Wallace Bushland Reserve

Details

Wallace Reserve is an example of a highly valued neighbourhood reserve, where the local community has worked together with Frankston City Council to restore the bushland environment. Today this beautiful reserve contains pockets of natural indigenous bush for wildlife habitat, large grassy areas for recreation, and space to enjoy a break from the noise and bustle of urban life.

Things to see Indigenous plants Pockets of indigenous plant communities are returning to the reserve. Of particular note is the grassy woodland area with an understorey of Weeping Grass, Spiny-headed Mat-rush and Variable Sword-sedge and an overstorey of Narrow-leaf Peppermints. It is wonderful to see areas of indigenous vegetation gradually reestablish with the assistance of the volunteers. Native animals Brushtail and Ringtail Possums have made their homes in the bushland areas whilst an occasional koala has been seen moving through the reserve. Native birds are returning to the restored bushland areas and the pine forest is likely to be a suitable habitat for cockatoos and other large parrots.

Information via Frankston City Council 

Location

Address:
10 Wallace Avenue, Frankston, Victoria, Australia

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01
Nov

Yan Yean Reservoir Park

Details

Yan Yean Reservoir Park is a great location to spend a lazy summer Sunday with the family. Enjoy a picnic with spectacular water views at the end carpark or grab some snags and cook up a BBQ with friends while the kids ride the bikes and explore the area. There’s plenty of space and picnic tables, rotundas and abundant parking make the park an ideal destination for a family outing with expansive water views.

There is also a lovely grassy and bushy wetlands area in the middle. You can often hear the frogs as you pass by and children can access the water’s edge for ponding activities!

Toilet facilities are located at both ends of the park and both have parenting amenities. The northern facilities are also wheelchair accessible.

Don’t forget to pack your binoculars and head into the extensive wetlands to see the abundant birdlife that lives and feeds in the area.

Stroll the easy walking trails along the water for views over the reservoir and towards the surrounding mountains, and unwind in the peaceful atmosphere of this tranquil, historic setting.

Parks Vic 

Location

Address:
Cnr Reservoir and Recreation Road, Yan Yean VIC, Victoria, 3755, Australia

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Epping North Conservation Reserve

Details

Unplug your devices and plug into nature. Epping North Conservation Reserve is a native woodland sanctuary in the heart of Epping. Expect to find grassy areas to relax and have picnics and walking tracks for those wanting to explore.

Features

  •  Loose branches
  •  Natural beauty
  •  Walking paths Nature Play activities:
  •  Bug exploration
  • Explore the natural environment
  •  Make bush shelters
  • Explore your five senses
  • Collect natural things to make a mobile
  • Go on a scavenger hunt Plants and animals

 

The Epping North Conservation Reserve makes a significant contribution to supporting local wildlife. Work is ongoing to restore the River Red Gum grassland by planting a variety of native grasses, wildflowers and shrubs. Keep your eyes and ears open for the huge variety of birds that reside here.

Location The reserve is located on Stonebridge Rise, Epping Public transport Bus 357 from Epping Station (10 mins)

Looking after the park • Leave everything as you find it • Take all rubbish home • Respect the fauna and flora • Respect animal homes

Location

Address:
Australia

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25
Nov

Strathewen

Details

Located at the foothills of Kinglake and adjacent to Kinglake National Park, Strathewen is a small town 45 km north-east of Melbourne.

Although there is no township in Strathewen, there is a Bushfire Memorial at the Strathewen Reserve that acknowledges the individuals who lost their lives in the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. It also tells the story of camaraderie and strength in rebuilding the community after the fires.The memorial takes visitors on the challenging journey of life before, during and after the fire and is a special and sacred place to visit fo the community. 

Also at the Strathewen Reserve, is an oval, pavilion, tennis courts, basketball and netball ring and small playground as well as access to a lovely spot for the kids to play by the creek.

Strathewen is only 20 mins from nearby towns Hurstbridge, Doreen, St Andrews and Kinglake which offer fantastic day trips to Masons Falls, bush walks, family picnics, local cafes (Hurstbridge has a great variety of cafes), Kinglake and St Andrews markets and a fantastic playspace – Bollygum playground in KInglake.

Our ReWild site is a private property which consists of 20 acres of bush to explore and includes:

      • A large dam to catch yabbies in
      • An untouched mountain of dense bushland for bushwalking and hiking – Australian flora and fauna – wombats, kangaroos, deer, echidna’s, birdlife, frogs, turtles, lizards and much, much more …
      • 5 acres of dirt bike tracks to build cubbies, use tools to build treehouses, slackline obstacle course, rope swings and much, much more …
      • Fire pit
      • Shelter

These expansive grounds and bush setting gives children plenty of space to be physically active, whether that’s building a cubby, playing games, building or running around with friends.

 

 

Location

Address:
Chadds Creek Road, Strathewen, Victoria, 3099, Australia

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02
Sep

Ballarat Indigenous Sculpture Park, Lake Wendouree

Details

Mirambeek Murrup / Ballarat Indigenous Sculpture Park, Lake Wendouree.

In the north-west corner of Lake Wendouree sits an important wetland. The wetlands were designed to filter Ballarat’s storm water before it reached the lake. With the abundance of shallow water and native water plants, the park has become a haven for water birds like the wood duck, black swan and swamp hen.

Surrounding the wetlands is a meandering path where you can discover the Indigenous sculptures that give the park its name. The sculptures an important site for the traditional owners of the land, the Wadawarrung people feature works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, celebrating the richness and diversity of culture and telling important cultural stories. You can explore the different sculptures and ponder their meanings as you enjoy being in nature.

There is plenty of parking at the lake and nearby are the Fairyland Walk, The Botanic Gardens and the Sound Shell where you can hear live music during the warmer months. Barbecue shelters and a cafe are also nearby if you feel hungry after all your exploring.

Eco Explorers runs a Bush Playgroup program in Ballarat which you can find more information about here. 

 

Image via Visit Ballarat – https://www.visitballarat.com.au/explore/murrup-laarr-ancestral-stones/

 

Image via Visit Ballarat
https://www.visitballarat.com.au/explore/murrup-laarr-ancestral-stones/

 

Location

Address:
Corner Zoo Drive and Wendouree, Lake Wendouree, Victoria, Australia

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15
Aug
Royal Park Parkville nature play

Royal Park, Parkville

Details

Located only 4kms from Melbourne’s CDB, Royal Park in Parkville is a hidden gem and a wonderful park to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Situated on land of importance to the people of the Eastern Kulin Nation, Royal Park is a valuable recreation place for people but it is also a significant biodiversity site and provides opportunities for research activities into its flora and fauna for biological scientists and students.

Royal Park was the site of a major Australian military camp and training ground during the First World War (1914 to 1918). It was redesigned in 1984 and now includes stretches of open grass with areas of lightly timbered eucalypt forest, sports grounds, wetlands, a native garden, dog off leash area and Nature Play at Royal Park, an award-winning a nature-based play space. Located at Royal Park’s south-east corner, the Nature Play Park is an incredible play space which has a water play area with hand pumps, water sprays and channels to control the flow of water down to the sandpit below. Although you could easily spend a day there, make sure you go and explore the actual bushland .

Read more about the history of Royal Park’s here.

TOP 5 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH KIDS 

      1. Have a picnic and explore the Australian native garden
      2. Walk, run or cycle along the many footpaths and Capital City Trail
      3. Have a play at the Royal Park Nature Play Playground (don’t forget to roll down the grassy hill!)
      4. Enjoy some yoga in the park or do a mindfulness scavenger hunt
      5. Fly a kite in the wide open space and better still, make your own (tutorial here)

FLORA & FAUNA INFORMATION 

Royal Park differs from most parks within the City of Melbourne in that its vegetation is almost exclusively Australian native. Visit the Australian Native Garden where you’ll find large varieties of native grasses such as Kangaroo Grass, Red-leg Grass, Silky Blue Grass, Windmill Grass, Weeping Grass and several species of Wallaby Grass and Spear Grass.

Trin Warren Tam-boore (Bellbird Waterhole) is a wetland located at the northwest corner of Royal Park and part of the Moonee Ponds Creek catchment.

Royal Park has five different ecosystems offering an unusually great biodiversity of plants and insects. It is rich in insects, with over 5000 species identified to date.

Visit Friends of Royal Park here for more information about the local flora and fauna

References: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/parks-open-spaces/major-parks-gardens/Pages/royal-park.aspx

Eco Explorers runs kids nature programs at Royal Park in Parkville. Our Parkville Bush Kindy Kids program runs on Tuesdays in 2023. Find out more or register your interest here.

Royal Park nature play

Royal park Melbourne with kids

Nature parks with kids Parkville

Nature parks with kids Royal park

Royal Park with kids

Nature parks with kids Melbourne

 

Location

Address:
Royal Park, Cnr Gatehouse Rd and Park Dr, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

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