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  • Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

  • Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

  • Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

  • Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

  • Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

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Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

Serendip Sanctuary

Our garden for the senses opened at Serendip Sanctuary in early 2026. The Sensory Garden is an accessible place for everyone to enjoy being out in nature. 

The Sensory Garden has five nature spaces. Each space is designed for visitors to engage with one of the five human senses to: 

  • See: vibrant native plants from window frames and planter boxes at various heights
  • Smell: fragrant plants from timber seating areas made for relaxing
  • Listen: to the sounds of birds and bees drawn to native flora planted to attract them
  • Taste: learn about edible bush foods like Murnong, alongside a traditional grinding stone created by artist Glenn Braybrook
  • Feel: textured boulders, native plants and a hands-on water feature.

Each space encourages a calm, inclusive and meaningful connection to nature.

Things to do in the Garden

Plan your visit today and get up close with nature:

  • enjoy a self-guided nature walk
  • use your senses to connect with nature
  • learn about wildlife and native plants sourced from the Karringa-ngitj Baleert nursery
  • connect with Wadawurrung culture through Jenna Oldaker's striking artworks, and interpretive signs thoughtfully woven throughout the garden
  • sit by the display pond bubbling with life
  • take the audio walking tour through the garden.

 


Sensory Garden audio walking tour for the senses

The Sensory Garden features artworks by artist Jenna Oldaker, a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner based in Ballarat on Wadawurrung Country.

An emerging artist in the field of visual arts, Jenna explores the sacred traditions of storytelling, culture and heritage through her brightly coloured and joyful artworks.

Join Jenna on an audio walking tour through the garden by listening to the audio files below.

 

1. Kim-barne Wadawurrung Tabayl - Welcome to Wadawurrung Country

2. Nyayu – See space

3. Ngarropa – Smell space

4. Ngarrwirring – Hear space

5. Kudja – Taste space

6. Komugiyn – Feel space

 

Download our transcript of the audio recordings (DOCX 55 kB).

 

Sensory Garden gallery

Photo of the ‘See’ space in the Sensory Garden. You can see three rusted steel planter boxes that are filled with native plants. The native plants have different textures and colours. In the middle of the space you can see a tall pole with a pink and red artwork. The artwork includes lines and symbols and was made by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. At the back of the space is a rusted steel window frame that you can peer through and admire a tall Manna Gum behind it.
Photo of two women walking on a trail into the ‘Feel’ space in the Sensory Garden. The trail has native shrubs and basalt boulders beside it. At the back of the space you can see a tall pole with yellow and orange artwork. The artwork includes lines and symbols and was made by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. Behind the pole you can see a pond.
A Parks Victoria Ranger is taking part in a water ceremony conducted by a Wadawurrung woman as part of the Sensory Garden launch. The ranger is dipping a gum leaf in a wooden bowl with water.
Photo of a rusted steel sign at the entrance of the Sensory Garden that says ‘Welcome to the Sensory Garden’.
Photo of a Parks Victoria Ranger, a man with a guide dog and two women looking at an interpretation sign in the ‘Smell’ space. The interpretation sign has a black colour with white text and at the bottom you can see the leaves of a Narrow-leaved Peppermint. The heading of the sign states ‘Ngarropa Smell’ . There is a basalt seat in the foreground of the image.
A man is smelling native mint in the ‘Taste’ space in the Sensory Garden.
Two men, one with a guide dog, are walking along one of the trails in the Sensory Garden. The trail has compacted gravel and basalt pavers. On the right of the trail are native shrubs and trees. There are more people walking along the trail in the background.
A group of people standing in front of the main entrance of the Sensory Garden. The group is standing on a gravel trail. On the right of the trail you can see a tall pole with pink, orange and blue artwork and a wooden picket fence. On the left of the trail is a tall pole with orange, red and blue artwork and a large basalt rock. The artworks include lines and symbols and were made by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. There are tall trees in the background of the image.
Photo of the ‘See’ space in the Sensory Garden. You can see three rusted steel planter boxes that are filled with native plants. The native plants have different textures and colours. In the middle of the space you can see a tall pole with a pink and red artwork. The artwork includes lines and symbols and was made by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. At the back of the space is a rusted steel window frame that you can peer through and admire a tall Manna Gum behind it.
Photo of two women walking on a trail into the ‘Feel’ space in the Sensory Garden. The trail has native shrubs and basalt boulders beside it. At the back of the space you can see a tall pole with yellow and orange artwork. The artwork includes lines and symbols and was made by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. Behind the pole you can see a pond.
A Parks Victoria Ranger is taking part in a water ceremony conducted by a Wadawurrung woman as part of the Sensory Garden launch. The ranger is dipping a gum leaf in a wooden bowl with water.
Photo of a rusted steel sign at the entrance of the Sensory Garden that says ‘Welcome to the Sensory Garden’.
Photo of a Parks Victoria Ranger, a man with a guide dog and two women looking at an interpretation sign in the ‘Smell’ space. The interpretation sign has a black colour with white text and at the bottom you can see the leaves of a Narrow-leaved Peppermint. The heading of the sign states ‘Ngarropa Smell’ . There is a basalt seat in the foreground of the image.
A man is smelling native mint in the ‘Taste’ space in the Sensory Garden.
Two men, one with a guide dog, are walking along one of the trails in the Sensory Garden. The trail has compacted gravel and basalt pavers. On the right of the trail are native shrubs and trees. There are more people walking along the trail in the background.
A group of people standing in front of the main entrance of the Sensory Garden. The group is standing on a gravel trail. On the right of the trail you can see a tall pole with pink, orange and blue artwork and a wooden picket fence. On the left of the trail is a tall pole with orange, red and blue artwork and a large basalt rock. The artworks include lines and symbols and were made by Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker. There are tall trees in the background of the image.

How to get there

Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

100 Windermere Road, Lara 3212.
How to get there

Need to know

Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary

Accessibility

Located on Wadawurrung Country visitors can safely explore the garden with:

  • flat, barrier-free paths
  • materials and furniture designed for a range of physical abilities
  • places to rest, relax and connect.

Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.


Partnership for accessible design

The idea for the garden was developed through extensive community consultation.

In 2021-2022 during the You Yangs Precinct Masterplan consultation, we heard people wanted a space for everyone in the community to enjoy time in nature.

To co-design the garden we partnered with a diverse group of community partners, including:

  • Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
  • Vision Australia
  • Outside the Box Education
  • Headspace
  • GenU
  • Cultura
  • City of Greater Geelong
  • Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria.

 

What’s next at Serendip Sanctuary

Planning is underway for more upgrades and new visitor facilities. In early 2026, more works will start across Serendip Sanctuary on:

  • new picnic tables and barbecues
  • new benches and shelters to relax in nature
  • new and more accessible paths
  • new interpretative signs and sculptures
  • upgrades to the Education Centre and outdoor learning spaces
  • new parking, upgraded internal roads and signage
  • new toilets, and a Changing Places facility
  • new and upgraded bird viewing areas
  • upgrades to the Nature Walk, including making the wildlife walking paths and ponding site more accessible for people with diverse abilities.

Find out more on our Serendip Sanctuary project page.

Change of Conditions

Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

    Construction work at Serendip Sanctuary

    Construction works are scheduled to continue until the end of October. There will be disruptions to visitor experiences throughout this period as some sections of the park may be closed. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
     
    • The car park and main visitor entrance are now open.
    • Some picnic tables are available. However, there is no access to BBQs. If you wish to use a BBQ we recommend you visit the You Yangs Regional Park.
    • The new toilet block is still not operational however portable toilets are located just near the entrance to the Sensory Garden.
    • The Nature (Wildlife) walk is closed due to upgrades. All other walks within the park are open.
    The sanctuary will continue to operate from 8am-4pm during construction works.

    Please check back regularly for updates. 

Similar experiences

 
Three emus walk together in the grasslands at Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Walks at Serendip Sanctuary

See kangaroos, wallabies, emus and a huge variety of birdlife in their natural habitat as you explore the wildlife walks at Serendip Sanctuary.
A young girl walking on a winding balance beam with children and families playing in the background at Yabby Hill Playscape

Autism friendly visits

Social script resources for children on the autism spectrum are available for Barmah National Park, Brimbank Park, Buchan Caves, Jells Park, Serendip Sanctuary, Werribee Park and Wilsons Prom.
Rangers educating a group of children

Junior Ranger program

Serendip Sanctuary runs a Junior Ranger program during school holidays. The Junior Ranger program encourages kids to explore Victoria’s amazing parks with a park ranger. Visit the Junior Rangers website for more information on the program.
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