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Winter fun for the whole family

Gather up the family for some nature fun this winter! The family will delight in the opportunity to see snow close to Melbourne. If snow isn’t your thing, there’s lots of other ways to enjoy nature with the family. Join a tour, explore urban parks or join a Junior Rangers program

Looking for more inspiration? Make sure you’re subscribed to Parks Victoria to get the latest travel inspiration, ideas and news straight to your inbox!

Family Outings

There are so many ways to get the family into nature together. Make the most of walking and cycling tracks in Melbourne’s urban parks. Many also have playgrounds and spots to set up for the day. The whole family will enjoy spotting wildlife on a tour of Serendip Sanctuary or Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Or why not explore some of Victoria’s natural wonders. 

Find your perfect nature adventure on our family outings page. 


Places to take the family:

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.
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 activewear walk their dogs while two runners approach them.

Albert Park

Jog, cycle or walk with your dog around Albert Park Lake - just 3km from the centre of Melbourne. And when you stop to catch your breath, take a moment to enjoy the magnificent views of the city skyline.
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.
A couple look out over the water from the beach at Lysterfield Lake.

Lysterfield Park

Rising from the southern foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Lysterfield Park is the perfect place to explore nature with friends with a huge variety of recreational activities.
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.

Snowplay

Whether you’re ready to give snowshoeing a try, slide down a toboggan run or just build a snowman, our mountain peaks turn into winter wonderlands each year. You don’t even need to travel far from Melbourne for the experience. Mount St Gwinear and Mount Donna Buang are both popular spots for snowplay and tobogganing. However, they can get very busy during peak times like on weekends.

For snowplay spots further afield, visit our skiing and snowplay page. 



Popular parks for snowplay:

A picturesque photo of the stone hut near the Horn at Mt Buffalo.

Mount Buffalo National Park

Sheer cliffs, granite tors, waterfalls and big views make Mount Buffalo a must-see alpine retreat
A middle aged couple walk through Mushroom Rocks on a cold winters day with snow on the ground.

Baw Baw National Park

Covering a substantial part of the Baw Baw Plateau and sections of the Thomson and Aberfeldy River valleys, Baw Baw National Park offers colourful wildflowers in early summer and open grassy plains with Snow Gum woodlands.
Donellys Weir in the Yarra Ranges National Park.

Yarra Ranges National Park

Situated between Melbourne and the Victorian Alps, the Yarra Ranges National Park is a place of epic views, majestic rainforest scenery and fun-packed snowplay. Enjoy the panorama from Mount Donna Buang, or go deeper into the park on the Black Spur Drive, and wind through towering Mountain Ash forests to Lake Mountain.

Junior Rangers

Get the kids into nature by joining a Junior Ranger program next school holidays. The best news is, it’s free! Junior Rangers and their families join a ranger to take part in fun park-based activities across the state. Sign up to be the first to know about the next round of activities. Keep learning even when it's not school holidays by visiting the Make & Do page for lots of fun activities.

Find out more on our Junior Rangers page.



Get involved with Junior Rangers:

A group of children play with a ranger on lawns in front of Coolart Homestead

What's on

Find fun, free ranger-guided activities for kids in your area. Activities take place on school holidays and some weekends.

Make and do

These fun printable activities will help kids understand the environment and uncover the wonders of Victoria's parks!
A Parks Victoria Ranger poses for a photograph with 7 young children in the Junior Rangers Program in front of the rock formation at Organ Pipes National Park.

Mailing list

Subscribe to the Junior Ranger newsletter for all the latest Junior Rangers news and activities.
Four children and a ranger take a closer look at a rockpool.

Blog

What’s up with the wildlife? What’s keeping the Rangers busy? What’s growing and going on around Victoria’s parks?
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