Dandenong Police Paddocks (my rating: D)

Dandenong Police Paddocks, we went to this park hoping to have a relaxing Sunday in the sun, in the offleash area, and ride bike in the park.  But what we saw was very much different from what I pictured in my head based on the descriptions and the map downloaded from park victoria website.

Guess this is just not the right park for the activities I wanted to do on a sunny Sunday like this.

I checked the offleash areas and the "new" picnic ground, then we drove for another 45 mins to Hays Paddock in Kew East, and spent a few hours there.


I didn't even take a photo of this park. :(

Kooyoora State Park (my rating A)

Kooyoora State Park is located 220KM NW of Melbourne,  it took us about 3 hrs to get there.

We went to Melville Caves, parked at Melville Caves Picnic Area.   Picnic tables, benches and toilet facilities are available there.

We did the Melville Caves Walking Track.  It took us 75mins to finish the track (loop), including 20mins admiring / resting on the summit.

Part of the track is very steep,  Mum's bushwalking stick helped her a lot!  But the view is super rewarding.

(Mum and her bushwalking stick)

There're big rocks to climb.  My kids loved it!  They both said they wanted to come back again!

Before you go, please check bushfire risk rating, have a print-out of park map (you may download it from parkvic website: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/kooyoora-state-park), a pair of proper walking boots is always a good choice.

 

(Seal Rock, you would easily spot it out)

(Lookout@Summit)

 

(Lookout@Summit)

 

 

 

Albert Park Reserve (my rating A)

Albert Park Reserve is located in Albert Park, and managed by Park Victoria,

We parked the car in the car park on Aughtie Drive, and set the base camp under a tree in the offleash area.

Then we rode the bike round the lake. 

The lake is the home for black swans and some other birds.  The track round the lake is about 5km.  Dogs need to be on-lead on the track.



 You may go to Park Victoria website to download the map of the park.

Track along the Lake

Raising Young

(Map from Park Victoria Website)

Queenscliff Dog Beach (my rating A)

Queenscliff Dog Beach is an off-leash beach all year round.   The off-leash beach is long, you won't feel packed even in the hottest days.

The beach is clean, the waves are not strong, so it's relatively safe for the kids to play in the water.  There's a car park nearby.

4 mins drive from the Queenscliff town centre,  a treat after beach would be pleasant.

This is my favourite off-leash beach in Victoria.  We come to this beach on weekends whenever we get a chance.

We went there today, 29'C, and glad we got wetsuits on.

Cyril Curtain Reserve, Williamstown (my Rating A)

Superb Location, Superb View, Superb Surrounding, that's Cyril Curtain Reserve in Williamstown, an offleash park for a relaxing sunny day.

The offleash park is between Thompson St and Giffard St.  Picnic tables and benches are available in this park.

Point Gelibrand Coastal Heritage Park (my rating B)

Point Gelibrand is in Williamstown, 40 mins drive from Melbourne city.  The promenade is excellent for family bike riding.  A 20 mins leisure walk will take you to a playground.

 Along the beach, there're rockpools.  The sand isn't good for barefoot, because there're heaps of seaweed, smashed shells, and occasionally crushed glass bottles.

We started walking on the Promenade, but soon winded to the beach,  the kids loved stepping from a rock to another rock, but it didn't take long for them to start to walk and splash in the water with their shoes on, and with no surprise, they got their pants wet.

Fortunately, we had spare clothes in the car.  They got changed afterwards.

Golden Lesson: always bring towels and spare clothes, especially if your destination is BEACH.

Lerderderg State Park (my rating A)

Lerderderg State Park is just 70km from Melbourne.  It is a large forest with magnificent view.

Because dogs are not allowed at Mackenzies Flat Picnic Area, we went to O’Briens Crossing.  Looks that O'Briens Crossing is popular too.  There were over 7 cars parked while we arrived.

The walk we had was "The Tunnel": O’Briens Crossing – Byers Back Track – The Tunnel and return (3km one way), it took us approx 3 hrs return.  Some paths are quite hilly steep, but when you see the scene, you'll find it's really worth it.

(This is not the steepest yet...... )

Most of the paths are just wide enough for walk in single file.  I don't think it's suitable for very young kids, as some sections are on the edge of the cliff, and there's no protection fence.

 

(walking single file)

The track to O'Briens Crossing is unsealed, but OK for 2-wheel drive.  We were not very sure at the beginning, and luckily we met a Park Victoria Vehicle, and the man confirmed that the track was suitable for 2-wheel drive, and we followed him to the O'Briens Crossing. :-D











See the map below, the one we did was Number 3.  We'll come back to this park and complete Track Number 2.

Would strongly suggest that you wear proper hiking boots and bring water and map with you when you set off for the walk.  If you plan to go to this park in a warm day, please check bush fire risk rating beforehand.

Map is available on Victoria Park website.

Note, Dogs are allowed at O'Briens Crossing Picnic Area, says the Official Visitor Guide.

George Bass Coastal Walk (my Rating A)

George Bass Coastal Walk is about 1.5hr drive from Melbourne.  Agrees with the Vic Park website that this is a popular walk. Why?  By the time we arrived, there had had already more than 10 cars parked there.   Dogs allowed on leash.

I do think this walk is suitable for the whole family (but not pram friendly).  Yes, you'll go up the hill and down the hill, but with proper walking boots, it shouldn't be a problem.  Mum used her walking stick, and she said with walking stick, it made the walk much easier for her.

It's a coastal clifftop walk, took us 1 hr from Punchbowl Road car park to Half Moon Bay (probably a bit over 1/3 of the whole walk).  Next time, we'll do the walk from Kilcunda entry.

The view is just awesome!    We had "quiet" time on the beach@Half Moon Bay, too.  The kids had their eyes fixed on the waves!  They were just astonished to see big waves formed nowhere bashing onshore.

p.s.: the Punch Bowl Road off Philip Island Road isn't a main road,  I couldn't see the road sign.  So probably you may want to slow down when your GPS (if you use GPS) tells you it's about to turn.  Car Park is at the end of the road.

There's no drinking tap, so you might want to bring enough water.  You may have lunch at the lookout near the entry (100m from the Map Signboard).  Either sitting on the bench or floor, you'll have a relaxing meal.

 

(Map at the Entry)

 

(Beach@Half Moon Bay)

Gisborne Botanic Garden@Gisborne (my Rating B)

Gisborne is a town about 55km West North of Melbourne.  After exploring Woodend, on the way back home, we visited Gisborne Botanic Garden. 

The Adventurous Playground is the garden is nice, and the garden is BIG!!!!!!  Large Area of Green Grass  everywhere!  Away from the traffic, away from the noise, this garden is such a germ for peaceful walk, and leisure.

However, my kids didn't spend much time in the playground, they soon joined us on the picnic rug, and later we had a ball game, and a walk to have a better look at the garden.

I like the open space and the green, this botanic garden is so different from the others I've visited.

I rated this garden and playground B, but the kids rated it C.

Woodend Children's Park@Woodend (My Rating B)

Woodend is a town about 1hr or so drive from Melbourne city.   If you plan to go to Hanging Rock and plan to go to the Information Centre to get map / info, Woodend Visitor Centre would probably the one you stop before heading to Hanging Rock.

This playground is just 300m from Woodend Visitor Centre, includes quite some unusual play equipments that my kids enjoyed and felt excited about.  Flying Fox, Climbing Frame, and the See Saw were the ones they loved the most. 

We went there on a sunny Sunday, there was a queue at flying fox.   

There are toilet facilities nearby.  Picnic tables and benches, too.  Even it was Sunday, and kids were seen everywhere in this playground, we easily found a bench to have our sandwich lunch.

Dogs are allowed on leash.

 

Golden Grove Drive Playground @ Narre Warren (My Rating B)

The play equipments in this playground are just awesome!  Not many but unusual and interesting.  The equipments are spread out, so the whole setting is more open and relaxing.

I think this park/playground is still new, as the trees are still young, thus there's not much natural shades, but they have 3 big sheds with benches.

The path is nicely paved, I'm glad we brought bikes and inline skates along, we had a great time in the park.

I would give this playground A if it had a toilet in the park, probably because it targets local residents only.

It's offleash too.

Davis Reserve @ Preston (My Rating B)

Davis Reserve is an offleash park, it has a playground, Toilet, BBQ facilities.

It's not big, but big enough to kick balls.  The playground has a unusual spinning swing,  my kids loved it.

(Spinning Swing)

The path would be a bit boring for bikes, we brought bikes over, but didn't unload them.

The park is nice for a sunny day, bring your picnic rugs, and balls, you'll have an awesome few hours in the park.

Creswick Regional Park (My Rating: A)

Creswick Regional Park is a perfect spot for a picnic at St. Georges Lake, and a bush walking for the rest of the day.  Dogs are allowed ^-^

It's just 90mins drive from Melbourne city.  It might be a good idea to get the map from Creswick Information Centre.

St. Georges Lake is  picturesque and peaceful.

(St Georges Lake)

The bush walking trails are just as awesome too.

 

(Walking Trail)

We intended to take Koala Park Trail, but Honey mis-read the map and we went to 4WD track, and then saw a very very steep slope in front of us.  That was fun, to walk down/up the STEEP muddy slope!   And there was a 4x4 at the foot of the slope, the men drove down from the slope.  They then drove up the slope just for us to witness the adventure!  AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EXCITING EXCITING EXCITING EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(The steep hill that 4x4s love to come and rev!)




Later the day, we met 3 more 4x4s asking for the direction to go UP the hill................ That place must be famous for 4x4 adventure!
 
I'll definitely go back and try all other trails out.
  
p.s.:  Beware of the sunset time,  you don't want to get lost in the woods, especially when it's dark.

For reward, we went to Creswick Woollen Mill afterwards, and fed alpacas....... :)
Creswick Woollen Mill opens 7 days from 10.00am - 5.00pm

Edwards Point Reserve on Bellarine Peninsula (my rating A)

Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve is on Bellarine Peninsula, near St. Lernards.  It's less than 2-hr drive from Melbourne city.

We started from the beach, passed the "Bays Lookout", to the tip of the park, on the way back, we explored the in-land trail "Bays Lookout Walk", but found it a bit boring, so went back to the beach, and did the return walk on the beach.  It took us 3.5 hrs return, including the snack time and play time.

The beach is fun to explore, lots of shells, pebbles and seaweed.  It's not the kind of beach for beach towels.

When we were there, the waves were calm,  Jessica loved it.

The only problem was we couldn't find any toilet.

(The in-land trail, quite narrow, and a bit boring to us)

You may go to Parks Victoria to find more info and download the map.
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/swan-bay-edwards-point-w.r

Markham Park in Ashburton (my rating A)

My rating is A, especially in a sunny day.
Right beside Gardiner Creek Trail, a well paved bike track, it's an offleash park, with a large oval & a big & nice fenced 'adventurous' playground, toilet facilities.
Da & kee enjoyed the playground. Even though it was raining, they had fun. 
why not bring skates / skateboards there......

 

 

(Climbing Frame)

There is a small skate park next to the playground, and also a basketball hoop.

The skate park is very small and simple.  My kids only spent 3 mins there.

 (Skate Park and Basketball Hoop)