Arthurs Seat Park, Mornington Peninsula

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Visit Arthurs Seat Park with kids

Arthurs Seat State Park is a stunning mountainous bush location with sweeping views of Port Phillip bay rising above the Mornington Peninsula about 85 km south east of Melbourne CDB. With numerous walking tracks for families to explore and discover, Wonga as known by our First People, was home to the Boonwurrung People prior to European settlement. On a clear day the view extends as far as the city skyline, the You Yangs and Mount Macedon.

Around the outskirts of the gardens you can find some bush tracks that can be enjoyed in every weather condition. Walking in the rain provides some beautiful opportunities to spot some creatures that normally hide when it’s sunny, the canary worm for example.

There’s also a fantastic nature playspace for kids. This beautiful nature themed children’s playground offers so many great opportunities for children to play, climb and have fun outdoors on the Mornington Peninsula.

The gardens are popular for picnics with tables, electric barbecues and toilets available adjacent to the car park. Disabled access is available to facilities and walking tracks. There is a new playspace at Arthurs Seat Park and 24 hour access to the park.

TOP 5 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH KIDS

1. 1. Explore the exotic and Indigenous gardens at Seawinds Garden, you may see turtles in the pond and be sure to go through the bamboo maze and climb in the pine forest.
  2. With kids, take the easy Arthur’s seat summit 1.9-km loop trail near . An easy walk, that is mostly flat, short and kid-friendly. It starts in the parking near Arthur’s Seat Eagle cable car.
  3. See if you can find all of the William Ricketts Sculptures in Seawinds Gardens.
  4. Deciduous trees cover the floor in Autumn, providing a haven for nature play and discovery amongst the leaf litter. Don’t forget to look out for the fabulous fungi (you can download a fungi scavenger hunt pack here) that pops up during the months of March to May.
  5. Take a walk and enjoy the views of the bay and city skyline from the summit.

Eco Explorers runs a bush playgroup at Arthurs Seat Park on Tuesday mornings in term 1 2024. Find out more information or book your spot here.

See our full Mornington Peninsula bush and beach kids programs for 2024 HERE.

FLORA & FAUNA INFORMATION

While walking through Seawinds Gardens you will come across a beautiful variety of native flora Throughout the year kangaroos and joeys can be spotted throughout the park, grazing and laying in the sun. The row of beautiful spotted gums provides homes for willy wag tails, rainbow lorikeets along with possums. See if you can find their Dreys (possum nests). Keep a look out for some creature clues … from echidna tracks and scats, blue tongue lizard tracks as well as kookaburra and cockatoo calls. We also can’t forget the myriad of beautiful native bees that call the gardens home.

Walking through the park you will come across a beautiful variety of native flora. The row of beautiful spotted gums provides homes for willy wag tails, rainbow lorikeets along with possums. See if you can find their Dreys (possum nests).

When walking through the Indigenous gardens you will see wattle, happy wanderer, egg and bacon pea, billy buttons, just to name a few. If you bring your nature glasses you may be able to spot some native orchids!