So back in the olden days the Point Cook Homestead was a part of the Chirnside family (of Werribee Mansion fame) property portfolio. It was built around 1857 and includes the main homestead and some stables and out buildings. Since the Chinsides, it has been passed down to a few owners but now is managed by Parks Victoria.

Hidden away down the end of Point Cook Road is a quiet spot for picnic and play!
The Point Cook Coastal Park has had some new additions recently of BBQ’s and shelters, plus a small playground and toilets!

Hiding out the back of Geelong is Buckley Falls - a little surprise package of fun, adventure and beauty! These falls are a great way to spend a few hours exploring. Once you have clocked the main area Mamma wants you to head further down the Barwon River… this is where we had our fun. You'll find some of the most gorgeous river pools with plenty of rock hopping and cascading water - sensational!

This is a wonderful little track that curls around and in between the Edgewater Marina and Maribyrnong River. The track is smooth and flat, perfect for prams, bikes, scooters and wheelchairs.

You are 234 steps away from the gorgeous Erskine Falls from the car park area - Mamma counted. Little legs and old weary ones like Mamma’s might find it tricky but be sure to have some little breaks and a big rest when you get to the bottom! Plus when you do make it down - you get the reward of seeing the waterfalls from 2 different view points - what a magical place this is!

The Otways National Park is just stunning. Triplet falls (more kid friendly) is about 2km and 1 hour return trip. Although it is a short ‘walk’ the stairs leading to the trails feel a little never ending for kids and certainly challenging for grown-ups. We have also taken the trek to Little Aire Falls which is much longer, steeper and a more challenging walk/hike for the family.

Mamma is making it her mission to find lots of fab kid-friendly walks in nature and this is one of the best ones we have come across. The Brisbane Ranges is great. Often the weather, the snacks we take, tired levels of mamma and kids - all have lots to do with the ‘ease’ and enjoyment factor too but this bushwalk is relatively flat, scenic and a quick easy 2 hour loop.

There are lots of shell treasures to collect, cute benches to watch the passing ships, and a picnic table - just made to eat fish and chips on.

It's quiet, pretty and has so much to explore!  

Mamma loves to get outdoors and get the legs pumping with a good bike ride. Altona Coastal Park is one of the best rides around. You can still see a lone date palm and the ruins of the grandstand of the old Williamstown Racecourse which saw Phar Lap race and win the Underwood Stakes in 1931. Giddy up!

What was once a degraded rifle range is now an important conservation area and a great place to explore. Mamma and the crew love getting up close and personal with our nature spots and Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve is one of the best places in the West to appreciate our native coastal critters. 

Mamma LOVES the Williamstown Botanical Gardens. It is such an oasis for the family and perfect for picnics and play.

Newport Lakes is a beautiful bushland oasis with its two big lakes, lots of native birds and grassy spots for picnics, it's a wonderful place to bring the family for a day of wildlife watching and native plant spotting.

Mamma was told to expect the best views in Melbourne and was not disappointed. The top of the 100 Steps to Federation in Altona Meadows - provides uninterrupted 360 degree views of the You Yangs, Melbourne and the Bay. It is downright breathtaking and energising climbing to the top.

For outdoor adventure lovers, the You Yangs Regional Park in Little River has it all. The beauty of this area is stunning, with those huge rocks, breathtaking views and lovely bushland. There are a few trails and tracks to discover for the wanderers - usually around 1.5 km circuits, but you can choose your own distance (and incline!). Flinders Peak Walk was our favourite by far.

The Nook will make you feel as if you’ve stopped to rest at a quaint country town. A 20 minute walk from the centre of Sunbury, it features Jacksons Creek waterhole and a beautiful, natural open space.

We love Hopetoun Falls in the Great Ocean Road as a family adventure! Imagine lush ferns and gorgeous forest greenery on the way, and you can stop and do some rock hopping near the river too. This is a truly lovely place, make sure you take a trip to Hopetoun Falls when you are heading this way. Mamma says take a deep breath while you are here and fill your lungs with the beautiful fresh air.

The tower was opened about 20 years ago and was actually an arts project, and is dubbed a monument for ‘Migration and Aspirations’- Mamma has to say - it’s a lovely tower! You can see all around the wetlands from this vantage point and have a great view of the city as well.

This one is for the adventurers...

Spend an hour here, or the whole day -  you can tailor your fun and do as much or as little as your family can manage.

An icon of the West, immortalised in the old TV show Round the Twist and more recently Masterchef. Dubbed 'the white queen', she sure is majestic.

The Organ Pipes themselves are beautiful huge rock columns formed by the cooling and cracking of molten lava from over a million years ago and are the feature of the park.