The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Murrindindi Shire Council Region
The Murrindindi Shire Council region is about two hours north-east of Melbourne and includes the towns of Alexandra, Buxton, Eildon, Kinglake, Lake Mountain, Marysville, Strath Creek, Thornton, Toolangi, Yarck and Yea.
A map of the region is:
The region has a series of lovely trails and waterfalls. The most famous and one of the biggest waterfalls is Steavenson Falls which has five cascades with a total descent of more than 120 metres. Take a night time walk to the floodlit falls for a special experience.
Along Marysville - Woods Point Road is a walk which passes through Cumberland Falls (a beautiful waterfall at the end of a walk through forest), Cora Lynn Falls (a short walk to the falls), Cambarville Historic Township (the historic town is now a visitor area) and "The Big Tree" (Victoria's largest tree).
Along Lady Talbot Drive from Marysville are Phantom Falls (smaller cascade style waterfall with a walk which crosses over two bridges) and Keppel Falls (a large cascading waterfall).
Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden in Marysville has a collection of unforgettable characters created by sculptor and painter Bruno Torfs.
Drop a line and try and catch a rainbow trout or Atlantic salmon at Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm.
The Alexandra Timber Tramway is a fun day out for families. Kids love to ride the miniature trains while adults find the display rooms and numerous outdoor exhibits interesting.
Kinglake National Park has a variety of short and long walks plus some lovely waterfalls including Wombelano Falls and Mason Falls. On the way to the Park you can stop off and pick some gorgeous raspberries at Kinglake Raspberries (season is from early December and continues until the end of January).
Lake Mountain has plenty of activities whether it is summer or winter including cross-country skiing and walking, cycling or mountain biking around the extensive trail network.
In the Toolangi area there is an interesting 1.5 km Toolangi Sculpture Trail remaining from an international sculpture event held at the Toolangi Forest in 1996 and the Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk with Myrtle Beech trees towering overhead.
Don't miss the Wetlands Walk and Y Discovery Centre at Yea where you can stroll along the well defined paths and raised walkways to observe nature doing its thing on the Yea River flood plain.
A tip is not to go looking for a lake at Kinglake! The Kinglake township was named after British historian Alexander William Kinglake.
Other family activities in the region are:
The best playgrounds in this area are:
Kinglake
Bollygum Adventure Playground, Kinglake
A magical playground with a theme based around the book 'Bollygum' by Garry Fleming. Both parents and children can enjoy this wonderfully crafted Play Space.
Wander along the shady paths and dry creek bed and explore each enchanting element. Start at the Bower Bird's nest with its shiny blue trinkets, then past a large shady sandpit and cross one of the bridges to Platypus's House and make a pretend fire in the huge hearth. Be careful not to scare platypus with the screeching from the music cylinder next to his house. Wander down the shady path, past the log bridges and massive log seat to Wombat's House which has beautiful carved murals on the walls, tunnel slide, spiral slide, distorting mirrors, speak and listen system and lots of unusual equipment to make sounds (not too loud though because Wombat might be snuggled up and sleeping).
Stop for a while at the dry creek for a spot of fishing with rods and reels provided. Have a play with the mechanical digger in the big sandpit and then head to an area with lots of traversing elements such as a chain traverse, flying fox, bridge, monkey bars and hanging disks.
Head back up the hill to the main structure with Frogmouth's House and a climbing wall, ladders, walkways, wave slide, abacus, rope ladders, thin balance walkway, long high rope bridge for the daring kids, fireman's pole, dual metal slides (with shade sails above) and various fun musical instruments.
There are five swings including two birds nest swings and a swing with a seat.
Plenty of shady seats including many shaped from logs, unshaded tables, water tap, toilets and BBQ. Limited grassy area which is not suitable for ball games. Next to an excellent Skate Park. A visit to this playground is something to be treasured.
Marysville
Murchison Street Play Space, Marysville
Beautifully crafted play space set beside a lovely creek. The playground area is crossed by concrete paths and has a range of fun elements. There is a giant blue-tongue lizard, huge pyramid rope climbing frame, stand-on carousel, a square of elevated disks which you scamper across to become "king of the castle" in the centre, four swings (one with harness), hillock with metal slide, range of music/noise making instruments, elevated sandpit where you can dig for dinosaur bones and a super water play area with an auger to draw up water.
The main play area has a corner with BBQs, unshaded tables and water tap. Over the bridge is a nice flying fox with two lanes and a disk to sit on and a metal slide. There is a pond with ducks.
Unshaded tables and seats are scattered about plus toilets and water tap.
During the summer months riverside paddling is a great way to keep cool. The playground is located near to popular cafes and opposite the Marysville Old Style Lolly Shop.
Buxton
Buxton Recreation Reserve Playground, Buxton
The reserve has a range of attractions including the Bikemania area for young BMX riders. The course has a range of obstacles including Squeeze Tracks, Tilt Beam, Big Dipper, Spring Balance, Bone Shaker, Bike Balance and Sand Trap.
Next door is a playground under shade sails which has swings, kangaroo springer, wall with shop front and abacus and a structure with wave slide, steps, walkway, climbing wall, inclined climber with steps, ladder with square rungs and hanging disks. There is also a separate climbing wall with six sides to climb and traverse on.
There is a large shelter with four tables, shelter with BBQs, shelter with two tables and BBQ and another shelter with tables and toilet block. Add in information boards, unshaded tables, water tap, exercise station, big grassy area and a lovely river with tables and seats overlooking the water.
Strath Creek
Strath Creek Pioneer Reserve Playground, Strath Creek
The highlight is a working waterwheel which serves as a reminder of the gold mining past of Strath Creek. You can press a button and the waterwheel will function for a few minutes.
The extensive playground under shade sails has a spiral slide, suspended chain ladder, walkway, ladder with circles for steps, standard ladder, inclined bridge with pipe steps, disk traverse, step traverse, monkey rungs, chain spiders web climbing frame and horizontal bars. A non shaded structure has dual wave slides, small wave slide, spiral slide, spiral ladder, shop front, tic-tac-toe and steps.
Between the play structures is a table under shade sails. The area has BBQs under shelters, unshaded tables, water tap, grassy area, tennis courts, little heritage garden, toilets and a time capsule.
Yea
Railway Playground, Yea
A playground for the train fanatic (and those less obsessed with trains will also enjoy it). The playground is fully under huge shade sails with a central structure, two train structures, four swings and a play area with a conveyor belt for woodchips. The main central structure has dual wave slides, big climbing wall, shop front, fireman's pole, chain bridge, flying fox, curved slide, scrambling wall, tunnel, buttons on a vertical rope, steering wheel, binoculars, high horizontal balance beam and steps. The larger train structure has a cute engine, steering wheel, wave slide, steps and a long tunnel carriage with abacus. It makes train sounds when kids approach - a really nice touch. The other train is simpler with a tunnel engine, steering wheel and balance beam between the engine and carriage. There is also a train springer.
Huge shelter with five tables plus four unshaded tables, BBQs and water tap. Located next to the old Yea Railway Station on the Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail. There is an exercise station next to the playground.
The best skateparks in the region are:
Marysville Skatepark (An interesting concrete park with a half pipe at one end and some small quarters and flat bank at the other end. There are also a section of ledges, ramps, a rail, line of speed bumps, volcano/crater)
Kinglake Skatepark (A concrete park which has a bowl with a nice hip and a street area. There is a spine between the bowl and street area which has ledges, stairs, banks, euro and a quarter)
Yea Skatepark (There is a concrete mini ramp, plaza style section with ledges (including a wavy ledge), rail and hubba and some quarters and ramps)
Other skate parks in the region are Alexandra Skatepark, Flowerdale Skatepark and Eildon Skate Ramp.
The only BMX track in the region is Alexandra BMX Track (Two rows of rough gravel jumps plus some smaller jumps between the rows and some tiny jumps at the end. Most of the jumps are doubles and there are seven main sets)
Reviews of all playgrounds, skateparks and BMX tracks in the Murrindindi Shire Council region are here:
Web Links
→ www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au
