Get active and outdoors with these five child-friendly bushwalks within easy travel distance of Melbourne.
Research has found the benefits to children from playing outdoors include improved attention spans and better eye health.
Luckily, Melbourne families do not have to venture very far out of town to get back to nature.
Bradley Fauteux is the chief executive of Parks Victoria and a father of two children, aged eight and 10, who he regularly takes bushwalking.
“It’s wonderful to see through the eyes of a child, they’ll really see different things,” he told 774 ABC Melbourne‘s Hilary Harper.
He said walking with children was easier if you had a goal, such as a natural feature or picnic spot, and planned stops along the way.
Here are his five picks for child-friendly places to go bushwalking near Melbourne:
Point Nepean National Park
Mr Fauteux said Point Nepean, on the Mornington Peninsula, was one of his favourite places.
“There’s just so much rich history there.
“You can experience natural history, traditional owner history, cultural history.”
The first shot fired by the British Empire in World War I was fired from Point Nepean at a German cargo ship.
If the park’s rich history is not enough to entice your children out of the house, there are other drawcards.
“You can bring your bikes,” Mr Fauteux said.
The You Yangs
If you have ever caught a flight from Avalon Airport you will have seen the You Yangs.
Not far from Geelong, it takes less than hour to get there by car.
“The You Yangs are super-close,” Mr Fauteux said.
He said the park featured sub-alpine walks suitable for all members of the family — even the furry ones.
“You can take your dog to the You Yangs — it’s not a national park.”
Serendip Wildlife Sanctuary
Mr Fauteux said Serendip Wildlife Sanctuary, just south of the You Yangs, is great for children because “you can see all sorts of animals very quickly”.
“You get kangaroos, wallabies, lizards, emus,” he said.
If you are planning a trip to Serendip with young children it may be wise to bring a change of clothes.
“There’s also a little pond the kids can play around in and catch water bugs, so they will get wet, of course,” Mr Fauteux said.
Brimbank Park
Parks Victoria and autism group AMAZE have produced a resource designed to help children with autismenjoy Brimbank Park.
The downloadable storybook helps parents prepare their children for their time at the park.
Situated between St Albans and Keilor, Brimbank Park features playgrounds, picnic areas and tracks suitable for both cycling and walking.
“[There is a] gorgeous playscape there, and of course, the Maribyrnong River,” Mr Fauteux said.
Organ Pipes National Park
Just north of Keilor on the Calder Freeway, not far from Melbourne Airport, is the Organ Pipes National Park.
Mr Fauteux said the park featured “incredible basalt geological formations” including the tessellated pavement.
If that does not sound like something that would excite your children, then some re-branding might be necessary.
“Tessellated pavement … is not the phrase you use to sell it to your kids,” he said.
“You just say you’re going to see some cool rocks.”
Article courtesy of 774 ABC Melbourne
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