What makes a great outdoor adventure for kids? Trees? Rocks? Beaches? Nature play? Wildlife? Yes, yes, yes! We have all these and more covered in our list of must-do bush walks and nature play spaces to explore with kids. Encompassing a variety of habitats and nature play experiences throughout the state, you’re certain to find the perfect adventure for your family.
In compiling this list, we sought expert opinions from members of our Eco Explorers Facebook community.
1. Heide Park, Bulleen
7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen
Heide Park is the home to probably one of the best climbing trees in Melbourne! Located near the river at the back of the park is a gigantic acorn tree that has literally grown sideways! Its long branches are perfect for climbing, which develops your child’s muscles, strength, coordination, concentration, sensory input, balance and problem-solving skills. There are also 15 acres of gardens and sculpture park to explore, an on-site cafe and ready access to toilets.
If you prefer more of a bush park, then that’s not a problem as Banksia Park is right next door with plenty of tracks and bushland to explore along the banks of the Yarra River and further up the road heading towards Templestowe is Birrarung Park and Finns Reserve which has one of the best nature play playgrounds we’ve ever been to, Wombat Bend Park.
2. Pound Bend, Warrandyte State Park
Pound Bend Rd, Warrandyte
Pack your swimsuit for this one! A short, pram–friendly bush track leads from the car park to the tunnel, where you’ll find a fantastic swimming spot and huge rocks for scrambling. Bring a picnic (there are a few tables along the way) and keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos, koalas and even the elusive platypus. There’s an easy bushwalking track along the Yarra as well.
3. Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges
Sherbrooke Rd, Sherbrooke
Introduce your little ones to bushwalking with this gentle 1.2km bush track (2.4km return) to Sherbrooke Falls. The path leads through ferns, sassafrass and mountain ash, offering numerous opportunities for bush play and to spot birdlife, before ending at the picturesque falls. There are picnic tables and toilets in the car park.
4. Redwood Forest, East Warburton
Cement Creek Rd, East Warburton
Redwood Forst is like no other place we have been to! Surrounds of 80-year-old California redwoods and gorgeous nest-like sculptures left by David Digapony (check him out on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/wild_and_woven) that children will love to discover. There are also numerous walking tracks to enjoy. Note, the closest public toilets are at East Warburton Public Hall, so stop by on your way.
5. Currawong Bush Park, Doncaster East
Reynolds Rd, Doncaster East
This wilderness patch in the middle of suburbia is one of our favourite places to engage in bush play. Natural playspaces and trails perfect for bushwalking with kids abound. Let your child lead the way and keep your eyes peeled for resident kangaroos!
6. Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland
This 50,000 hectare natural paradise provides the perfect mix of beach and bush play for children. Make music running through the sands of the appropriately named Squeaky Beach, build sandcastles and moats on picture-perfect Norman Beach, then, when evening falls, grab a torch and go looking for wombats (pro tip: they aren’t hard to find!).
7. Gresswell Forest Wildlife Reserve, Bundoora
Greenwood Dr, Bundoora
Our Eco Explorers bush playgroup families love this location and so do we! Gresswell Forest has a new nature play space and numerous walking tracks throughout the park to enjoy. Nature play opportunities abound: hunt for wildflowers, collect feathers, climb barefoot, or simply grab some binoculars and study those kangaroos!
8. You Yangs, Werribee
Turntable Dr, Werribee
West of Melbourne, the You Yangs are jam-packed with huge boulders perfect for scrambling, scaling and climbing. Check out the eagle sculpture created using large stones (visible from the lookout from Flinders Peak), then create your own sculpture using the loose rocks around you. Older adventurers can access over 50km of mountain-biking trails.
9. Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, Beaumaris
Bring a bucket and a swimsuit to explore the many rock pools of this marine sanctuary in Melbourne’s southeast. Children might spot starfish, crabs or small fish as they manoeuvre their way through the rock pools dotting the shoreline. A firm favourite for our Eco Explorers playgroup families.
10. Darebin Parklands, Alphington
Separation St, Alphington
Teeming with wildlife and nature play opportunities, Darebin Parklands is a veritable treasure trove of fauna: echidnas, kangaroos, flying fox, frogs and over 50 native bird species make their homes here. Undertake a flora and fauna treasure hunt, let little naturalists loose with magnifying glasses, or indulge in some good old-fashioned bush play.
11. The Briars, Mt Martha
450 Nepean Highway, Mt Martha
This 230-hectare property on the Mornington Peninsula is an oasis for nature-loving Melbourne kids and their eco-friendly parents. Home to wetlands, numerous walking trails, an Eco Living Display Centre, a historic homestead, café and nursery, you’ll head home from this adventure with muddy boots, happy kids and a head full of eco-fabulous ideas.
12. Cape Conran, Gippsland
Located in far east Gippsland, around 420km from Melbourne, Cape Conran hosts bush play habitats ranging from heathlands to ocean beaches. Kids can clamour over giant boulders strewn across the beaches, peer into rock pools, build sandcastles, spot ocean wildlife (whales!) from the shore, or head out on a bushwalk through banksia woodlands.
13. Mason Falls, Kinglake National Park
Kinglake West
A fantastic introduction to bushwalking for Melbourne kids, the 700m (one-way) Lyrebird trail to Mason Falls meanders through towering trees and fern gullies before arriving at the lookout point over the impressive waterfalls. Pause on your way for some nature play by the creek and keep your ears and eyes open – you may get lucky and spot a lyrebird!
14. Westerfolds Park, Templestowe
Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe
Bush play opportunities abound in this 120-hectare park in Melbourne’s northeast. The Home Trail, a short, signed walk exploring various animals habitats, is a fantastic introduction to bushwalking for adventurers with little legs. Ride your bikes along the river trail, climb one of the many scalable trees, or do a little treasure hunting (Westerfold Park is a geocaching hot spot!). Westerfolds park is also another location we run our bush playgroups and forest schools.
15. Hanging Rock, Newham
S Rock Rd, Newham
Okay…we know. A place famous for disappearing children doesn’t scream child-friendly play space. But give it a chance and you may be pleasantly surprised. Aside from its incredible geological significance (budding geologists take note!), Hanging Rock is full of natural play spaces for kids to explore, from the rocks themselves to the wide-open fields surrounding them. And if you go in winter, it may even snow!
Downloadable outdoor resources for families
Want to explore and go on adventures outdoors with other families?
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