**An easy walk for a Saturday morning!** This is a slightly longer variation on our Riverside Gardens walk. A brisk start to the day sees us heading to the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary making our way across the Tonkin Hwy bridge into Ascot and down to Kuljak Island and then loop around the Baigup Wetlands returning back to the start. Finish off with my favourite café on the river, **The Oarhouse** is awesome! Just about 2.5 hours of walking plus coffee afterwards. **Difficulty**: The long range **forecast suggests a mild day** with temperatures from 11°C when we set off to 17°C when we sit down for a coffee. At this stage the morning is predicted to be sunny. There are no mountains to climb on this walk along the Swan River. Expect a spirited walking pace of about 5.5 - 6km/h. The tracks are level and paved most of the way with a few compacted dirt paths. The distance and pace will suit **regular walkers**. **Where?**: MeetUp **exactly** at the pin drop by clicking on the map. **Parking**: There is plenty of parking near the meeting point. **What to bring:** Water, good walking shoes, hat & sunscreen and a chair would be good. **Toilets**: At the Oarhouse Café and possibly the Kiln Café. **Cafè**: **The Oarhouse** has a well deserved reputation for its muffins and other gastronomic delights and the coffee is the best in this area. This is a very popular café, we might need to take our own chairs so leave one in your car. **Alltrails map** [Riverside Gdns., Bird Sanctuary & Kuljak Is., Baigup Wetlands Loop (13km)](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/riverside-gdns-tonkin-br-kuljak-is-baigup-wetlands-loop-12-5km-5ad742c) **Fast Facts** The Nyoongar word **'baigup' means 'rushes'**. A total of 96 bird species have been recorded at the site, including bush birds, waterfowl and coastal birds. **Kaljuk** (Black Swan Island) is an artificial island created by dredging two channels as a part of the Ascot Waters development in 1997. For 25 years up until the early 1980's the site was a council rubbish tip. **Kuljak means swan.** **Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary**: Due to nutrients and pollutants from runoff, the wetlands were severely degraded. In 2015, the wetlands underwent a $3 million rehabilitation project to improve water quality and reduce pollutants flowing into the Swan River and improve the ecology for the habitat of birds, fauna and native plants. 170,000 native plants were added. **RSVP - no shows & late arrivals:** If you are on the "Going" list and can't make it on the day please RSVP "Not Going" at the earliest convenience as a courtesy so to allow others to join who might be on the "Waitlist". *We aim to set-off for each walk at the advertised time and as a general rule, we set off on-time for each walk.* **IMPORTANT** By confirming your attendance attendees agree to "WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY" the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of the *Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group* from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from Injuries and Damages, even if caused by negligence, in any way connected with *Walking Mates Australia*. Attendees further agree to HOLD HARMLESS the organisers, co-organisers, event organisers, volunteers and members of *Walking Mates Australia Meetup Group* from any claims, damages, injuries or losses caused by their own negligence while a participant on the Event.