Tomato Lake Reserve is located off Oats Street in Kewdale.
Tomato Lake In General
Tomato Lake contains a wetland with a central lake and a 1.6km walking trail around the lake, nature sanctuary islands and boardwalk across the lake. There are toilets, BBQ’s, picnic tables and playgrounds with exercise equipment & a space net rope climb as well as sufficient open turf to play games.
There is a cafe located near the Oats Street entrance in the park.
The “Boardwalk / Gazebo” that extends over the lake is a popular area for weddings and wedding photos which also works well for holiday photos.
The lake is also home to diverse bird life including ducks, ibis, black swans, coots, pelicans, spoonbills, parrots, cormorants, and Honeyeaters.
Tomato Lake is a 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk form Belmont forum Shopping Centre. The main parking area is off Oats Street in Kewdale however there is secondary parking off President Street Kewdale.
Tomato Lake In Detail
One of my favourite parks nearby is Tomato Lake in Kewdale. It’s a great space with a range of exercise and play equipment to suit all ages. There are free to use bbq’s, picnic tables under large shade trees and a 1.6km walking trail around and across the lake suitable for walking, jogging, running. scooters or bikes. As well as a cafe open Wednesday to Sunday if you prefer to buy coffee, snacks or lunch.
The main entrance to Tomato Lake is from Oats St and you will find plenty of free parking there. This is also where you will find the main playground which has equipment that suits toddlers through to older children. This playground has a soft fall base and has shade sails in summer. There are several picnic benches on the edges of the playground so you can sit and supervise your little ones.
Toddler Specific Equipment
There is toddler specific equipment with a double slide, walkways, small climbing wall, fireman’s pole and steps. Your toddlers will also love the bouncy see saw and bouncy sit in animal in this main area which is also popular with the younger children. There is a spinning wheel which kids of all ages seem to love. It’s on an angle and spins around, depending on the age of the kids they can have fun doing it themselves or a parent may need to push gently.
Also in this main playground is lots for older children. This includes lots of climbing type equipment, monkey bars, balancing equipment and a larger slide which is accessed by climbing up the rope frame. There is also a birds nest swing on softfall base in this area.
The Tomato Lake kiosk and toilets are located adjacent to this main playground and the parking areas. There is also lots of open grass space all around the reserve which makes it great for running around, kicking a ball or playing cricket. The picnic area has tables with bench seats and a free to use gas BBQ. Close to the main playground are a number of picnic tables and BBQs under lovely big shade trees. These areas do get popular on weekends and are often used for birthday parties or families having a picnic.
If you prefer to buy lunch or a snack the cafe is open Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays 9am to 4pm. The cafe is usually closes over the Christmas period. The cafe offers coffee, cakes, ice cream, sandwiches, hot chips and has a special board of more substantial meals. They have some seating inside and lots of seating outside under the shade trees or umbrellas.
Around the lake
There is a 1.6km walkway all around the lake. Walking around the lake you will find other play areas and exercise equipment. The pathway is suitable for bikes, scooters and roller bladders it is also a popular place to walk dogs (on the leash) and with people jogging or walking.
Not far from the main playground is a set of swings and a space net rope climbing frame. Both of these have a soft sand based. The swings have a toddler and standard swing. The swings and climbing frame are under tree shade only.
Next along the walking trail is the climbing frame playground which has an rope bridge to climb up to the main climbing frame or there is a climbing wall which also leads to the main frame. After making your way through the climbing frame you can reach the slide. This playground is suited older children. A bit further along the walking trail from the climbing frame playground is some exercise equipment and a basketball hoop which is all for even bigger kids or adults.
Continuing to the other side of the lake.
Keep going along the path past the board walk across the lake around to the other side of the lake is another playground and picnic, BBQ area. There is a another car park on this side that is accessed from President St. This playground is sand based and generally quieter than the main one. It has a play frame with slide, tunnel, climbing, swings (toddler and normal), and some sand play equipment. Bench seating is on the edge of the playground for you to rest while waiting for your kids to ware them selves out.
Close to this playground is picnic tables and BBQ also a large grassed area for ball games or picnic. There are also toilets on this side of the lake.
The second board walk.
Continuing along the walking trail and you will come across another board walk which is flanked on one side by an area of dense bush and a flood plain on the other. The board walk has a bird viewing platform built in to the center of it. The other end of the board walk opens up in to yet another large grassed area with benches, play areas and lots of space for kicking a ball or flying a Frisbee.
You can follow the path straight ahead and wind up back at the main entrance off Oats St or you can turn towards the the lake where you will find the other end of the first board walk. This board walk meanders across the lake from one side to the other. The board walk over looks the lake on onside and a bird nesting island on the other. Along the board walk there is a viewing platform on the lake side and in the centre is a gazebo where lots of wading and family holiday photos are taken.
Tomato lake is a must see destination for anyone visiting Belmont in Perth Western Australia. Other popular places to visit while in Belmont are the Belmont Skate Park and the Volcano Playground.
