• BBQ spots

  • Picnic spots

  • Guided Park Walks

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Get social in autumn

Looking for the perfect place to gather with friends and family? With free barbecues and gorgeous picnic spots, parks are a great place to bring people together. There’s also plenty of opportunities to meet new people! So, get the gang together and head to the park this autumn.


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BBQ Spots

Keep an eye on the weather, because sunny days are perfect for a barbecue in the park. RJ Hamer Arboretum and Seawinds Gardens in Arthurs Seat State Park are both great choices for Autumn, as they come alive with gorgeous changing colours. Bring the whole family, even the dog, to Jells Park or Brimbank Park and enjoy the incredible playscapes while you’re there. Make a day of it and head to regional Victoria, enjoying a barbecue at You Yangs Regional Park or Kinglake National Park.

Find out more on our BBQ spots page.



Popular parks for a barbecue:

The view of Safety Beach and Port Phillip from the top of Arthurs Seat State Park.

Arthurs Seat State Park

Rising above the Mornington Peninsula, Arthurs Seat State Park is a prominent feature in the landscape of Port Philip Bay.
A family share a picnic while a father and son play with a model aircraft in the background.

Jells Park

Jells Park is nestled in the Dandenong Creek Valley, Wheelers Hill, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The park attracts over 900,000 visitors a year, with over nine kilometres of paths and trails, 127 hectares of wide open spaces and enough picnic areas for everyone to enjoy.
Two women in active wear walk up the granite steps on the way to Flinders Peak.

You Yangs Regional Park

Magnificent views, birdlife and a mecca for walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers - welcome to the You Yangs! The distinctive granite peaks of this park rise abruptly from the flat plains below. Flinders Peak and Big Rock have panoramic views out to Melbourne, which is just an hour away.
Two women walk through ferns along the Shelly Harris Track in Kinglake National Park.

Kinglake National Park

Only 65 km north of Melbourne, Kinglake National Park lies on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, offering dramatic views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and across to the You Yangs.
Four friends walk alongside the Yarra River through Yarra Bend Park.

Yarra Bend Park

Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne’s largest natural bushland park. Enjoy the leafy grounds and abundant wildlife while strolling or biking its many trails. Stop for a picnic, walk your dog or play a round of golf.
Mother and young daughter look at the rock formations in the Fairy Cave at Buchan Caves Reserve.

Buchan Caves Reserve

Near the township of Buchan, lies a honeycomb of caves full of spectacular limestone formations. The caves were formed by underground rivers cutting through limestone rock
A young couple paddle kayaks on a sunny afternoon across Lake Eildon.

Lake Eildon National Park

Lake Eildon National Park is in the northern foothills of Victoria's Central Highlands, 150 km north-east of Melbourne. Situated on the shores of Lake Eildon, the park protects 27,750 ha of rugged hills with open woodlands through to dense forest.

Picnics

When the sun is shining, there's no better way to enjoy nature than on a picnic with friends. Before you go, stock up on delicious local produce by visiting Click for Vic. Picnic with stunning coastal views, near cascading waterfalls, among tall forests or on beautifully manicured gardens. Make a day of it and explore the beautiful nature that surrounds you. How ever you enjoy nature, there's a picnic spot for you.

Visit our picnics page to plan your perfect day.



Popular picnic spots:

Four friends pat their two dogs next to Albert Park Lake with the Melbourne CBD skyline in the background.

Picnic areas in Albert Park

Albert Park has nine picnic areas around the picturesque lake, which can be used for picnics and barbecues. Each area has a range of facilities including free electric barbecues, playgrounds, shelters and wide open spaces.
A young mother and father walking behind their two toddlers along the Organ Pipes Track on their way to a picnic

Walk and picnic at Organ Pipes National Park

Stretch your legs on a leisurely walk to take in the weird and unique rock formations, and enjoy a scenic picnic in the shade.
A mother and her two sons play on a log while her partner sits at a picnic table looking on.

Grants Picnic Ground

Grants Picnic Ground sits within the Sherbrooke Forest, the largest section of Dandenong Ranges National Park. A number of walking tracks, starting from the picnic grounds, enable you to discover some of the plants and animals of Sherbrooke.
A young family eating at a picnic table at the Cape Schanck Lighthouse

Picnic Areas in Mornington Peninsula National Park

Embracing the wild ocean beaches between Portsea and Flinders, and the kangaroo haven of Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park is a favourite of Melburnians looking to escape the nearby city

Guided park walks

Meet new people on a free Parks Victoria volunteer-led Park Walk! These weekly group walks allow you to relax and enjoy the serenity of the bush whilst our knowledgeable and friendly park walk leaders guide the group along the trail. Join a walk as a once-off to explore somewhere new or include one as a regular part of your wellbeing or fitness routine.

Find out more at our guided park walks



Join a guided park walk:

Two women in activewear follow a path through tall mountain ash trees.

Dandenong Ranges National Park

Join this 4km volunteer-led walk along the Lyrebird Loop circuit trail and enter a fantastic rainforest of spectacular Mountain Ash, eucalypts and lush tree ferns. Listen for the call of the lyrebird - you might even be lucky enough to spot one along the way!
The reflected forest in Sanitarium Lake at Macedon Regional Park.

Macedon Regional Park

Join knowledgeable Parks Victoria volunteers as you relax and explore the Sanatorium Eco Trail in Macedon Regional Park. This approximately 3km trail will take you along a circuit through beautiful forest and past the picturesque historic Sanatorium Lake. This trail is popular with photographers, so remember your camera!
Coolart Homestead

Coolart Wetlands and Homestead

Enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings as you follow this easy 2.6km trail through the beautiful Coolart Wetlands. Admire the historic homestead and grounds as you chat to fellow group members and spot some of the birdlife that call these wetlands home.
Two friends in activewear walk away from the lake.

Lysterfield Park

Join a relaxing volunteer-led walk along a beautiful 2.2km circuit trail. Enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings, chat to fellow group members and spot some of the wildlife that call this park home.
A ground take a volunteer led tour through the Flying Fox environments on the banks of the Yarra River in Yarra Bend Park

Churchill National Park

Test out your walking shoes and come and enjoy the beautiful 360-degree views at Churchill National Park! Located in Lysterfield South, this intermediate to advanced trail is 7.5km and includes steep hills, uneven terrain and sections of narrow trails.
A wombat in long grass.

Gresswell Forest

Immerse yourself in nature whilst learning about this beautiful forest and the species that live here. Gresswell Forest is a remnant patch of bushland in the middle of suburbia that is home to a range of wildlife which can be seen when walking, including eastern grey kangaroos, wombats and many bird species.
Two young children put feed in to a trough to feed emus at Serendip Sanctuary

Serendip Sanctuary Wildlife Discovery Tour

Join a fun, free and educational volunteer-led guided walk this summer at Serendip Sanctuary in Lara. You’ll meet lots of cute furry and feathered animals, learn about the habitats and wildlife of the Western Volcanic Plains and meet the species that call Serendip Sanctuary home.
Woman and child hiking along a trail in You Yangs Regional Park

You Yangs Regional Park

Join a volunteer-led walk through beautiful You Yangs Regional Park. On your walk enjoy, the serenity of the bush and get rewarded with stunning views from Big Rock.
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