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Set amongst majestic river gums with abundant bird life, a wetlands area to explore and native flora with bush tracks, Laurimar Creek Conservation Reserve is home to many birds and small mammals. Located in the leafy suburb of Doreen, 26 kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s CDB.

There is also a small BBQ and natural playspace and picnic area for your family to enjoy with fallen logs, rocks and a small playground nearby.

Don’t forget to download your FREE Eco Explorers Nature Scavenger Hunt here to take with you!

Eco Explorers runs Bush Playgroup at Laurimar Creek Conservation Reserve in Doreen and you can find out more about our nature playgroup programs here.

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Feel an instant calm as you leave the city hustle behind and step into the spectacular Australian bushland known as Yarra Bend Park. A mere 4 km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD and located on Wurundjeri land, Yarra Bend Park located in Kew is the largest area of natural bushland left in inner Melbourne. Known for hosting the city’s famous grey-headed flying fox colony, as well as many fun outdoor and adventurous activities for your little explorer such as canoeing, birdwatching, Kane’s Bridge, historical sites and dog walking.

Due to the deep Indigenous cultural connection to the land around the Yarra Bend river, this park was now of State-level historical and archaeological significance under the Heritage Act 2017, after already being an Aboriginal place of significance and protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

Arguably the parks best known feature, the artificial weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the Ceres Flour Mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dights Falls after the owners of the mill.

TOP 5 ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY WITH KIDS!

1. 1. Take a walk (or bike ride) along Loop track to the spectacular Dight falls (3.2km, 1 hours return) from Studley park Boathouse.
   2. Head to Bellbird Picnic Area and check out the adorable, ecologically significant and Australian famous grey headed flying foxes! With a nationally important and impressively large permanent roost located at Bellbird park, easy to access via car and an easy paved walk at 500m, 20 minutes return (although parts are quite steep!) Find out more here.
   3. Walk over Kane’s Bridge from Studley Park and have a picnic with your family at Lower Loop Picnic Area which can also be accessed via Yarra Bend Rd. There are electric barbecues, shelters, toilets, drinking fountain and a playground, making it an ideal picnic spot.
   4. Hire a canoe at the boathouse and see the natural scenery leisurely from the river itself. More info here and boat price list here.
   5. Stop for a milkshake and enjoy the views at the restored Edwardian Studley Park Boathouse cafe.

FLORA & FAUNA INFORMATION 

Yarra Bend Park contains some of the last stands of original bushland in inner Melbourne. A total of approximately 320 indigenous plants have been recorded in the park of which more than 100 species are considered to be of local, regional or state significance. Head to Kane’s Bridge and see if you can spot a platypus or water rat and a number of bat and reptile species on your bush walk. Birds commonly seen in Yarra Bend Park include the Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-rumped Parrot and if you are lucky, theYellow-tailed Black Cockatoo!

Don’t forget to download your FREE Eco Explorers Nature Scavenger Hunt here to take with you!

Eco Explorers runs Bush Playgroup at Yarra Bend Park and you can find out more about our nature playgroup programs here.

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Balcombe Estuary Reserve is a lovely bushland reserve nestled in the lovely coastal town of Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula. This 53 hectare reserve is rich in biodiversity and offers the 3.5 kilometres of walking tracks and boardwalk that meander alongside Balcombe Creek, extending from the coast through to the Nepean Highway and on to The Briars.

Engage all your senses as you see schools of fish swim past, tadpoles, and dragonflies in the water and hear the symphony of birdsong, crickets, and insects as you stroll along the estuary boardwalk.

You can download a copy of the Balcombe Estuary Reserve map here Balcombe Estuary Reserves map(PDF, 155KB)

There’s also a gorgeous golden sandy beach on the other side and some fantastic shops and cafes to grab a bite to eat.

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Pound Bend has a delightful picnic area with tables, toilets, a canoe launching ramp and great views of the river. There are easy walks and tracks around this area.

The Tunnel was built on the Yarra River in the late 19th century to change the course of the river and dredge and pan the exposed horseshoe bend for gold.

The walking trail is beautiful and abundant with wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, echidnas and many birds.

As a Parks Vic tour operator, Eco Explorers runs Bush Playgroup, Bush Kids, Forest School and School Holiday programs at Langwarrin flora and fauna Reserve.

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What an oasis in the midst of metropolitan Melbourne Wattle Park is! Located on Wurundjeri Country approximately 13 km east of Melbourne’ with significant natural and cultural heritage. It provides an important connection to native bush within a suburban landscape.  Huge gum trees, wattles, seasonal wildflowers and the beautiful historic Chalet set on 55 hectares in the suburb of Burwood. There is SO much to explore here, it’s no wonder it’s been a long time favourite of Eco Explorers.

In the heart of the park is the Wattle Park Chalet, a beautiful reception building made from decommissioned tram engine houses. Within the playground area are two heritage W-class trams, now a source of joy for young and old, and a perfect place for a picnic amongst the trees. There is also a fabulous old bandstand set amongst the grassier areas behind the Chalet. Another point of interest here is that one of only four Lone Pines in Victoria is planted here, near the sports oval. It was planted in 1933 from a seed collected at Gallipoli, as a memory of soldiers killed in World War One.

TOP 5 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH KIDS AT WATTLE PARK

1. 1. 1. Enjoy a picnic and bush walk – don’t forget to download your nature scavenger hunt pack!
      2. Hop on the tram and go for an imaginary ride!
      3. Listen to the Melbourne Tramways Band play once a month during spring and autumn (weather permitting).
      4. Follow the Wattle Park Self Guided Nature and History Trail
      5. Play a game or tennis or golf

FLORA & FAUNA INFORMATION 

The diverse bush is undulating, and full of criss-crossing walking tracks – there are creeks and filtration ponds throughout the park, and an impressive array of native flora and fauna. Alongside its namesake (10,000 or so wattles were planted at the time of the acquisition of the land for use as a public park back in the 1920’s), you will also find manna gums, yellow box, and one of our favourites, lemon scented gum trees. Wattle Park is also a renowned spot to find native orchids, chocolate lilies, and native grasses such as kangaroo grass. Spring is the perfect time to take a slow stroll through the bush, keeping an eye out for pops of colour on the ground.

There are recorded to be at least twenty species of butterfly, sixty species of beetle, three species of frogs, bats, skinks, ringtail and brushtail possums. The park’s bird life includes kookaburras, rosellas, rainbow lorikeets, galahs, and gang-gang cockatoos. (Parks Victoria “Wattle Park”)

Whilst the playground itself is undergoing a major upgrade to an all-abilities, nature based playscape (set to be completed by the end of 2022), there is still so much uninterrupted nature to enjoy at Wattle Park.