The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Moorabool Shire Region

The Moorabool Shire region is just 45 minutes drive west of Melbourne and includes the towns of Bacchus Marsh (with surrounding areas of Maddingley and Darley), Ballan, Blackwood and Gordon. A high proportion of the land area of the shire is comprised of state forests, national parks and water catchments.



A highlight is Kryal Castle, a Medieval theme park with jousting action which borders Ballarat.

Stop at Bacchus Marsh for a chance to pick your own fruit at a variety of orchards.

There are plenty of nature highlights including Brisbane Ranges National Park, Lal Lal Falls, Moorabool Falls and the inspirational Garden of St Erth.

A map of the region is:



The best playgrounds in this region are:

Maddingley Park Playground, Maddingley



Super adventure playground which is surrounded by a fence with a couple of places for entry/exit. You can enter via the "Avenue of Honour" and immerse yourself in a tangled mix of towers, nine swings, see-saw, wooden train and carriage, tunnels, lots of levels, nooks and crannies, huts, rubber walkways, monkey rungs, chain traverses, three tunnel slides, hidden cubbies, balance beam, chain ladders, scrambling wall and bow of a boat.

There are unshaded bench seats inside the playground area. Outside the fenced area is a big sandpit and a modern structure with slide, walkway, steering wheel, fireman's pole and ladders. Also a shelter with seats, unshaded tables, water tap and toilets. Liberty swing.

Harry Vallence Drive Playground, Maddingley



This playground ticks a lot of boxes. Great equipment and fully fenced. The main structure has dual slides, scrambling wall, ladders, walkway, climbing wall, spiders web climbing frame, disks on a vertical pole, inclined balance beam walkway, cubby with seat, tricky rope traverse, hanging disks, monkey rungs and balance beam with obstacles. Another structure has a curved slide, walkway, tunnel, tic-tac-toe, fireman's pole, clock panel, mirror panel, climbing wall, shop front, steps and rope ladder. See-saw and two springers. Outside the fenced area are two swings (without safety chain) and monkey bars.

Some limited sloping grassy area, unshaded table and seats and water tap.

Cairns Drive Playground, Darley



The larger structure has a slide, curved pipe walkway, multiple monkey bars, hanging disks, stepping stones, binoculars, fireman's pole, high balance beam walkway, ladder with square rungs, steering wheel, walkway, shop front and disks on a vertical pole.

Another structure has a curved slide, curved climber, little seats, ladder, tunnel, tic-tac-toe, abacus, scrambling wall, telescope and ladder with square rungs. Swings and two springers.

Unshaded table and seats plus water tap. Surrounded by a low fence with safety gate. Large grassy area with football posts. There are beautiful colours on the trees in Autumn.

Darley Park Playground, Darley



Very extensive and unusual set of equipment. One structure has a wave slide, ladder, steering wheel, crooked fireman's pole, hanging chain wall, rope ladder, climber, chain traverse, hanging disks, monkey rungs and spiders web rope climbing frame.

Another structure has a straight slide, ladder, scrambling wall, steering wheel, climber and horizontal bar. There are three unusual climbing structures - on in the shape of an M, another with rope walkways and tunnels leading to the centre and the third like a frame dome. A long row of stepping stones, four person rocker with two frog seats, sandpit (with little stones instead of sand) and swings.

Toilets, shelter with tables and seats plus unshaded seats. Colourfully painted poles border the playground area. Next to oval, cricket nets and tennis courts. Fairly well protected from the road.

The best skate park in the region is Bacchus Marsh Skatepark. It is a concrete park which has a good combination of bowl and street course. There is an open capsule bowl, spine, funbox, stair, ramps, hubbas, ledges and euro gap. The old mini is next to the skate park.



There is another smaller, more basic skate park at Ballan and a BMX Track at Darley.

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

Family activities in the Moorabool Shire region include:

Bacchus Marsh

Naturipe Fruits Farm (Pick your own or buy fresh fruit directly from the farm)

Paynes Orchards (Pick your own fruit fruit straight from the trees)

Bacchus Marsh Outdoor Swimming Pool (25m pool and toddlers pool)

Bacchus Marsh Visitor Information Centre (Local advice on attractions)

Other Locations

Ballan Outdoor Pool (A seasonal outdoor pool which opens during the summer period)

Pykes Creek Reservoir near Ballan (Water activities)

The Garden of St Erth at Blackwood (Stroll through the gorgeous and inspirational gardens)

Moorabool Reservoir Park at Bolwarrah (A recreation area with BBQs and picnic facilities beside the reservoir. Fishing is allowed at the reservoir)

Lerderderg State Park (Based around the Lerderderg River, activities include walking, camping, swimming, rock-climbing, fishing and scenic driving)

Lal Lal Falls (The 30m high falls which are near picnic facilities at Lal Lal are best after heavy rain)

Moorabool Falls (A 5.6 km return walk leads to the falls)

Lal Lal Reservoir (Picnic area and historic blast furnace)

Kryal Castle (Medieval themed attractions)

Long Forest Flora and Fauna Reserve (An arid type conservation reserve with a range of walks)

Brisbane Ranges National Park (Set in a low range of mountains dissected by rocky gullies with a rich wildflower habitat)

Gong Gong Reservoir Park (Scenic views, picnic facilities and walks)

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Web Links

→ www.moorabool.vic.gov.au

→ Accommodation in Moorabool


The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Moorabool Shire Region, Ballan, Victoria, 3342