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Serendip Sanctuary
Our garden for the senses opened at Serendip Sanctuary in Spring 2025. 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: edible bush foods like Murnong, alongside a traditional grinding stone created by local 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 from the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation 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).
How to get there
Need to know
Accessibility
Located on Wadawurrung Country visitors can safely explore the garden with:
- barrier free flat, and wide paths
- materials and furniture designed for a range of physical abilities
- places to rest, relax and connect.
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 Victor
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.
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