Have an adventure

The largest marine citizen science event in the state, VNPA’s Great Victorian Fish Count brings together hundreds or divers and snorkelers across the state to record key Victorian fish species. There are great opportunities for beginners and families to get involved this year. For latest details, visit: www.vnpa.org.au/fish-count

Various distances and locations | no limit

Castlemaine has a lot of goldfields history. On this walk, we visit Burke and Wills Lookout, Zeal Bridge, a special cemetery, Quartz Hill and the beautiful Botanic Gardens, to the north and the east of the city itself. This is a public transport walk.

Easy/Medium 14km | Limit 15 | 100km NW Melb

Location: Rye Pier. Activity 1: 10am–midday. Activity 2: 1pm–3pm.Dive 2U will lead ‘Wild Families’ on a morning snorkel at Rye Pier to count fish such as Zebra Fish, Weedy Seadragons and Old Wives. All snorkelling equipment and training provided. Bring your own wetsuit if you can. Children must be at least eight and must attend with an adult responsible for their supervision. Cost: $10 per person or $25 per family.

Easy | Limit 20 | 100kms SE Melb

Meet at 1pm, stop 50, tram 109, Whitehorse Road. Starting more or less at the finishing point of the March walk, Maranoa Gardens, we will make our way along the leafy streets and parks of Balwyn, Deepdene and Canterbury to Maling Road for coffee.

Easy 8km | Limit 20

A quick weekend away at The Prom. Hiking the scenic South Eastern Circuit and camping at Refuge Cove on Saturday night. Day one: meeting early at Tidal River and hiking 18 kms to Refuge Cove via Sealers Cove. Day 2: complete the circuit via Kersops Peak, Little Waterloo Bay and Telegraph Track (18 km). Walkers will need to be fit, well-equipped and ready for Prom weather.

Medium/Hard 36km | Limit 6 | 250km SE Melb

Location: Portsea Pier. Activity 1: 10am-midday. Activity 2: 12:30-2:20pm Want to try the Great Victorian Fish Count?  Bayplay will lead snorkelers around Portsea pier to count fish such as blue-throated wrasse, old wives and a high chance of spotting a weedy seadragon. All equipment and training provided. Children must be at least five and accompanied by an adult. Cost $10 per person or $25 per family.

Easy | Limit 20 | 110kms SE Melb

Meet at 1pm outside Target at Highpoint shopping centre, but you can arrive earlier to explore and have lunch. We will follow a steep downhill path to the Maribyrnong River and cross over to Ascot Vale. We’ll then find our way to streets named Lucknow and Cashmere. Finish at Flemington Bridge station, or there are trams to the city.

Easy 6km | Limit 20

We will stroll up and down this lesser-known part of the river. Some slopes and steps. Optional lunch/coffee. Public transport option.

Easy 5km | Limit 15 | 5km E Melb

Walk around the surrounds of Lillydale Lakes and visit the local museum at the end. Public transport walk.

Easy 12km | Limit 15 | 45km SE Melb

The WTP wetlands near Werribee are one of the most important wetlands in Australia. They support a tremendous number of birds and other wildlife. We will drive around the wetlands, stopping to look at some of the concentrations of birdlife. Each car will include an experienced birdwatcher familiar with the area.

Easy 2km | Limit 12 | 60km SW Melb

Meet at 1pm at Hawthorn station. The walk will be around Hawthorn, down to the Yarra River and back to Glenferrie, for the final coffee together for the year.

Easy 8km | Limit 20

This walk commences at Macedon township and can be reached via train or car. The walk takes in part of the Macedon Ranges Walking Trail, skirting around the summit of Mt Macedon, then down the northern side of the range where we will walk along a quiet road to reach Woodend for a drink and the train back to Macedon (or Melbourne).

Medium 16km | Limit 12 | 70km N Melb

A grand tour of the magnificent Bogong High Plains starting at Bogong Village. Includes: Bogong Jack Saddle, The Fainters, Tawonga Huts, Young’s SEC Hut, Ryder’s Hut, Cope Saddle Hut, Cope Hut, Fitzgerald’s Hut, Roper’s Hut, Spion Kopje, and return to Bogong Village. Wildflowers should be at their best. You will need to carry food for 6 days, be very fit and equipped for alpine weather extremes and annoying insects.

Medium/Hard 65km | Limit 6 | 350km NE Melb

A somewhat optimistic title for this walk, but we do have a chance of spotting a lyrebird, because this area of the Dandenongs does have them present. The walk begins with some road walking to a scenic lookout, before we move into the forest in both the east and west catchments of Hardys Creek. This is a public transport walk.

Medium 15km | Limit 15 | 30km E Melb

It is six years since we ambled in Westgate Park (Nov 2013). What was once a muddy mudflat is now attractive Indigenous bushland with feature lakes under the Westgate Bridge – a remarkable restoration achievement. Public transport option.

Easy 5km | Limit 15 | 5km W Melb

A relatively easy long weekend hike. Friday night camping at Wellington River campsite No.12. Day 1: Wellington High Plains, base camp at Nyimba, afternoon walk to Gable End. Day 2: day trip to Lake Tali Karng via Riggall Spur Track. Day 3: hike out and return to Licola for an ice cream. Hopefully the 2019 bushfire damage has not spoiled this magical place.

Medium 35km | Limit 6 | 350km NE Melb