Table of Contents
Lower Swan and Canning Rivers
Matilda Bay
There are not that many public ramps around the Swan River downstream of the Narrows Bridge. Only Matilda Bay, Leeuwin and Point Walter have ramps suitable for larger craft. All the other ramps are fairly basic. Otherwise all the yacht clubs hog the rest of the boat launching areas.
DoT Swan Canning Boating Guide
Chart WA898 Swan and Canning Rivers
Perth forecast
Seabreeze Perth Forecast
Photo Galleries
Matilda Bay
Raft up in Blackwall Reach
Matilda Bay Boat Ramp
A nice ramp with a floating jetty and a sandy beach you can pull your boat up on. Cafe and toilet blocks along the beach to the north. Expect a very long wait for coffees on weekend mornings, best to bring your own.
Parking is free on weekends (check) but you have to pay during weekdays. Parking can sometimes be a bit tight. Overflow parking may be available over the road opposite the entrance to Royal Perth Yacht Club.
Crawley Boat Ramp
A basic ramp that is a bit shallow but is OK. Best only used in the morning as the ramp is very exposed when the sea breeze comes in. If you launch here and the breeze does come in don't return to the ramp. Sail around Pelican Point to the Matilda Bay ramp, anchor your boat there, and walk across to get your car and trailer and retrieve your boat at Matilda Bay.
There is a minimal beach next to the ramp but it disappears at high tide. It is generally best to anchor yourself a little bit off in the shallows while parking the car and getting things sorted.
Toilet block behind the playground.
Chester Road Beach Launch
A basic beach launch for small dinghies and kayaks that gets you into a quiet section of the river. There is one parking bay for a car and trailer combination, or you can park back up on Chester Road. Sadly Claremont Council now has a 3 hour parking limit here which has destroyed much of the usefulness of this handy little launch. It is the only launch in Claremont.
Toilets are along the beach at Claremont Jetty.
Johnston Street Boat Ramp
A basic ramp that gives you access to Freshwater Bay, Blackwall Reach and Point Walter. Nice beach to pull your boat up on. Beware of the big dropoff at the end of the ramp at low tide. Unfortunately power boaters and jet skiers have dug a big hole in the sand from driving their boats onto trailers.
There are a couple of parking bays at the ramp otherwise park beside the park on Johnston Street. If there is no space there drive around the park and you should find something.
Toilets are next to the playground, nice cafe back along Lilla Street.
Leeuwin Boat Ramp
The ramp to use if you are planning to head out through the harbour to Rottnest or down into Cockburn Sound. Nice beach to pull your boat up on. Excellent cafe and toilet block adjacent.
Beware of wash from the constant passing power boat traffic. Be mindful of the tide as the current can be significant.
Point Walter Boat Ramp
A lovely place to sail from. It is sheltered from the sea breeze, has beaches, grassed picnic areas, cafe and restaurant, and toilets. There is a good ramp at the eastern end of the car park and an area that can be used for beach launching at the western end near the cafe.
Beach Launch Area
Deepwater Point
This ramp gets you into the Canning River above the Canning Bridge. A very nice ramp with sandy beaches on each side. Good cafe and toilets adjacent. The area in front of the ramp can be a bit busy because it is a popular water skiing location but this is not generally a problem. Heading up the Canning beyond the Mount Henry Bridge (clearance 7.5m) gets you into the quiet waters of Bull Creek. Further around Mount Henry the noise of the freeway disappears and you can enjoy some lovely sailing up towards Shelley.
Negotiating the narrow channel beyond Shelley Yacht Club generally requires a motor or an easily rowed boat. Getting to the Lo Quay River Cafe at the Riverton Bridge additionally requires you to be able to lower your mast to get past the powerlines just before the Riverton Pipe (5.7m) followed by the Riverton Pipe bridge (2.4m). You also have to pass Shelley Bridge but it has an easily managed clearance of 6.4m. If you can accomplish all this it is a lovely trip.
If you can then get under the Riverton Bridge (1.6m) rowing or motoring up to the cafe at the Kent Street Weir is a very attractive extension to your trip. You will struggle to believe that you are still in the metropolitan area!