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)

 

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.

Coate Park@Alphington (My Rating C)

Coate Park in Alphington (near Melbourne CBD) is an open space for you and your little fury one to enjoy! It's located in a quiet residential area next to Yarra River.  I guess this park is more for the local residents as there's no toilet facilities.

 

(The picnic table & stools face Yarra River)

 

(Open Space)

Western Reserve@Castlemaine (My rating C)

Castlemaine is about 1.5hrs drive from Melbourne City.

The Western Reserve at Castlemaine features a skate park.  The reserve itself is an offleash park.

We went to this skate park after visiting Maldon, on the way back to Melbourne.

The skate park is suitable for my kids, meaning, not too advanced, and doesn't scare my kids off.

 

(skatepark)

 

(skatepark)

 

(This is what my baby was doing while the kids were on the scooter)

We visited the Mt Tarrangower, Anzac Hill, Playground at Maldon while we were at Maldon.

Playground@Maldon Visitor Centre (My rating C)

Maldon is a town near Castlemaine, about 2hrs drive from Melbourne City.  If you visit the town for a day, the playground at Maldon Visitor Centre (behind the visitor centre) is a good spot for the kids to have a chance to run and burn some enegy.  The picnic tables and benches are available, as well as the toilet facilities.

We were there on a Sunday afternoon, though the kids enjoyed the play there, I found the food 'leftovers' especially bread and donuts on the grassy ground, not sure if people deliberately left the food there for the birds, or just didn't bother to bin it.

I had to keep a close eye on Jessica my baby cavalier, as she loves food, and she takes every opportunity to vacuum the food from the ground.

 

(the playground behind the visitor centre@Maldon)

We went to Mt Tarrangower and Anzac Hill @Maldon.

On the way back to Melbourne, we stopped by at Western Reserve@Castlemaine, there's a skate park there, and the kids had fun on their scooters in the skate park.

Mount Tarrangower@Maldon (My rating C)

Maldon is a town in Mount Alexander  Shire Council, near Castlemaine.  It's about 2hr drive from Melbourne City.

Mt Tarrangower is within Maldon Historic Area Reserve, managed by Park Victoria.

I was hoping to hike from Maldon Town to Anzac Hill to Mount Tarrangower Lookout, but it was 1pm by the time we arrived at the Visitor Centre@Maldon, and got map of  Maldon Historic Area Reserve.

After a light lunch, it was too late to hike.  So, activated plan B, which was to drive to Mount Tarrangower Lookout, and drive to Anzac Hill (it's 4WD track between Mout Tarrangower Lookout and Anzac Hill).

Driving along the High Street, you'll see the Brown Tourist Sign "Mount Tarrangower" on your left.  Turn Left and keep going straight, you'll come to Mount Tarrangower Lookout, the road is all sealed, by the way.

 

(Lookout Tower at Mt Tarrangower, you can climb)

 

(View from Lookout Tower)

 

(View from Lookout Tower) 

We followed the "Fountain Track" to go to the Anzac Hill.  The track shown on the map above is "Adair Track", another 4x4 track.  To go to Fountain Track, keep driving straight from the way you come from (you'll have Adair Track on your left, and the Lookout Tower on your right), you'll then see the track (it's well labled)

 

(Anzac Hill)

 

(Map downloaded from Park Victoria)

The view was nice, but didn't make me say "wah!!!!!!!".  And I was glad I didn't do the hiking, as by judging the track, it would be a bit boring on foot.  Driving to Anzac Hill was good though.


When we were there (on the Father's Day), Maldon was quiet and peaceful.  the staff at Visitor Centre were very helpful and friendly.

We went to the playground behind the Visitor Centre after Anzac Hill.  The kids enjoyed the play there.

On the way back to Melbourne, we stopped by at the Western Reserve@Castlemaine, there's a skate park there, and the reserve is offleash.

 The visitor centre: 93 High Street Maldon

Mt Tassie@Balook (my rating C)

Mt Tassie is about 2.5hrs drive from Melbourne,  is located about 17km south of Traralgon via the Traralgon-Balook Road or about 3km north of Balook and the Grand Ridge Rd.

Mt Tassie, at 750m,  is the highest point in the Strzelecki Ranges.

We left home about 10.30am, arrived Traralgon at lunch time.  We had our picnic lunch at Newman Park (Oh yes, we re-visited the park today, the kids just love this playground.  Though it was Sunday and the car park was over-full, it didn't feel crowded. The only queue when we were there was for the mini-steam engine.)

We set our journey at 2.30pm, went onto Grand Ridge Rd via Gormandale,   the drive was really pleasant.

It was 3.30pm when we arrived at the guest house at Balook, and had the scones there.  Ummmm, yummy scones, especially the cream & jam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We sat the outdoor dining area, overlooking the forest, everything was just peaceful and relaxing, it felt like the time had stopped, and all I wanted to do was just sitting there, sipping my coffee and listening to the sound of the nature.

Anyway, the kids were too busy to enjoy the 'timeless' moments.  Back to the road at 4.30pm, heading towards Mt Tassie.

It was a bit of guessing game to locate the Mt Tassie lookout.  We had a few wrong attemps and made us "no, guess not this way, let's U turn".

Eventually, we got it right, and here we were, on the summit of Mt Tassie.

So, if you go to Mt Tassie from Traralgon, via Traralgon-Ballok Road,  you'll see the sign "Mt Tassie" on your left,  (You won't see any sign pointing to "Mt Tassie" if you head from Balook, unless you do your head check).

 

(The sign "Mt Tassie", you only see the sign if you head from Traralgon)

follow the left path up the hill, and then you'll see the path split, follow the left path, you'll then see the lookout!

 

 (You'll then see the road split, stay on the left path, the right path leads to a dead end)

 

 

(Congrats, here you are, at the lookout) 

The path that leads to the lookout is a bit exciting!  Thank to Lucien, my 4x4, we moved on without hesitation. :-D

WR Ruthven Park@Preston (My rating C)

WR Ruthven Park in Preston is a popular park, the oval is popular for the ball games, and the playground is popular for the kids.
 
The playground is at the corner Donald Street & Malpas Street, Preston.

It is an offleash park, it has toilet facilities too.

We came to this park last Saturday afternoon.  There was a football game on.  The kids had fun in the playground, but couldn't kick the ball, as the grass area surrounding the playground isn't big enough for the ball kicking.

My kids loved the climbing frames, but they were bored after 45 mins.  So.................. guess this is a playground for a short play, but not the one if I want to spend time for the whole afternoon.

JJ Holland Park@Kensington (My rating C)

JJ Holland Park is a big park with big offleash areas.  An advanced skatepark at the cnr of Kensington Rd and Childers St for intermediate players, a nice medium playground and basketball court at the other end of Childers St (near Ormond St).

The shared path gives young children a nice place to ride bike.

The only downside to me is the constant loud noise from nearby rail tracks.

 

(basket ball court next to the playground)

 

(playground)

 

(oval opposite the playground - offleash)

 

(Offleash areas - highlighted in yellow)

Highfield Park@Camberwell (my Rating C)

We went to this park, thought the entire park was offleash.  And we were happy to see the playground equipments, the kids were having fun and my baby was having fun on the oval next to the playground...........

 

(playground and the oval next to it)

Until, a kind lady came, and told me that the council changed the rules a few weeks ago.

Now, only South Oval is offleash.  The one next to the playground is now ONLEAD.

 

 (Map of the park)

 

There's a car park in between the 2 ovals.  How can I take my baby to the offleash oval and leave the kids the other side of the park to play at the playground?  No, I won't feel comfortable doing that.

 

(facing the offleash oval)

(offleash oval)

That's why I rate this park C, it was on my A List the moment we came.

Rosebud Beach@Mornington Peninsula (my rating C)

Rosebud Beach (100m west and 200m east of the car park opp. Murry Anderson Drive) is an offleash beach when it's not in Day Light Saving days.

The car park is big, plenty of spots given it's not summer.

But the beach is very narrow (not sure if it was because of the tides?), with foreshore vegetation, there isn't much room for beach walk, unless you're happy for the waves splash on your feet, which I did, and I love to wet my feet in the water.......

 

(car park)

 

(entry to the beach)

 

(on the beach)

Rye Beach@Mornington Peninsula (my rating C)

Rye Beach (between Daly Avenue and Shirlow Avenue) is an offleash beach when it's not Day Light Saving.

Looks like it's a popular place for water gliding.

The beach was narrow (not sure if it was because of the tide?)

We brought the beach chairs and toys, but didn't feel like to spend too much time there........... :-(

We had a short walk on the beach though......

 

(The entry to the beach, also where to park)

(on the beach)

 

(we found a jelly, and watched how waves slowly carry it into the water again, so the jelly's life keeping going....)

The cafes and restaurants on Mornington Peninsula are soooo nice, great food and great people...... 

We've tried the ones in Mornington, Rye, Rosebud, Mt. Eliza,  Sorrento, etc.  and none of them disappointed me yet......