and Hobbs, Burt and Forrest boatsheds, built from about 1913 to 1920, and they sit out over the water on piles. According to the state heritage listing, they were moved across the bay to where they are now in 1936, when the Freshwater Bay Yacht Club moved to Keane’s Point. They were added to the State Register in 2012.
They make a great photo from the shore, especially late in the afternoon.
Picnic at Keane’s Point
Keane’s Point, on the corner of Johnston and Lilla Streets, is the spot for a picnic. The Shire lists public toilets, barbecues, a picnic table, a kids’ playground, shade trees and a refreshment kiosk. The suburb is named after the Swan River peppermint trees (Agonis flexuosa), and there are plenty of them here leaning out towards the water.
Grab a coffee at Freshwaters
Freshwaters is the cafe on Lilla Street by Keane’s Point. I’ll be honest, the reviews are mixed. It sits on a 3.1 on Tripadvisor, and some recent reviewers weren’t happy with the service or the toilets. But even one of the unhappy April 2026 reviewers called it a stunning setting.
“Gorgeous setting overlooking the Swan River. Ample indoor and al fresco seating. Excellent efficient service.”
donandlaurar, May 2026, Tripadvisor review
My take: go for a coffee and the view, and bring your own picnic if you want a proper feed.
Finish at Manners Hill Park
Manners Hill Park sits up the hill between Johnston Street, Bay View Terrace, Keane Street and Lilla Street. It’s a big grassy park with shade trees, a pavilion, public toilets, a dog exercise area and the tennis club, and you can see the river from the park. Good spot to sit for a bit before you head home.
More river and coast days
If you like this kind of easy afternoon, try my Saturday wander around East Fremantle, which is also on the river, or head to the coast for the Omeo shipwreck snorkel trail at Coogee.
Featured image: Freshwater Bay boatsheds by Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Shire of Peppermint Grove lists the Freshwater Bay beach in the Foreshore Reserve on The Esplanade as a swimming beach, with grassed parkland, shade trees and public toilets.
