The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Baw Baw Shire Region
The Baw Baw Shire region is located about one and a half hours drive east of Melbourne and includes the towns of Drouin, Longwarry, Mount Baw Baw, Neerim South, Noojee, Trafalgar, Warragul, Walhalla and Yarragon.
The region has many natural attractions including Baw Baw National Park with its winter and summer recreational activities. Snowshoe, toboggan or cross-country ski one of the many trails that criss-cross the twisted snowgum forests at Mount St Gwinear or walk to a maze of giant granite tors rising from the forest at Mushroom Rocks. Mount Worth State Park is a mountain ash forest with a range of walks.
The Noojee area has a lovely walk connecting Toorongo and Amphitheatre Waterfalls where you might spot a lyrebird, Trestle Bridge Walk over one of the only remaining historic timber bridges in Victoria, Loch Valley Tramway Walk which follows the course of one of the historic timber tramlines in Noojee through rainforest, ferns and mountain ash trees or a walk to the Ada Tree which is a giant mountain ash that's one of Victoria's largest trees.
At Walhalla take a ride on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway through the spectacular Stringers Creek Gorge or go underground in a former gold mine at the Long Tunnel Extended Mine.
A map of the region is:
The best playgrounds in this area are:
Warragul
Burke Street Reserve Playground, Warragul
Lovely playground with all abilities access to all the play equipment. The main structure which is a cavalcade of colour has a wave slide, spiral slide and curved slide, tic-tac-toe, half cylindrical rope ladder, cafe shop front, climbing wall, vertical square rope climbing frame, steps and disks on a vertical pole. This area has a lovely table where you pull levers to make different sounds, big pumpkin, a huge worm called wormy (full marks for size but not for naming imagination), two stand on spinners, train springer, fish springer, lotus leaf with hand wheel, Liberty Swing, birds nest swing, standard swings, a wall with animal shapes, tic-tac-toe and a mirror.
Another area has a structure with an inclined climbing wall, scrambling wall, curved ladder, vertical square rope climbing frame and six plastic rings on a vertical orientation. There is also a large pyramid rope climbing frame.
Scattered through the play area are gardens with signs to taste, feel, smell and see the plants.
Next to the playground is a huge shelter with four tables and BBQs, unshaded tables and seats, toilets, water tap, beautiful mosaic on the ground with two nearby seats, fitness station with six items of equipment, grassy areas, Skate Park, tennis courts and soccer field.
Civic Park Playground, Warragul
The playground is separated into two parts with about 100m between them. The area higher up the hill next to a big round grassy area has a structure with wave slide, ladder, chain ladder, tunnel, steering wheel and curved ladder. Also a multi-coloured bug springer and swings. This area has a covered BBQ, unshaded tables and seats and water tap.
Between the playground areas is a huge shelter with four tables and BBQs plus two big ponds with bridges across and a gazebo.
The larger playground area has a structure with two steep wave slides, scrambling wall, abacus, chain ladder, shop front, small wave slide, walkway, rigid frame ladder, chain traverse, steering wheel, tunnel, flying fox, monkey rungs and monkey bars. Swings, horse springer and a lovely concrete train engine. Lovely setting with huge grassy areas, lots of unshaded tables and seats. Toilets are located on the side of the council building.
Chesterfield Rise Playground, Warragul
A big playground structure with wave slide, lots of levels of different heights, chain ladder, tic-tac-toe, steps, walkway, shop front, climbing wall, tunnel, scrambling wall, steering wheel, clangers to make music / noise, traverse of hanging disks, monkey rungs, chain traverse, horizontal bars and monkey bars. Green, half apple spinner with hand wheel, two springers, stand-on spinner and swings (one with harness). Some grassy area and unshaded seats.
Drouin
McNeilly Park Playground, Drouin
This lovely playground with lots of native gardens is located next to a wetlands area on Jackson Drive towards McNeilly Road. The playground which is fenced on three sides has access paths to all the play equipment. There is a wooden structure with access via a ramp from the top and has a scrambling wall, step bridge, fireman's pole, cubby area underneath, shop front, abacus and rope ladder. The other main equipment is a medium sized pyramid rope climbing frame, a shortish flying fox with disk seat, a birds nest swing and a tunnel slide on the side of a hill.
There is some lovely art work such as a metal friendly froggy face and an anthill with holes (but no ants). Also a cup to sit in and spin around and speak and listen system.
The playground area has unshaded seats. Outside the playground area is a huge shelter with BBQ, tables and water tap plus an unshaded table.
Neerim South
Neerim East Road Playground, Neerim South
Fantastic country playground. The highlight is the Spider Space which is composed of three high towers with exciting tunnel and twisting spiral slides, walkways, high ladders and spiders web climbing walls - fantastic fun for the older kids. There is also a large cone shaped rope climbing frame.
On the hill above is a modern climbing frame with a spinner to hang on with your arms, rope ladder, monkey rungs and little walkways. At the top of the hill is a more traditional playground structure with a spiral slide, inclined climber, ladder, monkey rungs, shop front, tunnels, tic-tac-toe, fireman's pole, steering wheel and rigid frame ladder. Swings.
There is a large shelter with BBQ, four tables, toilets, unshaded tables and seats, nice Skate Park and sloping grassy area.
Reviews of all playgrounds, skate parks and BMX Tracks in the Baw Baw Shire council region are here:
Other family activities in Baw Baw Shire region include:
- Long Tunnel Extended Mine in Walhalla (underground tours of mine which extends 300 metres into a huge underground machinery chamber hewn from the solid rock over a century ago)
- Walhalla Goldfields Railway (ride on an historic train through the spectacular Stringers Creek Gorge)
- Mount Baw Baw (winter and summer alpine activities including lovely walks)
- Alpine Trout Farm in Noojee (hook yourself a trout or salmon)
- Take a walk which connects the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Waterfalls near Noojee
- Take the Trestle Bridge Walk in Noojee and see one of the only remaining historic timber bridges in Victoria
- Walk through rainforest to the Ada Tree, a giant mountain ash which is around 270 years old and has a circumference of 15 metres which makes it one of Victoria's largest trees
- Cycle or walk the 8 km Drouin - Warragul Two Towns Trail
- Explore the Laurie Collins Sculpture Garden in Jindivick and see some fun and interesting sculptures.
Web Links
→ www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au
