Discover Osborne Park

Osborne Park combines nature at Herdsman Lake, the business district along Main Street and a local history dating back to 1903. There are several things to consider when planning your trip: you can include the lake for its wildlife and recreational opportunities, visit shops or plan for a market Sunday. If you’re planning for the family and want to bring together different interests, it helps to first decide on the kind of day you want. Would you like a nature outing to shape the day, or are shopping and the market more important to your plans?

Herdsman Lake: Nature and outdoor activities

Herdsman Lake is Osborne Park’s largest park and a wildlife sanctuary. You can walk and cycle by the lake; a shared-use path runs all the way around it. The 7-kilometre loop gives your visit a specific distance and can be included in your trip plans as a standalone activity. Walking and cycling also offer different ways to explore the area. You can decide whether to focus on a set circular route or primarily on a particular type of physical activity.

Birdlife also shapes the character of the lake. More than 100 bird species have been recorded there, including species that have travelled from the other side of the world. The number of species may change as further surveys are conducted. For nature enthusiasts, this diversity adds another element to the loop: alongside getting active, you can focus on wildlife and the birds’ origins.

Main Street and Down To Earth Markets

Main Street is home to a business district with numerous specialty shops. This offers a different focus from Herdsman Lake: here, shopping takes centre stage, while nature and outdoor activities shape an outing by the lake. If you’d like to include both in your stay, you can treat them as different experiences when planning your day.

The Down To Earth Markets take place on the last Sunday of every month at Main Street Piazza in Osborne Park. They support local artisans and small businesses and offer pre-owned goods. This makes them different from shopping at the specialty stores: local vendors and second-hand goods are part of the market offering. Individual vendors may vary, so the market’s selection can change.

A local history dating back to 1903

Osborne Primary School was founded in 1903 for the children of market gardeners and dairy farmers in and around Osborne Park. This history links the year of its founding with the people the school was intended to serve. It points to families whose daily lives were connected to market gardening and dairy farming, adding a historical perspective to today’s view of the park and business district. For travellers who want to learn about a place’s background as well as its activities, it offers a specific insight into local history.

Weigh up experiences when choosing accommodation

The loop has a set distance; the market takes place on the last Sunday of the month. If visiting the market is a priority, check the date before setting your travel dates. Then you can tailor your hotel search to the daily rhythm that best suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Capel, Bremer Bay, Hillarys, Derby, Bow Bridge, Tom Price, Gelorup, Kojonup.

Go to the main travel overview: Western Australia.