Gong Gong Reservoir Park is a large and diverse bushland reserve only 10 minutes from Ballarat on the Daylesford Road. When you arrive you will be surrounded by gum trees, native grasses and the sound of Yarrowee Creek giggling along. The park has many self guided walking tracks with information boards along the way to help you learn more about the native wildlife. The criss-crossing tracks and bridges are a wonderland for children as they can follow the gravel paths in safety.

Walking past the wetlands in the middle of the park the chorus of frogs amongst the native vegetation is uplifting and a must after rain.

Although Gong Gong sounds like an indigenous name, the traditional name is Gang Gang after the red-headed Gang-Gang-cockatoo. We haven’t heard their creaking door call or seen them fly over but the pine trees that border the reservoir are visited by large groups of yellow-tailed black cockatoos.

The park has toilets, ample parking, barbecues and picnic tables dotted around the various tracks. You could make a day of it and start in Ballarat’s CBD and follow the Yarrowee Creek Trail out to Gong Gong Reservoir where you will be energised by the natural bush setting.

Eco Explorers run a Bush Playgroup at Gong Gong Reservoir weekly on Wednesday mornings. Contact us here to enquire about joining.