Heirisson Island: Wild Kangaroos, River Views, and Noongar Heritage in the Heart of Perth

What Is Heirisson Island?

Heirisson Island, known in Noongar language as Matagarup, meaning 'leg deep', sits in the middle of the Swan River roughly two kilometres east of Perth's central business district. The island is not a natural formation in the strict sense: it was shaped from several smaller islands through dredging and land reclamation, and its present form was largely established by the 1940s. Today it functions as a public reserve managed by the City of Perth, open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The island sits at the geographic and cultural intersection of the city. Noongar people have a deep connection to this stretch of the Swan River, and the name Matagarup reflects how the river was once crossed here at shallow depth. For visitors today, that history adds weight to what might otherwise feel like a simple nature walk. The reserve is quiet by Perth standards, shaded by eucalypts, and almost always calm on the water side facing south toward Victoria Park.

The Kangaroos: What to Expect

Western grey kangaroos are the main draw for most visitors. A small mob lives on the island year-round, and sightings are not guaranteed but are reliably frequent. The kangaroos tend to gather in the shaded grassy areas toward the centre and eastern end of the island, particularly in the morning and late afternoon when the temperature drops. Midday visits in summer, when Perth can reach above 35°C, often find the animals resting in dense shade and largely inactive.

The experience is informal. There are no enclosures, no feeding stations, and no staff guiding you toward the animals. You walk the paths, and you either find them or you do not. That unpredictability is part of the appeal. When you do come across a mob of five or six kangaroos resting in dappled light with the river visible behind them and the Perth skyline in the distance, the scene has a quality that photographs rarely do justice to. Do not attempt to feed or touch the kangaroos; they are wild animals and can react defensively, particularly if joeys are present.

The Walk: What You Actually See

The City of Perth lists an accessible toilet and one ACROD parking bay on-site, though the guide does not specify the surface condition of all paths, so visitors with mobility considerations should contact the City of Perth directly before visiting.

Walking clockwise from the car park, you move along the northern foreshore facing East Perth, where the views open toward the city and the Matagarup Bridge, the pedestrian and cycling bridge near the stadium precinct. The southern side of the island faces Victoria Park and offers a quieter, more sheltered aspect. The vegetation is a mix of native shrubs, paperbark trees, and grass, with some areas of exposed sandy soil where kangaroos often rest.

For context on how this part of the river fits into Perth's broader geography, the Matagarup Bridgeis visible from the island's northern shore and connects directly to the stadium precinct. If you are walking from the CBD, the route along The Causeway also passesElizabeth Quay to the west, making a logical half-day combination.

Time of Day and Season: How the Experience Changes

Early morning, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., is the most rewarding time to visit. Light comes across the river at a low angle, the grass is cool, and the kangaroos are often grazing in the open. You may hear birds, particularly wattlebirds and honeyeaters, in the flowering shrubs along the path. The air carries the faint eucalyptus smell common across Perth's parklands.

Late afternoon, from around 4 p.m. onward, offers a second window before the 8 p.m. closing time. The light softens, the heat subsides in autumn and spring, and the kangaroos become active again. In summer, even late afternoon can be oppressively warm, so bring water regardless of when you visit.

Winter visits, from June through August, are underrated. Perth's winters are mild by most standards, with daytime temperatures typically between 18°C and 20°C. The grass stays greener, the kangaroos are more active throughout the day, and the island is noticeably quieter. Rain is more likely in winter, and a wet-weather visit has its own character: the river takes on a grey-green colour, the paths are largely empty, and the birds are particularly active.

Photography on the Island

The combination of kangaroos, water, and city skyline creates a framing opportunity that is genuinely unusual. The best shots come from the northern foreshore in morning light, with the animals in the middle distance and the CBD or Matagarup Bridge behind them. A medium telephoto lens, in the 70 to 200mm range, lets you capture the kangaroos without approaching closely enough to disturb them.

Smartphone photographers will get reasonable results in good light but will struggle with the distance required to avoid disturbing the animals. The background compression that comes with a longer focal length also makes the city-plus-wildlife composition work better with dedicated camera equipment. That said, early morning light is forgiving, and even a phone shot of a kangaroo against the river can be striking.

Getting There and Practical Access

The island is accessible directly from The Causeway, which runs between East Perth and Victoria Park. By car, take The Causeway and turn onto the island access road; the free car park has a three-hour time limit. By bicycle, use the Causeway to connect with the broader Perth riverside path network. On foot, allow time to reach the island from East Perth train station.

For public transport specifics, check the Transperth journey planner directly, as bus routes and frequencies in this corridor can change. Thegetting around Perth guide covers the Transperth network in detail, including CAT bus services that operate free of charge in the inner city area.

Heirisson Island works well as part of a longer river walk. From here you can continue east toward the stadium precinct around Optus Stadium, or head west toward the CBD andMatilda Bay in Crawleyvia the southern riverside path. The island also pairs naturally with a visit toKings Park, a 15-minute drive or a longer riverside cycle west of the island.

Is It Worth Visiting? An Honest Assessment

Heirisson Island is free, takes less than 90 minutes, and offers a wildlife encounter that most cities simply cannot provide within ten minutes of their downtown core. That context matters. If you have grown up around kangaroos or live in regional Australia, the appeal is limited. But for international visitors or Australians from the eastern states, the combination of accessible urban wildlife, river scenery, and cultural history is genuinely worth the detour.

The honest limitation is that the island is small and the experience is low-key. There is no cafe, no interpretive centre, and no guarantee of a close kangaroo encounter. Visitors arriving with high expectations and limited time may feel the island is underwhelming. Visitors who arrive open to a slow, quiet walk with the possibility of wildlife will almost always leave satisfied.

If you want to combine wildlife with more structured activity, the Caversham Wildlife Parkin the Swan Valley offers hands-on encounters with kangaroos and other native animals in a guided environment. For purely natural settings further from the city,Yanchep National Park north of Perth has a larger kangaroo population and more extensive trails.