Lake Joondalup is a medium sized lake in Perth

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

, Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. It is located in the Perth northern suburbs of Joondalup, Wanneroo

Wanneroo

Wanneroo may refer to:* City of Wanneroo - a local government area in the north of Perth, Western Australia* Wanneroo - a suburb in that local government area* Wanneroo Road - an arterial road north of Perth...

, and Edgewater

Edgewater

Edgewater is a common name used throughout the world as a place name. It is often found in English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and United States.-United States:*Edgewater, Alabama*Edgewater, Colorado...

. It is a nature reserve

Nature reserve

A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...

 and part of the Yellagonga Regional Park

Yellagonga Regional Park

Yellagonga Regional Park is located in Perth, Western Australia, in the City of Wanneroo and the City of Joondalup. The park was established in 1989 by the Western Australian government and protects hectares of land, including of wetlands – Lake Joondalup, Beenup Swamp, Walluburnup Swamp, and...

.

Features

Lake Joondalup has a number of islands, and has a large sandbank during the dry summer months. It has a lot of wildlife including ducks, turtles and many other birds. Most of the banks are either swamp land or reeds.

Attractions

The main attraction at Lake Joondalup is Neil Hawkins Park, named after a chairman of the former Metropolitan Region Planning Authority. This is a popular family park for tourists as well as locals. There is a small jetty over the lake and visitors can feed birds (although this practise is now discouraged), and have a barbecue

Barbecue

Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...

.

Wildlife

The areas around Lake Joondalup are home to many birds, including waterbirds on the lake. The reserve lies within the Northern Swan Coastal Plain Important Bird Area

Northern Swan Coastal Plain Important Bird Area

The Northern Swan Coastal Plain Important Bird Area comprises a 2307 km2 tract of land in south-west Western Australia.-Description:The Important Bird Area stretches from the city of Perth northwards along the coast to the town of Guilderton, extending inland for about 40 km, thereby...

, so identified by BirdLife International

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...

 because of its importance in supporting several thousand Short-billed Black Cockatoos during the non-breeding season. It is also home to many types of frog.

Further reading

• Costello, Verna.(2003) Glistening attraction, Yellagonga Regional Park. Landscope (Como, W.A), Summer 2003, p. 20-25