Forget about the quest for a Q, Quinns Rocks is the parkrun to go for the quintessential Western Australia experience.
The coastal parkrun offers visiting dolphins and beautiful stretches of beach on top of the cheery community.
“We are fortunate to belong to a beautiful coastal parkrun that follows a winding path through the bushland close to the beach,” says Quinns Rocks event director Duncan Wild.
“The key aspect that makes our parkrun a great place to spend a Saturday morning has to be the wonderful people: both the runners and walkers and of course our absolutely brilliant volunteers.”
Boutique parkrun
“We are a small parkrun, with numbers ranging from 70-120 depending on the season.
“As we are small, we see familiar faces every week, and also love to welcome new runners and parkrun tourists (travel restrictions permitting of course).
“We are an attraction for the alphabet crew being one of the few parkrun events that begin with a Q.”
Quinns Rocks launched in January 2017, and is the northernmost metropolitan parkrun in Perth.
At the launch there were 245 finishers and 14 volunteers, though the event has an average of 93 finishers.
How it started
Quinns Rocks was started by Shirley and Ben Treasure who wanted an event for their community.
“Shirley and I used to attend Joondalup parkrun with our two young children, which we enjoyed immensely,” says Ben.
“We did not, however, enjoy the 20 minute drive there and back so much!
“We considered beginning a local event and gathered together a group of running buddies to create enough of a volunteer base to give us the confidence to launch a local event.
“Having the support of reliable and capable volunteers was essential to starting and maintaining a parkrun.
“We are delighted the event continues to create a safe and supportive space for people to be together, run, walk and enjoy the outdoors.”
About the course
Duncan says the parkrun, while one that challenge chasing parkrunners may have in their sights for a Q, is not one you would save for a PB run.
“Our course has three hill climbs (and descents) in the first 2km of the run, with up and back hills from the beachside path up to the local access roads.
“The hills are followed by an out and back section, and we then run back past the start line to a second turn around, before returning back to the start and a well-earned pat on the back and coffee!”
“We are often treated to dolphins swimming along the foreshore, and the run ends near Quinns Beach which features a shark net enclosure during the warmer months, making it perfect for an after run dip in the ocean.”
Duncan says first timers who live in the area become regulars thanks to the encouraging community.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that our local first timers come back again and then become our regulars! parkrun tourists say the same when they visit us for the first time, that they love the community feel and the support.
“Sure, the hills are certainly not a massive draw card, however we make up for it with our cheery faces and willingness for a chat and coffee afterwards.
“After parkrun our runners generally head into Portofinos for a coffee. The restaurant is situated right at the start and finish line.
“Portofinos do a mean banana bread, with toasted being the preferred option of course! They also have great breakfast options, and a great range of coffee, teas, milkshakes, cakes, and cupcakes.”
While at Quinns Rocks…
“Simply put, visitors must go to the beach after the run. Quinns Beach, which is closest to the start and finish line, has a shark net for safe swimming, while nearby smaller beaches between sheltering groynes are perfect to visit too.
“You can always find a spot that makes you feel like you’re the only people there.
“Another attraction in the area is the nearby Mindarie Marina where there are pubs and restaurants, plus a boardwalk to amble along.”
What’s in a Name?
In 1867 Assistant Surveyor James Cowle recorded an offshore reef and decided to name it after Robert Quin, his predecessor, who had carried out early surveys of parts of WA near Perth.
In 1925 the Wanneroo Road Board added an ‘n’ when they named the area “Quinns Rocks” while planning a road to that part of the coast.