Huge old trees, fresh crisp air and birds galore, that’s what we love about Grants Picnic Ground in the Dandenong Ranges. Located 41km east of Melbourne and well worth the drive to get out of suburbia. This stunning location in Sherbrooke Forest is home to some of the most carbon dense forest still around and the most common tree you will see is the Mountain Ash, it’s the tallest flowering plant in the world. It’s also home to some pretty amazing bird life, it’s popular with cockatoos, rosellas, kookaburras and if your lucky you might even see a lyrebird!
There are a number of fabulous walking tracks starting from the picnic grounds to enjoy as well as toilet facilities, BBQ shelters and picnic area, as well as a cafe – Grants on Sherbrooke Café where you can purchase food, drinks and souvenirs.
Jawbone Marine Sanctuary is a 20 minute drive south-west from the city of Melbourne, located on the west side of Port Phillip Bay, on the traditional lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin nation. It is a protected Marine Park where the biodiversity of the area is maintained by prohibiting removal of any species living there, through fishing or collecting activities. It is named ‘jawbone’ due to the shape of the park resembling its namesake.
Historically, the area from Werribee to Williamstown (which includes the Sanctuary), was a rich fishing and shellfish collecting area for the Bunerong people. It became a rifle range in the mid 1800s and continued as such for 110 years. Due to the nature of the range’s activities, fishing and boating were not allowed, ensuring the local flora and fauna were well preserved and continued to be once the rifle range was decommissioned and the land turned over to the government, converting it into the Sanctuary.
Now the Sanctuary is a wonderful place to visit for humans as well as many migratory water bird species, not to mention the myriad of water and shore creatures that call it their home.
TOP 5 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH KIDS
Ramble along the many rock pools accessible at low tide, searching for crabs, sea stars and different kelp species. Don’t forget to download your set of rockpool ramble ID cards that we have developed, especially for Ricketts Point Sanctuary.
Take a walk along the boardwalk through the mangroves, keeping your eye out for sea and shorebirds, reptiles, lichen and algae..
Have a dip in the gentle waters of the Sanctuary on a hot day, or a play in the shallows, building castles in the sand.
Walk, run or cycle along the bayside trail from Williamstown to the east to Altona to the west or further!
FLORA & FAUNA INFORMATION
Jawbone Marine Sanctuary is a hugely diverse area comprising grasslands, wetlands, saltmarshes and mangrove conservation areas. As a result there are so many different flora and fauna species living here.
The wetlands offer habitat for sea and shorebirds in addition to the sanctuary waters and sand. Here you will see swans, many duck species, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons and swamp hens nesting, hunting for food and swimming.
The mangrove conservation area is unique in that it is the only Victorian one growing on a basalt coast, this coastline being the end of the western basalt plains. Mangroves are important habitat for sea and shore birds. There are also many seagrass beds and mudflats, and the basalt reefs support populations of fish, invertebrates and algae. Further along the western side of the sanctuary are also ship wreck locations.
Rockpools host many intertidal animals that you may get to glimpse, such as crabs, sea stars, limpets as well as fauna like sea lettuce, neptune’s necklace and washed ashore bull kelp.
Visit Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Care Group to learn more about the species protected here and the activities that occur to continue this important work https://www.jawbone.org.au/
You can find more about the incredible marine creatures that live at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary using our rockpool ID cards and enjoy a rockpool ramble this summer. This stunning set of 24 hand illustrated rockpool identification cards have been designed locally incorporating common marine animals found in the Port Philip bay.
Location
Address:
29 Sandpiper Pl,, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia
Set amongst majestic river gums with abundant bird life, a wetlands area to explore and native flora with bush tracks, Laurimar Creek Conservation Reserve is home to many birds and small mammals. Located in the leafy suburb of Doreen, 26 kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s CDB.
There is also a small BBQ and natural playspace and picnic area for your family to enjoy with fallen logs, rocks and a small playground nearby.
Feel an instant calm as you leave the city hustle behind and step into the spectacular Australian bushland known as Yarra Bend Park. A mere 4 km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD and located on Wurundjeri land, Yarra Bend Park located in Kew is the largest area of natural bushland left in inner Melbourne. Known for hosting the city’s famous grey-headed flying fox colony, as well as many fun outdoor and adventurous activities for your little explorer such as canoeing, birdwatching, Kane’s Bridge, historical sites and dog walking.
Due to the deep Indigenous cultural connection to the land around the Yarra Bend river, this park was now of State-level historical and archaeological significance under the Heritage Act 2017, after already being an Aboriginal place of significance and protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
Arguably the parks best known feature, the artificial weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the Ceres Flour Mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dights Falls after the owners of the mill.
TOP 5 ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY WITH KIDS!
Take a walk (or bike ride) along Loop track to the spectacular Dight falls (3.2km, 1 hours return) from Studley park Boathouse.
Head to Bellbird Picnic Area and check out the adorable, ecologically significant and Australian famous grey headed flying foxes! With a nationally important and impressively large permanent roost located at Bellbird park, easy to access via car and an easy paved walk at 500m, 20 minutes return (although parts are quite steep!) Find out more here.
Walk over Kane’s Bridge from Studley Park and have a picnic with your family at Lower Loop Picnic Area which can also be accessed via Yarra Bend Rd. There are electric barbecues, shelters, toilets, drinking fountain and a playground, making it an ideal picnic spot.
Hire a canoe at the boathouse and see the natural scenery leisurely from the river itself. More info here and boat price list here.
Stop for a milkshake and enjoy the views at the restored Edwardian Studley Park Boathouse cafe.
Studley Park Boathouse
FLORA & FAUNA INFORMATION
Yarra Bend Park contains some of the last stands of original bushland in inner Melbourne. A total of approximately 320 indigenous plants have been recorded in the park of which more than 100 species are considered to be of local, regional or state significance. Head to Kane’s Bridge and see if you can spot a platypus or water rat and a number of bat and reptile species on your bush walk. Birds commonly seen in Yarra Bend Park include the Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-rumped Parrot and if you are lucky, theYellow-tailed Black Cockatoo!
Grey headed flying fox colony at Bellbird Picnic AreaYarra River at Yarra Bend ParkGrey headed fox colony lookout at Bellbird Picnic AreaDights Falls – Yarra Bend Park
Bellbird Picnic AreaGrey headed flying foxes at Yarra Bend Park
Balcombe Estuary Reserve is a lovely bushland reserve nestled in the lovely coastal town of Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula. This 53 hectare reserve is rich in biodiversity and offers the 3.5 kilometres of walking tracks and boardwalk that meander alongside Balcombe Creek, extending from the coast through to the Nepean Highway and on to The Briars.
Engage all your senses as you see schools of fish swim past, tadpoles, and dragonflies in the water and hear the symphony of birdsong, crickets, and insects as you stroll along the estuary boardwalk.
