Dunns Rd Reserve@Mt Martha, Mornington Peninsular (my rating C)

I'm glad that I chose this park for today.  Within an-hour drive, we arrived at this park just before lunch.  Guess it was partially because of the weather (scatter showers with chance of thunderstorm), we were the only ones in the park.

A big shed with tables and benches is perfect to setup the 'base camp', in case of the rain.  Playground is not bad, about the average; large open grassy area is ideal for frisbee.

BBQ stoves, water tap, toilets, all these things make this park friendly. 

Along the walking path, there're fitness equipments for  people to use.

Next to the playground is a doggy playground (fenced up) with play equipments for them to enjoy.

 

(Open Grassy Area)

 

(Playground)

 

(Playground, the climbing frame in the distance)

 

(Shed with BBQ facilities)

  

(Doggie Playground)

 

(Walking Path, fitness stations along the path)

Sandfield Reserve in Carrum Downs (my rating C)

Sandfield Reserve in Carrum Downs, belongs to Frankston City Council.  It's about 50mins drive from Melbourne City, via Eastlink.

Sandfield Reserve sounds like a good playground, it has interesting play equipments, a tennis wall, and basketball ring, a skate park, and offleash.

With high hope, and to celebrate Jessica's good recovering (she's been very sick for a month), we went to this park, for a picnic lunch and a few hours relax.

According to Council website, there's a community toilet nearby, but the only 'community' site is a primary school, and all the gates are locked..........

With no luck with toilet facilities, we decided not to have picnic in the park.

The kids  had a play in the skate park, looks like it's a popular skate park to the locals, it was certainly very busy while we were there.

The tennis wall and the basketball ring share a block, thus sort of 'exclusive OR' condition, either basketball or tennis.

It is an excellent park to the locals, but not for people like me who wishing to spend a good few hours in the park.

 

(skate park, basketball ring and tennis wall)

 

(skate park)

 

(playground)

 

Glen Park, Bayswater North (my rating B)

Glen Park in Bayswater North, about 40mins drive from Melbourne City, via M3 / Eastlink.

It's an offleash park, with a playground and toilet facilities, as well as tennis courts to public and a basketball court.  It has also a few fitness equipments near playground.

It is overall a nice park that can keep the kids busy for one or two hours.  My children loved the RAMP especially, they went round and round over the ramp in-line staking and scootering.

 

(RAMP close-shot)

 

(Ramp and Fitness Station)

 

(Playground)

Zeally Bay@Torquay (My rating B)

On a warm Saturday (28'C), we went to Zeally Bay at Torquay to 'chill out'.

Why Zeally Bay?  Partially because it's offleash till Dec 1, partially because there're toilet facilities near the beach, partially because beaches on Great Ocean Road are my favourites, partially because Torquay is my favourite town along Great Ocean Road, partially because..................

Why is Zeally Bay rated B only?  All because the offleash period is from May to Nov.  Where do I go when Summer Heat comes?  The Beach Winner goes..... on great ocean road, a bit further down the Anglesea, with toilet facilities, will announce the name when summer heat comes. :-)

 

(Look Right)

 

(and Look Left)

 

(Here's Zeally Bay, ample car park, from Council Website)

 

(This is what PURPLE means, from Council Website)

Hepburn Regional Park (my rating A)

Hepburn Regional Park is in Hepburn,  near Daylesford, about 1.5hrs drive from Melbourne City.

Most of people think about springs and SPA resorts when hearing "Hepburn" or "Daylesford", yes, Daylesford is "SPA centre of Australia", but SPA isn't the only thing Hepburn/Daylesford can offer,  Hepburn Regional Park is a big GREEN area, offering many walking tracks. (Dogs are expected to be on-leash)

 

 (Yes, Hepburn Regional Park features springs as well)

We parked at the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, and walked to Argyle Spring and back. It took us about 2 hrs return, including rest and refreshment.  There is a bench half way to Argyle Spring, but  Mum found some 'informal' resting spots - fallen tree logs along the track.

 

(Sign at the car park, the car park is roomy)

 

(the walk we did today, map from Park Victoria website)

The walk itself was relaxing, refreshing and satisfying.  even though no heartbreaking view.  We had many chances to study the plants, and trees, and birds.  We also met Little Jonny and Miss Minne, 2 funny cute "creepy" crawlings like caterpillars.

 

 (Little Jonny)

(Miss Minnie)

In my opinion, the walk requires reasonable fitness, as there're numerous steps: natural ones and man-made ones.  Thanks to the walking stick, Mum managed the steps and slopes.

There're quite some spiky plants throughout the track, guess it's the way the plants protect themselves.  You might want to wear long pants and long sleeve tops to avoid the cuts.

  

(These plants are very popular in this park, mind your bare skin)

As the ground is very uneven, a pair of proper hiking boots would be really helpful.

 

(Walking Track)

When we were there, we saw quite a few trees uprooted (or fallen), and also heard the trees cracking.  It's always a good idea to have the ears wide open, for the enjoyment of birds chipping, and potential danger of the trees falling.

 

(Broken Tree Trunk)

 

(Sign on the back back to car park)

Suggest you to go to Daylesford Visitor Centre to get a copy of the map.  The staff there are very helpful and friendly.  The visitor centre is located at 98 Vincent St, Daylesford.

Mt Beckworth Scenic Reserve@Clune (my rating A)

Mt Beckworth is located 35km north west Ballarat.  It's about 2.15hrs drive from Melbourne City via M80.

We spent some time searching for the entry.  I initially set the GPS to go from Pickfords Rd to Cork Oaks Camp Site, but for some reason, the GPS couldn't find the way.  We had to re-set the destination to the other entry (the one at the end of Mountain Creek Rd), and then followed the road within the Reserve to Cork Oaks.

 

(This is the Sign of "Mt Beckworth Scenic Reserve" at the Entry)

 

(The sign at the Entry)

There're a few signs in the park showing the way, but not sufficient in my opinion, especially when the road splits, there's no sign to tell you which way to go.  Thanks for my GPS, I had a reference (yup, to turn on to the road that looks closer to the destination).

But once we arrived, it made all the effort worth.  The Cork Oaks is a nice camp site, with toilet facilities.

After a well-prepared hotdog lunch, we set the hiking to "Mt Bechworth" summit.

As said before, there was no enough signs, we followed the sign of "Mt Bechworth" at the beginning, soon we found us climbing up the mountain following sort of walking trail.  It was literally and actually climbing, the path is really steep, and not well formed (so different from You Yangs and 1000 Steps).  Mum and Jessica climbed 2/3, then decided to go no further. 

It took us 45 mins to reach the summit, this is one of the reasons I believe we didn't follow the track (it says on the sign about 3hr return if stays on the walking track).

However, I must emphasize I made no complain at all.  The view is breathtaking, the climbing was fun! It made the hiking more adventurous, the only regret was Mum and Jessica couldn't make to the summit and enjoy the view.

My suggestion to you, if you plan to visit this reserve, please do have a hard copy of the Park Notes, and I'm sure you would thank your proper hiking boots after climbing the mountain, they would protect your ankles and also provide good grip.

 

(Sign at the Cork Oaks)

 

(This section of the climbing is easy compared to the summit part)

 

(View at 1/3 from the summit)

 

(path at the start, much steeper than what looks in this photo)

 

(This is the path heading summit)

 

(map from Park Vic website)

Ballam Park@Frankston (my rating B)

Ballam Park in Frankston is a big offleash park.  It features 2 big adventurous playgrounds, a half basketball court, toilets, car park, etc.

It seems very appealing to me, but the kids didn't really enjoy the adventurous playgrounds, and because it's a such popular park, the basketball court was always in use.

But Jessica liked the park, she was quite active in this park, and wagging her tail, introducing herself to other park users.

JC Donath Reserve@Reservoir (My rating C)

JC Donath Park is a big park with sports ovals.  It has an average playground, and a skate park which in my opinion not suitable for beginners / intermediate uses.

Hardy Gallagher Reserve@Princes Hill (my rating C)

Hardy Gallagher Rerserve is located near Princes Park and is on the Capital City Trail and within the Inner Circle Railway Linear Park.  It is an offleash park with a few unusual play equipments.

There's no toilet facilities on site, guess you may use the one in Neighbourhood Centre (next to the park).

This makes a nice rest spot if you ride a bike along Capital City Trail.