Best spots For Bushwalking With Kids In & Around Melbourne

Spring is in the air, and what better time to spend the sunny days than with a bushwalking adventure!

And where is good for kids? Well, these are our picks - good for either prams, kids who don't want to walk too far, or kids who are a little bit older and are looking for a challenge!

Top Melbourne Bushwalks Your Family Will Love

1. Organ Pipe National Park

 

Enjoy a picnic, a walk, and the spring wattle blossom while ogling the Organ Pipes - a set of basalt columns formed by the cooling and cracking of molten lava.

A short but steep walk to Organ Pipes gives you a spectacular view of the park and Jacksons Creek and is easy to get to with kids. Start at the Visitor Information Centre and follow the sealed walking track to either Organ Pipes, Rosette Rock, or the Tessellated Pavement. For the 800m Keilor Plains lookout walk, head through the gateway behind the visitors' centre.

Duration: Varies depending on trail
Location: Organ Pipe National Park

2. Braeside Park

Braeside Park offers a diverse walk that meanders through Red Gum grasslands, heathland and wonderful wetlands with plenty of opportunities for bird-watching along the way, AND it was also the park Phar Lap trained in!

Duration: 1 hour, 5km
Location: Braeside Park

3. Jells Park

The 1-hour, 4km Dandenong Creek trail runs north to south through Jells Park on the eastern side of Jells Lake, nestled in the Dandenong Creek Valley, away from the manic energy of the city.

Duration: 1 hour, 4km
Location: Jells Park

4. Warrandyte State Park

 

Choose from walks near the Blue Tongue Bend area of the Warrandyte State Park, including Black Flat Walk, and the Jumping Creek Nature Trail.

There is also a short, pram–friendly bush track, which leads from the car park to the Tunnel, where you’ll find a fantastic swimming spot and huge rocks for toddler exploration. Bring a picnic (there are a few tables along the way) and keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos, koalas and even the elusive platypus.

Duration: Varies depending on trail
Location: Warrandyte State Park

5. You Yangs

The You Yangs walking tracks allow for incredible viewing of magnificent views and abundant animal life.

Big Rock Walk – 3.0km, 1-hour return
From the park office car park, wind your way around Big Rock and then back down the same path.

East-West Walk – 4.5km, 2 hours return
Starting and finishing at the Turntable car park, this challenging walk provides excellent views of the park and surrounding countryside.

Flinders Peak – 3.2km, 1-hour return
Starting from the Turntable car park, this walk takes you to the highest point of the You Yangs. There are 450 steps and some sections with steep gradients.

Branding Yard Trail – 5.0km, 2.5 hours return
This gentle walk starts from either the Turntable car park or Branding Yard Road. From the Turntable car park, walk down a medium gradient to connect with the trail.

Northern Range Walk – 3.5km, 1 hour one way
Extending from the East-West Walk and the Branding Yard Trail, this walk provides a more challenging walk, with some steep gradients. Walkers are rewarded with impressive water views.

Duration: Varies depending on trail
Location: You Yangs

6. Kororoit Creek Trail

The Kororoit Creek Trail is a 7km sealed trail along the banks of Kororit Creek in the outer north-west suburbs of Burnside, Deer Park, and Altona. It's a long walk but an easy one and should take about 2.5 hours if you do the whole thing. It's also possible to walk parts of it - the upper section, in particular, is uninterrupted and simple to follow.

There is plenty to see along the creek banks - see if you can spot a river red gum or even a white mangrove, a growling grass frog, or a striped legless lizard (yes they look like snakes so be careful!). It's such a beautiful walk, particularly in spring.

Duration: 2.5 hours, 7km
Location: Kororoit Creek Trail

Useful Resources for Planning Your Bushwalk in Melbourne

When planning your bushwalk, make sure you check the relevant website before you go—track closures happen a lot, whether it's due to a natural event that makes the route unsafe or bad weather causing damage and rendering it dangerous. Happy hiking, folks!

Other Ways to Enjoy The Great Outdoors

The Best Bike Trails in Melbourne
Spectacular Waterfalls in Melbourne
Melbourne's Best Water Parks

 

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