Mushroom Reef Sanctuary is a beautiful rockpool oasis located in Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula famous for its diversity of marine life, including sheltered rock pools, coves and a shallow reef on the ocean side as well as sandstone rock platforms extending from the shore. Children will get to explore and learn about our marine life and how to care for it.

Eco Explorers Mushroom Reef Sanctuary beach playgroup is run by Alison who is a qualified Primary and Secondary School Teacher, who has experience working with kids with special needs, as well as being involved in helping set up natural play spaces for her local kindergarten and playgroup for many years.

Our playgroups offer you the best of nature play in a relaxed, supportive and positive environment. There is plenty of free and unstructured play as well as nature craft activities and loose parts play in our popular mud kitchen. The sessions are relaxed and completely child led and parents are encouraged to follow their child’s lead.

Our program has been developed to give your child optimum opportunity to build their gross motor and physical skills through climbing, balancing, walking and fine motor skills during our craft activities. Research clearly shows that the more time your child spends in nature, the better they are prepared for school, both physically and emotionally.

Eco Explorers bush playgroups allow parents to disconnect from their busy lives (and technology) and re-connect with their child in nature. This time is as much for you as it is for your child. Our playgroups bring together a community of like-minded parents who are supportive and welcoming.

Bush playgroup is an all weather outdoor playgroup so you need to make sure you bring appropriate weather protection and clothing. Children must have closed footwear when walking in the bush, sun hats, sunscreen, wet weather gear, plenty of snacks and water and a change of clothes. Our playgroup will only be cancelled in the event of an extreme weather warning; fire, storm, high temperatures and strong wind and you will be offered a make-up class initially for the first one and then a refund for any other cancelled sessions. We do not offer make up classes if you can’t attend.

Ages: 1 – 5 years (siblings under 14 months are welcome to attend for free).