Preston Beach: Trails, Lakes and Local Art

Preston Beach offers plenty of reasons to be curious: trails beside Lake Preston lead to a lookout and right down to the water, while carved bush poles and a mural showcase local art. The town also has a history of hosting major fishing competitions. Nature, art and local history each add their own character to your travel plans.

Trails with views of Lake Preston

The Heathlands Walk Trail brings together several different landscapes. A gentle climb leads to a limestone ridge and a lookout over Lake Preston. The trail then passes through a tree tunnel before reaching the water’s edge. By contrast, the Lake Preston Trail focuses on the shoreline, leading to a viewing platform right by the water. From there, you can watch the waterbirds that visit the area. The contrast between the ridge and tree tunnel on one hand, and the shoreline trail and waterside platform on the other, can help you choose a route based on the landscapes that interest you most.

The Lake Pollard Walk Trail also has its own nature theme. It passes through areas of Tuart, peppermint and grass tree vegetation. This trail highlights a specific landscape feature different from those along the routes at Lake Preston. The trailheads for the routes described are signposted on Preston Beach Road. For the Lake Preston Trail, it’s a good idea to check local trail conditions before setting out.

Nature in the wider travel area

Yalgorup National Park and the surrounding lakes attract native wildlife and birdlife across the wider travel area. There are also bird hides and viewing platforms, a boardwalk and several walking trails. This extends the nature experience beyond the individual routes described: in addition to the scenery at Lake Preston, wildlife, birdlife and opportunities for observation are among the things that can shape your plans. It helps to distinguish the specific features of the trails at Preston Beach from the attractions elsewhere in the wider area.

Carved bush poles and a mural

A series of carved bush poles by Merle and Tony Davis welcomes visitors at the entrance to Preston Beach. The works are part of the Heritage Bush Poles project. Another artwork is located at the Preston Beach Community Centre: the mural by Melski McVee and the local community depicts the region’s native flora and fauna. In Preston Beach, you’ll encounter different forms of local art—the carved poles at the entrance and a community-created image at the Community Centre.

The Heritage Bush Poles project extends beyond Preston Beach. The carvings are spread across Waroona, Hamel, Preston Beach and Lake Navarino Holiday Park. Their subjects depict local industries and wildlife, including trout, marrons, mining tools and red-tailed black cockatoos. This specific mix makes the works’ regional connection tangible, with nature motifs alongside subjects from the local economy.

Local history and travel planning

Preston Beach has hosted major fishing competitions in the past. This history adds another perspective on the town to its nature and art themes. If you’re planning a family trip, you can focus on tangible things that interest you: watching waterbirds, seeing the vegetation along the Lake Pollard Walk Trail, or exploring the carved wildlife motifs and the mural. This can help you discuss which experiences would make your trip together especially enjoyable.

These differences can also guide your hotel search. Consider whether you want to focus your stay on the trails and lakes, or whether local art and history are just as important to your trip. Preston Beach offers a range of specific themes to help guide your choice.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cable Beach, Beermullah, Bullsbrook, Yallingup Siding, Wonnerup, Green Head, Cuballing, Walpole

Back to the main travel overview: Western Australia.