If you’re looking for a fun, low cost, educational family day out, you’d be remiss to dismiss the Badu Mangrove Boardwalk, located inside Bicentennial Park. Home to the largest Mangrove Forest on the Parramatta River, the Badu Mangrove Boardwalk is a relaxing stroll above shallow waters, with information on the ecosystem and its surrounds placed throughout the trail.
For those not well versed in marine botany, a mangrove is a tree or shrub that has adapted to life in salty water, and is usually found in coastal or tropical climates. They are equipped to live in loose soil and be periodically submerged by the tide. You’ll usually see Mangroves with their roots sticking out of the ground. This is designed to help the plant access oxygen and stabilise them in the loose soil.
The Badu Mangrove Boardwalk is a series of metal grates connected together to form a trail above the plants and sand. The walk boasts interesting and unique views of the Mangroves in their swampy environment and is home to colourful water birds and crabs which enrich its ecosystem. The walk provides a quiet and engaging activity for kids and adults alike. Being just over 1km, the trail is suitable for those with little feet, and opens onto the running track that leads back to the car park, creating the perfect loop.
Walking along the Boardwalk is relaxing and serene, being so deep in the wetlands that the only noise you can hear is the occasional bird call, or wind whistling through the trees. The walk itself is easy and low impact, allowing for a gentle stroll, savouring and enjoying the environment around you.
The Badu Mangrove Boardwalk also features the ‘Dreaming Track’ poem, written by Wiradjuri poet, Lorna Munro. This poem exists to honour and pay respect to the 29 clans that descend from the land, as well as the different Sydney languages. The poem is a conversation between fresh and salt water, and a reminder of those who the have walked and cared for the land for centuries.
The poem is inscribed along panels of the Boardwalk, with each panel being intrinsic to the environment around it, helping us to take in what’s important at that spot.
Once you’ve explored the Mangroves, your day is far from over. If you’re up for more wetland adventure, continue on the running track and it will lead you to the Water bird Refuge, a home to over 200 bird species. The environment has been created to ensure the Water bird population is safe from predators and can thrive in peace. This is a perfect opportunity to bring your binoculars and see how many you can spot.
Bicentennial Park also features 40 hectares of parkland, with BBQ areas, running and cycling tracks and self guided activities galore.
It’s the perfect place to take a picnic and have a day of exploration with family and friends. You might learn something new about the environment around us or the history on which we stand each day.
To find out more information, maps, and FAQs, head online and visit https://www.sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au/parks-and-playgrounds/bicentennial-park.
Madeline Dantier is the author of the Experience Parramatta series, hosted by Parra News.