Have an adventure

10am-3pm (approx. finish). Join NatureWatch and Victoria University researcher Dr Megan O’Shea to monitor spiny rice-flower (Pimelea spinescens), a threatened grassland species, at a reserve in the Brimbank City Council area. Registration required.

Limit 10 | 21 km NW Melb

Who was the Scotchman and why was Oakleigh originally in Chadstone? This is a history/linear park walk, looping from Oakleigh railway station to the wetlands on the Creek Trail. Finishing in a Greek cake shop!

5km | Limit 15 | 18km SE Melb

Setting off from Lysterfield Lake we explore trails up to the trig point, across to the granite boulders, before returning via the lake circuit. A chance to see varying birdlife, kangaroos and other animals.

16km | Limit 16 | 40km E Melb

We will start from Doncaster Shopping Centre (various buses available) and walk to East Kew, loosely following the proposed rail line (100 years ago) through local parks and reserves.

14km | Limit 16 | 10km E Melb 

There are lots of upcoming opportunities to learn about and assist in setting up motion sensing cameras at monitoring sites in Wombat State Forest near Trentham. This long-term project, running since 2012, is addressing the impact of fire on mammals in Wombat State Forest. More details on registration. Registration required.

Limit 8 | 100 km NW Melb

Meet at 1pm on the racecourse side of Caulfield Station. The Caulfield Racecourse Reserve is exactly that – a lovely public park with all the usual facilities. BBQ and picnic area, small sports ground, walking track, fishing lake and boardwalk – right smack in the middle of Caulfield Racecourse.

6km | Limit 20 | 13km SE Melb

Hear about our recent walks, catch up with those you’ve walked with before, or make new friends to walk with in the future! Dinners are a very informal way to meet others under 35 (more or less) who are interested in bushwalking. Details and contact information for the host will be posted to the U35 email and Meetup list. RSVP essential.

A winter coastal walk that has it all – beach walking, sand dunes, rock pools and a lighthouse. This walk includes a cardiac workout – over 400 steps each way to Fingal Beach for morning tea. Lunch at Cape Schanck.

16km | Limit 16 | 100km S Melb

Anytime, anywhere.

These school holidays take a family adventure with one of our Wild Families activity sheets.  You could visit a waterway and play waterway spotto, follow our tips on birdwatching or do an ‘alphabet walk’. The activities can be done on adventures in most places. See www.vnpa.org.au/wild-families for plenty of opportunities for family nature fun.

This year’s annual planting event will be based at Kaniva. We’re heading west this year to Dinyarrak, a one-horse town near the South Australian border. We will be planting 12,000 trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses on a 13 hectare property which covers a Grey Box – Buloke grassy woodland, a Black Box swamp with Yellow Gum hinterland, plus a section of Tatiara Creek. We will be returning many of the wetland plants along the creek edge and Black Box Swamp, as well as re-planting a lot of understorey plants in the adjacent woodlands, denuded after decades of grazing.

Register here.

A bus from Melbourne Melbourne (cost $60 per person) will be available if sufficient demand. Contact Jonathan Starks [email protected] to register your interest in using the bus.

Victorian National Parks Association members have proudly supported this major landscape restoration project since its inception.

420km W Melb

Starting at Alphington railway station, we walk to the Darebin Yarra Trail Link, to the Outer Circle Trail, to Camberwell railway station.

12km | Limit 15 | 10km NE Melb

Starting at Lilydale station – walking around the lake and back to look at some op shops. Finishing near public transport.

9km | Limit 14 | 41km E Melb

Some birds survived the fires at Kinglake National Park over nine years ago, but repopulation is taking time and needs monitoring. Starts Kinglake Information Centre mid afternoon. Shelter for camping is in a heated shed nearby. Toilets/parking spaces available. Dinner: BYO or nearby pub. Sunday survey starts 15min before dawn, completed within an hour. Free cooked breakfast. A walk will be offered (weather dependent).

46km NE Melb

BYO lunch to Rockley Gardens on Toorak Road at midday. After lunch, we will walk the beautiful streets of Toorak and finish in Trak Village for afternoon tea.

6km | Limit 20

There are lots of upcoming opportunities to learn about and assist in setting up motion sensing cameras at monitoring sites in Wombat State Forest near Trentham. This long-term project, running since 2012, is addressing the impact of fire on mammals in Wombat State Forest. More details on registration. Registration required.

Limit 8 | 100 km NW Melb

Revive yourself – with a walk in the park. An exploration of these grand gardens including the Banksia Award winning redevelopment. Optional lunch/coffee.

5km | Limit 15

This year’s annual planting day will be held at Sheoak Hill, a 552ha former cropping and grazing property, with the goal to re-establish a link between Brisbane Ranges National Park and Werribee Gorge State Park. 9.30am-4pm, Telford Park, at Sheoak Hill, 1216 Glenmore, Rd, Glenmore. Lunch and refreshments provided (BYO cup and plate). Details and registration: www.growwest.com.au

65km W Melb

ACTIVITY DETAILS UPDATED

For our mid-winter excursion, we will travel southwest into beautiful Gippsland. From Korumburra, we travel south through farming heartland. We pass through Kongwak to Wonthaggi, where there will be time for the tourist centre and gallery, opshops, cafes and lunch. The desalination plant, Watersure, is 6km away. We will enter the tight security building for a presentation, then we can walk in the revegetated reserve. 

Leader: Ruth Stirling

6km | Limit 57 | 143km SE Melb

Meet 1pm at Rushall railway station. We will walk upstream along the Merri Creek Trail, finishing near Coburg railway station. The trail closely follows the creek past wetlands and CERES Environmental Park.

8km | Limit 20 | 5km N Melb

Hear about our recent walks, catch up with those you’ve walked with before, or make new friends to walk with in the future! Dinners are a very informal way to meet others under 35 (more or less) who are interested in bushwalking. Details and contact information for the host will be posted to the U35 email and Meetup list. RSVP essential.

ACTIVITY RESCHEDULED (previously 27 May, now will be on 29 July)

Bunyip State Park is located on the eastern side of the Dandenongs. Parks Victoria are doing an outstanding job of controlling the trail bikes, thereby opening up many opportunities for walking in this beautiful park. This loop walk is in the vicinity of Black Snake Road, taking in Russells Track and a number of 4WD tracks.

 14km | Limit 15 | 60km E Melb

Bunyip State Park is located on the eastern side of the Dandenongs. Parks Victoria are doing an outstanding job of controlling the trail bikes, thereby opening up many opportunities for walking in this beautiful park. This loop walk is in the vicinity of Black Snake Road, taking in Russells Track and a number of 4WD tracks.

14km | Limit 15 | 60km E Melb

From Croydon railway station, by the 688 bus, we travel past Mt Dandenong and Kaloroma Park to Mt Evelyn Reserve, where we take the 679 bus to Ringwood railway station.

12km | Limit 15 | 35km E Melb

A full days walk – up to Federation Peak and then around the base of the You Yangs.

15km | Limit 14 | 68km W Melb

Venue: 60 Leicester St Carlton. Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7:30pm start. Entry $2. Tea, coffee, wine and biscuits provided.

Taking in parts of two iconic walking trails – The Coastal Trail and The Bay Trail – this is a great opportunity to see both sides of the Mornington Peninsula. Along the back beaches of Sorrento and Portsea, we make our way to London Bridge. Taking in the ‘Millionaires Walk’, we return via the front beaches of Portsea and Sorrento, with their many beautiful piers, boathouses and private jetties. Some beach walking.

19km | Limit 18 | 100km SE Melb

For optimal health, we need to move. A stroll along Steele Creek at Niddrie to Valley Lake in an old basalt quarry with organ-pipe formations. Optional lunch/coffee.

5km | Limit 15 | 16km NW Melb

Explore the flat coastal area in Melbourne’s west, and maybe even do a bit of birdwatching.

8.5km | Limit 10 | 28km SW Melb

Meet 11am at Eltham railway station. The walk will take us through the lovely green, but hilly, streets of Eltham. There are many small parks along the way including two that are habitats for the threatened Copper Butterfly.

10km | Limit 20

An opportunity to meet the Friends of Warrandyte State Park (FOWSP) volunteers, view the indigenous nursery, ‘Frogland’ and the ‘Pollinator Garden’. Afterwards, we will walk around Pound Bend where the wattles will be at their beautiful best. Finish with coffee at a local café.

6km | Limit 15 | 28km NE Melb

Along the shorefront of Port Phillip Bay and back again. Beginning and ending near public transport.

14km | Limit 14 | 20km S Melb

After a morning tea stop at Winchelsea, we will travel to Banool to walk a segment of the historic Beechy Rail Trail. Lunch will be in Gellibrand. After exploring the township, we will travel to Birregurra where we will visit Tarndie Heritage Sheep Farm.

Leader: Glenn King

6km | Limit 57 | 137km SW Melb

Meet at 1pm at Beach Street, Port Melbourne, stop 129, tram 109. Walk along the coast then inland through historic Albert Park, Gasworks Park, St Vincent Garden and a coffee shop. A choice of trams back to the city.

6km | Limit 20

Hear about our recent walks, catch up with those you’ve walked with before, or make new friends to walk with in the future! Dinners are a very informal way to meet others under 35 (more or less) who are interested in bushwalking. Details and contact information for the host will be posted to the U35 email and Meetup list. RSVP essential.

We follow the coastal track from Anglesea to Point Addis and Iron Bark Basin, exploring the Koori cultural area. Great views are to be had from the coastal path. There may be some beach walking depending upon the tides. Some short step sections.

18km | Limit 16 | 100km SW Melb

Malmsbury is a smallish town in the goldfields region of Victoria. This walk will be partly historical, partly geological, partly scenic locations and, hopefully, partly wildflowers, including orchids. The train ride to the town is also enjoyable.

15km | Limit 15 | 80km NW Melb

From Gardiner railway station we follow the Gardiner Creek Trail to Deakin University. We cross over to Wattle Park where there is the 70 tram to the city or the 903 bus.

12km | Limit 15 | 15km E Melb

Legs were made for walking, air was made for breathing. Listed under the Ramsar Convention in recognition of their international importance, the wetlands are the last remaining examples of the once extensive Carrum Carrum Swamp. Bring your binoculars.

5km | Limit 15 | 35km S Melb

Walk through the Australian Garden, Woodlands and Wetlands Area. The garden is a significant site for biodiversity conservation with many species of native plants. If we’re lucky, we may even see and hear some of its mammal and amphibian residents.

8km | Limit 15 | 54km SE Melb

This walk takes in the eastern end of the Macedon Ranges. We commence the walk in the quiet hamlet of Cherokee then ascend the range on a quiet 4WD track, reaching Lions Head, the eastern summit.

14km | Limit 15 | 70km NW Melb

A big day out. Bendigo line from Southern Cross, departing 9.14am and arriving at 10.46am. Time to chat! On arrival, we will be led by well-known VNPA locals. Train home departing 3.47pm, arriving at Southern Cross at 5.25pm.

6km | Limit 20 |  130km NW Melb

Come and hear Kelvin Agg speak about the recycle program that helps you keep all those consumer plastics that you collect from winding up in land fill. Kelvin will explain how manufacturers, retailers and consumers can share responsibility for creating a sustainable future. 60 Leicester St, Carlton. Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7:30pm start. Entry $2. Tea, coffee, wine and biscuits provided.

The Gurdies Flora and Fauna Reserve represents some of the largest remaining areas of native vegetation on the eastern shore of Western Port Bay. Being spring, expect to see an abundance of wildflowers. Discovered by George Bass in 1798 Western Port became a very busy harbour and by the early 1800s Corinella was settled. This will be our destination for lunch and a coastal walk.

Leader: Larysa Kucan

5km | Limit 57 | 114km SE Melb

Spring will have sprung so we should get a good showing of both weeds and wildflowers. Departing from the new Rosanna railway station. Taking in Gresswell forest, Springthorpe and the views from Mt Cooper. Terminating at another railway station or tram terminus.

15km | Limit 15 | 100km SE Melb

From Belgrave railway station, we make our way under the Puffing Billy Trestle Bridge to Paddy Track. We will walk to Grants Picnic Ground for morning tea before taking in the delights of both Pirianda and Alfred Nicholas Gardens. We will return to Belgrave station via the Hillclimb Track.

21km | Limit 18 | 45km E Melb

St Kilda has a colourful past and present, as shown in its buildings and reserves. This is a repeat of the original St Kilda walk from 2012.

5km | Limit 15 | 7km S Melb

A springtime circuit walk around Anglesea. We will explore the coastline, the heathlands, and the river with time to stop and look for springtime wildflowers.

16km | Limit 16 | 100km SW Melb

Meet at 1pm on the Maribyrnong River side of the Footscray railway station, at the foot of the overhead walkway. We will walk to the river – lots of development going on – past the Heavenly Queen Temple, wetlands and Pipemakers Park. We’ll finish at Highpoint Shopping Centre, for coffee and buses back to Footscray station.

8km | Limit 20

Hear about our recent walks, catch up with those you’ve walked with before, or make new friends to walk with in the future! Dinners are a very informal way to meet others under 35 (more or less) who are interested in bushwalking. Details and contact information for the host will be posted to the U35 email and Meetup list. RSVP essential.