The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Macedon Ranges Shire Region

The Macedon Ranges region is about an hours drive north of Melbourne and includes the towns of Gisborne, Kyneton, Lancefield, Malmsbury, Mount Macedon, Riddells Creek, Romsey and Woodend.

The beautiful Forest Glade Garden and Tieve Tara Gardens at Mount Macedon are highlights of the region. Also the iconic Hanging Rock, Macedon Regional Park and Edgars Mission which is a sanctuary for rescued farmed animals.

A map of the region is:



The best playgrounds in this region are:

Gisborne Adventure Playground, Gisborne



Big adventure playground with a number of different areas. The main structure has a series of ramps leading to flat sections with dual wave slides, tunnel slide, small curved slide, abacus, variety of panels, shop front, tic-tac-toe, chain ladder, rope ladder, tunnel, scrambling wall, small climbing wall and steps.

Also a see-saw, basket swing, skateboard springer and two stand-on spinners. There is a shaded fenced area with safety gate which has a CFA structure with a Fire Brigade theme - complete with puzzle panels, inclined walkways, small slide, disks on a vertical pole, fireman's pole and fire truck. Also round tables and seats with nature carvings on the surface, tea-cup with hand wheel, stepping stones, various panels, see-saw, two springers and long soft crocodile and platypus lying on the ground.

There is an area with three flying foxes set at different heights (great idea), five swings, rope pyramid climbing frame and another climbing frame with hanging plastic circles, monkey rungs and horizontal bars.

Unshaded and shaded tables and seats. Unusual, fun water tap nearby. Big grassy area with shelter and BBQ. Liberty swing.

Woodend Children's Park Playground, Woodend



The park has a number of areas which are beautifully landscaped. One large area is fenced with a safety gate and contains a wooden structure with curved slide, various walkways, shop front, disks on a vertical pole, ladder, rope bridge, climbing mat, bridge, rotating cylinders with animal shapes, block steps, stepping stones, climbing wall, tunnel and vertical spiders web climbing frame. Three person rocker, lovely big beetle rocker, four swings including one with a harness, two other springers, large sandpit with mechanical digger and slightly curved slide on the side of a hill. Shaded table and seat.

There is a large real flying fox (zip line), huge octahedral rope climbing frame, six more swings, stand-on carousel for four people, cube climbing frame, rotating lotus leaf with hand wheel and swing with a wheel and net seat. This is next to another area which has a structure with a tunnel slide, unusual walkways, unusual ladders, climbing wall, normal and family size see-saws, standalone monkey bars and bike springer.

BBQs and table under a shelter plus shaded seats. Another large shelter with BBQs and tables.

Lancefield Park Recreation Reserve Playground, Lancefield



A huge expanse of standalone play equipment which includes a climbing structure with three walls, structure with wave slide, steps, suspended balance beam, trapeze swing, log roll, monkey rungs and monkey bars, a stand-on spinner, suspended skateboard, plastic circles in row to crawl through, suspended two person see-saw, structure for toddlers with a slide, block steps, shop front, abacus, climbing wall and walkway, a line of stepping stones, block bridge, lovely CFA fire truck with steering wheel and water hose reels, toddler play structure with shop front, steering panel and tunnels plus swings, standalone slide with steps and two lovely round tables with seats.

A great playground for younger kids. There is also a fitness station, water tap, shelter with four tables and a BBQ, unshaded tables, grassy area and two tree stumps with great carvings, especially the huge kangaroo which is brilliant. Next to an oval and toilets are available in the Reserve.

Kyneton Community Park Playspace, Kyneton



A nature based play experience for people of all ages and abilities is located in the beautiful Kyneton Botanic Gardens. The play space has a ropes course, rope net, giant swing, birds nest swing, mazes, colourful refurbished tractors, rocket towers, several sand play areas (including one with a wooden maze), balancing logs, water-play splash pad, cubbies, table tennis table, petanque piste and picnic facilities.

The best skate park in the region is Gisborne Skatepark. It is a very good new concrete park with some interesting elements. Includes some quarters, various nice trannies, funbox, rails, stairs, ledges and manny pads.



Other skate parks in the region are Riddells Creek Skatepark (Two deep bowls in the shape of a letter B with a spine and a gentler roll-over in the middle. Off to the side is a rectangular slab with a tiny ramp and box for absolute beginners), Woodend Skatepark (A small concrete park with some banks, quarter pipe, hip, handrail, hubba ledge and euro gap), Kyneton Skatepark (Steel quarterpipe and bank combinations at each end plus a spine, manny pad and funbox with ledge) and Romsey Skatepark (Prefabricated obstacles on a concrete base)

The best BMX track in the region is Kyneton BMX Track.



A concrete start section leads to two high jumps, then a banked turn and back in the opposite direction over a high and a low jump. The track winds across another banked turn to an indistinct area with a low jump and a banked turn in poor condition to the final finish line.

Reviews of all playgrounds, Skateparks and BMX Tracks in the Macedon Ranges Shire council region are here:

Family activities in the Macedon Ranges region include:

Gisborne

Gisborne Aquatic Centre (Indoor 25m pool, warm water exercise pool, teaching pool and play pool with a bubbling fountain)

Gisborne Botanic Gardens (Gardens celebrate the former sister city relationship between Gisborne New Zealand and Gisborne Australia)

Kyneton

Black Hill Reserve (Walks which provide excellent views of the surrounding countryside, great rock formations, wild flowers and offer the opportunity to observe local fauna and flora)

Bug-A-Lugs Play Centre (Jumping castle, triple slide, giant mushroom and climbing areas)

Campaspe River Walk (The walk is almost 3km long and provides an interesting walk along the River and passes through the Sculpture Park near Quarry Reserve)

Kyneton Aquatic Centre (Indoor facility with 25m pool, warm water exercise pool, learn to swim pool, splash pad, fitness centre, double court stadium and squash courts)

Kyneton Botanical Gardens (A range of heritage listed and commemorative trees, a fairy ring of trees, sheepdog sculpture, an old Gardener's cottage, rotunda, riverside walk along the Campaspe, an old covered market pig shelter originating from the old saleyards site, memorial gates and centenary gates. There is a great new playground in the Gardens)

Kyneton Cycling Velodrome (Public access to the track)

Kyneton Mineral Spring and Reserve (Picnic facilities, playground and a mineral pump under a period rotunda where you can pump the famed mineral water for free)

Kyneton Museum (The collection reflects the life and times of Kyneton and district from around the 1850s to the 1930s)

Kyneton Visitor Information Centre (Information on accommodation, attractions, events, maps and directions)

Woodend

Hanging Rock near Woodend (A rare volcanic formation which is the setting of the world renown novel and film 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'. There is a cafe on site)

Hanging Rock Llama Treks (Llama treks and experiences for all ages)

Wombat State Forest Mountain Bike Trails (17km of well signposted and well maintained intermediate trails)

Woodend Anti-Gravity Hill (A place where a slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope due to the layout of the surrounding land, creating the optical illusion that water flows uphill or that a car left out of gear will roll uphill)

Woodend Swimming Pool (Three outdoor pools which are open during the summer season)

Other Locations

Edgars Mission is set on 153 acres situated just outside of Lancefield (A not-for-profit sanctuary for rescued farmed animals that seeks to create a humane and just world for humans and non-humans. You can visit by joining a tour, organising a school visit, or volunteering which must all be booked)

Lancefield Swimming Pool (Outdoor pool which is open during the summer season)

Lauriston Reservoir (There is a spillway, playground, picnic facilities and fishing in the reservoir)

Macedon Regional Park (Opportunities for bushwalking, rock climbing, scenic drives and picnics. Mount Macedon is one of the highest peaks in the range and you can enjoy magnificent views from the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross and the Camels Hump viewing platforms)

Malmsbury Reservoir (Picnic area, walking tracks, bank fishing as well as fishing from kayaks, canoes and small portable craft)

Malmsbury Botanic Gardens (Centred about an ornamental lake, the gardens feature some massive examples of exotic and native trees. There is a vista to the Malmsbury Viaduct, an incredible feat of stone engineering)

Forest Glade Garden at Mount Macedon (One of Australia's finest private gardens. it covers 5.6ha and has a large English section, delightful Japanese section, beautiful woodland section and cool fern gully)

Tieve Tara Gardens at Mount Macedon (The gardens undulate across 7.5 acres of sweeping lawns, lakes and trees, with vibrant seasonal colours. There are lovely children's play areas)

Dromkeen Gallery and Tearoom at Riddells Creek (Collection of Australian children's picture book illustrations in a beautiful colonial homestead. There is a tearoom on site)

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Web Links

→ www.mrsc.vic.gov.au


The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Macedon Ranges Shire Region, Kyneton, Victoria, 3444