Parks Winter Activities & Events Calendar 1 June 2009 – 31 August 2009

Parks Victoria will provide fun for the whole family this winter with an action packed program of activities and events across the entire state. In particular take part in conserving our natural environment by getting involved in a number of tree planting activities on offer. This information is subject to change. Please contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre for up to date information on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.

Date Activity/ Where Description Cost Booking Contact Event Req.

All year Serendip Windermere Serendip's visitors can walk the nature trails and Free For groups Parks Victoria 10am – 4pm Sanctuary Road, Lara experience native flora and fauna. The walk is wanting 13 1963 complemented by fantastic facilities including: a (Group guided simulated underwater wetland with giant animal tours www.parkweb.vic guided tours: .gov.au models, a ponding site, delightful picnic areas with $4.90 per electric and wood fired BBQs, an activities room person) and theatrette. Plus lots more!

Wednesday 3 Monthly Flying Yarra Bend Golf The bat count is held once a month at dusk when Free Yes Australian June Fox Count Course, Yarra the whole colony of 10,000-20,000 bats fly out to Research Centre Bend Park feed around ’s suburbs. New counters for Urban are very welcome and much appreciated. Ecology 5:15pm - 6:15pm Experience is not necessary as training is provided Rodney van der on the night. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, Ree dress warmly and bring a torch. Parking available. Meet at Golf Course car park. 8344 3661

For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au Date Activity/ Where Description Cost Booking Contact Event Req.

Friday 5 June to Melbourne 3 Day Werribee Park The Melbourne 3 Day Event (M3DE) is an exciting For full No Werribee Park Monday 8 June Event equestrian event comprising 3 days of competition program National in a variety of disciplines. It has long been a details and to Equestrian Centre proving ground for many of Australia’s best purchase 9013 0707 Olympic horses and riders. tickets visit Ext 106

On Sunday June 7, the M3DE will be running its the website. info@m3de. cross country phase through the magnificent com.au Werribee Park Mansion Grounds and State Rose

Garden. In order to do so safely, the venue has www.m3de.com. changed access arrangements for this day. au All visitors to Werribee Mansion, the State Rose Garden, the Mansion Grounds and the M3DE must enter through the National Equestrian Centre entrance (Gate C: 201 C4). Changed conditions of entry will be clearly signed and traffic managers and volunteers will be on hand to assist you in finding your way. All visitors attending the park on June 7 will need to pay M3DE admission prices. Elderly and disabled visitors will be able to use the courtesy bus provided to be shuttled from the National Equestrian Centre to various locations on course.

Saturday 6 June Friends of Wattle Wattle Park – Come along and join the working bees and get Free No Friends of Wattle Saturday 4 July Park Working picnic car park involved in a worthwhile project. Participation Park Bee provides social interaction, physical activity and Howard Hodgens Saturday 1 information about the environment and gardening. August Bring a hat, sunscreen and gloves. 9833 4732

10am – 12pm

Sunday 7 June Friends of Shepherd Rd, Come along and join the working bees and get Free No Friends of Saturday 20 June Dandenong Glen Waverley involved in a worthwhile project. You will be Dandenong Valley Parklands Parks Victoria helping to maintain an indigenous garden site and Valley Parklands Sunday 5 July Working Bee Depot enhance the biodiversity within Shepherds Bush. Bryan Loft Saturday 18 July Planting, weeding and learning about the local indigenous flora. Bring a hat, sunscreen and 9561 2381 Sunday 2 August gloves. http://home.vicnet Saturday 15 .net.au/~dandvall/ August

10am – 1pm Saturdays

2pm – 4pm Sundays

Sunday 7 June Shepherds Bush Shepherd Rd, Come along and join the working bees to create Free No Shepherds Bush Sunday 5 July Community Glen Waverley the community gardens including planting, path Community Gardens Parks Victoria construction and nursery propagating. Garden Sunday 2 August Working Bee Depot Participation provides social interaction, physical Keith Martin activity and information about the environment, 9561 1999 2pm – 4pm food provision, gardening and horticulture. Bring a hat, sunscreen and gloves. http://sites.google. com/site/shepher dsbushcommunity garden Sunday 14 June MS Walk and Palms Lawn, Join the MS Walk and Fun Run to raise funds and See website Register in To register call Fun Run Albert Park awareness of Multiple Sclerosis. Get your friends for details advance or the MS Society of and family together and choose from a 5 or 10km on the day. NSW/VIC on 7am – 2pm walk or a 10km run around the picturesque Albert 1800 287 367

Park Lake. The track is 100% stroller and www.mswalk. wheelchair friendly and takes in spectacular views org.au of the Melbourne skyline. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Date Activity/ Where Description Cost Booking Contact Event Req.

Saturday 20 June South Ashes Picnic Come down to the Farmers Market at Jells Park Free No Regional Farmers Saturday 18 July Farmers Market Area, Jells South where you will find up to 50 stalls of fresh Markets Park, Wheelers local and regional produce, including some plants. Peter Arnold Saturday 15 Hill A hot breakfast stall will be provided for the public. August 5664 0096 Parking available. The market is held every third Saturday of the month. 8am – 2pm

Wednesday 24 Planting Day at River Flats at Shake off those winter blues by joining Yarra Bend Free Yes - call Parks Victoria June Yarra Bend Park Galatea Point, Park at a Planting Day! Help to recreate a bush 9488 3999 13 1963 Yarra Bend landscape only kilometres from the city by to make a Park continuing the process of strengthening the native booking. www.parkweb. 10am – 3pm vegetation of the river corridor in this area. BBQ vic.gov.au food provided or bring your own picnic lunch. Wear your hat, rain coat, sunscreen, gloves, boots or runners and bring along a snack and drinking water. Everyone welcome!

Saturday 27 June Black Snake Braeside Park Come and join in a very informative and interactive Gold coin No Parks Victoria Productions afternoon at the Braeside Visitor Centre. Learn 13 1963 about some less cuddly characters like spiders, 2:30pm – 4pm www.parkweb. snakes and even a crocodile. Admission is by gold coin and a light afternoon tea will be provided. vic.gov.au

Saturday 27 June Community Come along and join the fun of tree planting and Free No Parks Victoria Planting Day - help our native birds and animals at Karkarook 13 1963 Karkarook Park Park. Please wear sturdy footwear and gloves. 9am – 12pm Tools will be supplied. www.parkweb. vic.gov.au

Sunday 28 June Community Braeside Park Come along and join the fun of tree planting and Free No Parks Victoria Planting Day - help our native birds and animals at Braeside 13 1963 Braeside Park Park. Wear sturdy boots, protective clothing and 9am – 12pm bring along gloves to enjoy the great outdoors. www.parkweb. Follow directional signage to find the meeting vic.gov.au point.

Sunday 28 June Planting Day at Andrews Shake off those winter blues by joining Yarra Bend Free Yes - call Parks Victoria Yarra Bend Park Reserve Park at a Planting Day! Help to recreate a bush 9488 3999 13 1963 Roadside Site, landscape only km's from the city by replacing to make a 10am – 3pm Yarra Bend exotic vegetation to widen the belt of indigenous booking. www.parkweb. Park vegetation along the . BBQ food vic.gov.au provided, or bring your own picnic lunch. Wear your hat, rain coat, sunscreen, gloves, boots or runners and bring along a snack and drinking water. Everyone welcome!

Sunday 28 June Run Melbourne Federation Run Melbourne is Victoria’s new major community Varies Register in Start to Finish Square fitness event. Choose your own challenge: 5km depending on advance or Event run/walk, 7.5km walk, 10km run or a half-marathon type of entry. on the day Management through the most picturesque parts of our city. And See website (from 6am) www.starttofinish. whether you run it, walk it or just amble along, the for details. com.au further you go the better you’ll feel because every kilometre you put behind you is another opportunity to put money in the tin of your favourite charity. Set yourself a personal fitness goal, get your friends and family to sponsor you and start raising funds for the charity of your choice.

Date Activity/ Where Description Cost Booking Contact Event Req.

Sunday 28 June – Fun 4 Kids Warrnambool Recognised as Australia’s best children’s festival, One Day No Warrnambool Sunday 5 July Festival - Meet Fun4Kids is crammed full of hands-on workshops, Passes and 8 Visitor Information Ranger Roo! non-stop live entertainment and loads of activities Day Passes Centre suitable for all kids aged 2 and up. Ranger Roo will 1800 637 725 10am – 5pm available be appearing on stage for two performances each www.fun4kids. day on Saturday 4 July and Sunday 5 July. Check Ticket hotline com.au program for times. With eight days of seriously 5562 4044 good fun, the Fun4Kids Festival is a family event

not to be missed! For further information and prices, visit the website.

Monday 29 June Junior Ranger Dandenong This winter, come along and participate in the Free Yes - call Parks Victoria – Friday 3 July Program Ranges park's Junior Ranger COME and TRY...holiday 9757 7724 13 1963 Winter in the National Park program of free, fun filled and informative to make a Forest - Come activities. The forest in winter, often cloaked with booking. www.parkweb. and Try... cool damp fog, becomes a place of mystery and vic.gov.au magic and we look forward to seeing you there.

Monday 29 June - Marine Queenscliff The Marine Discovery Centre’s winter holiday Adult: $8 Bookings Marine Discovery Friday 10 July Discovery program connects you with the wonders of our Conc: $5 required for Centre Centre – Winter marine environment. The centre provides activities Child: $5 5258 3344 School Holiday countless opportunities to immerse yourself in first- Family: $25 only. Open daily from Program hand experiences of the sea. Rocky shores, www.dpi.vic. 10am – 4pm for gov.au/mdc mudflats, spectacular underwater reefs, sandy activities and beaches, calm sheltered lagoons and of course Call the visitor entry Marine our magnificent Port Phillip Bay are just some of the environments that we’ll help you explore. Staff Discovery Centre for are qualified and experienced marine biologists, environmental educators and canoe and a program. snorkelling instructors with specialised skills in field based community education.

Tuesday 30 June Cape Schanck Cape Schanck Fireworks, food and flags to celebrate 150 years Adult: $14 Pre Cape Schanck th Lighthouse 150 Light house, as an operational lighthouse. Tours of the Child: $12 booking Lighthouse Celebrations Cape Schanck lighthouse, light refreshments, exhibitions in the essential – Tony Sheer 4pm – 8pm Road, FIngal museum and launch of traditional fog rockets at numbers dusk to mark the start of a fireworks display to limited. 5988 6184 coincide with the beginning of night-time operations.

Wednesday 1 Buchan Caves Buchan Caves Join Parks Victoria Rangers for special cave tours Adult: $25 Yes - call Parks Victoria July Reserve Winter Reserve during the winter holidays. Special cave tours are Child: $18 5162 1900 13 1963 Saturday 4 July Activities offered in addition to our Royal and Fairy show to make a cave tours. The Federal Cave Tour provides a booking. www.parkweb. Sunday 5 July unique opportunity to view a cave that is rarely vic.gov.au Wednesday 8 open to the public and is part of the same cave July system as the Royal and Fairy Caves. The reserve also offers activities such as walking tracks, abundant wildlife and a picnic ground with 3pm – 4pm barbeques, which are available for everyone. Please note that bookings are not required for the Royal and Fairy show cave tours. Not recommended for children under the age of 8 unless accompanied by guardian. Cave tours will operate with groups of 6-10 people only with lights and helmets provided. Please wear sturdy shoes.

Wednesday 1 Monthly Flying Yarra Bend Golf The bat count is held once a month at dusk when Free Yes Australian July Fox Count Course, Yarra the whole colony of 10,000 -20,000 bats fly out to Research Centre Bend Park feed around Melbourne’s suburbs. New counters for Urban Ecology are very welcome and much appreciated. 5:15pm – 6:15pm Rodney van der Experience is not necessary as training is provided Ree on the night. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, dress warmly and bring a torch. Parking available. 8344 3661 Meet at Yarra Bend Park Golf Course car park.

Date Activity/ Where Description Cost Booking Contact Event Req.

Thursday 2 July BIA Melbourne Melbourne Parks Victoria is proud to support the 2009 Adult: $17 No Boat Industry to Monday 6 July Boat Show Exhibition Melbourne Boat Show. This is the largest boat Conc: $12 Association of Centre show in Victoria showcasing a spectacular array of U16: Free Victoria boats, boating information and accessories 8696 5600 attracting over 70,000 boating enthusiasts. Don’t 2-day Pass: forget to visit the Parks Victoria stand and pick up www.biavic.com. $25 (only au your free boating guide. available online)

Sunday 5 July to NAIDOC Week Various NAIDOC (National Aboriginal Islander Day Free No Aboriginal Affairs Sunday 12 July locations Observance Committee) celebrations are held Victoria around Australia in the first full week in July to 9208 3244 celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The www.naidoc.org. national theme for 2009 is: “Honouring Our Elders, au Nurturing Our Youth”. The theme encourages our communities to acknowledge the status of our Elders as leaders and role models for our youth. To find out more, visit the NAIDOC website for event celebrations and activities.

Sunday 26 July Chase the Sun The Chase the Sun Mountain Bike Series revolves See website Yes Full Gas and Sunday 16 Event Series around a massive relay, where solo riders or for details Promotions August teams of up to ten people compete to ride as many www.fullgasprom laps as possible in the set time frame. Whether otions.com.au you are a strong rider, or a recreational rider, there 8:30am – 5:30pm are categories designed to accommodate all levels. Registration and details can be found on the website.

Sunday 26 July Planting Day at Westfield Oval Shake off those winter blues by joining Yarra Bend Free Yes – call Parks Victoria Yarra Bend Park Grasslands & Park at a Planting Day! Help to recreate a bush 9488 3999 13 1963 connection to St landscape only km's from the city by building on to make a 10am – 3pm Albans Site, and providing a buffer for grassland revegetation booking. www.parkweb. Yarra Bend at the Westfield Oval site. BBQ food provided, or vic.gov.au Park bring your own picnic lunch. Wear your hat, rain coat, sunscreen, gloves, boots or runners and bring along a snack and drinking water. Everyone welcome!

Saturday 1 Community Braeside Park Come along and join the fun of tree planting and Free No Parks Victoria August Planting Day - help our native birds and animals at Braeside 13 1963 Braeside Park Park. Wear sturdy boots, protective clothing and bring along gloves to enjoy the great outdoors. www.parkweb. 9am – 12pm Follow directional signage to find the meeting vic.gov.au point.

Sunday 2 August Community Karkarook Park Come along and join the fun of tree planting and Free No Parks Victoria Planting Day - help our native birds and animals at Karkarook 13 1963 Karkarook Park Park. Please wear sturdy footwear and gloves. 9am – 12pm Tools will be supplied. www.parkweb. vic.gov.au

Sunday 2 August National Tree Call National National Tree Day is Australia’s biggest Free Register Planet Ark Day Tree Day community tree planting event. It is a day for online National Tree Day hotline for Australians to get together to plant trees and Hotline details shrubs that are native to their local area. The aim? To grow a better future for Australia. So get your 1300 88 5000 hands dirty and get involved in helping our www.planetark. environment. com

Date Activity/ Where Description Cost Booking Contact Event Req.

Wednesday 5 Monthly Flying Yarra Bend Golf The bat count is held once a month at dusk when Free Yes Australian August Fox Count Course, Yarra the whole colony of 10,000 -20,000 bats fly out to Research Centre Bend Park feed around Melbourne’s suburbs. New counters for Urban Ecology are very welcome and much appreciated. 5:30pm – 6:30pm Rodney van der Experience is not necessary as training is provided Ree on the night. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, dress warmly and bring a torch. Parking available. 8344 3661 Meet at Yarra Bend Park Golf Course car park .

Sunday 16 Devil Bend Fun Devil Bend Get your running shoes on for the Devil Bend Fun Fun Run $20 No Mornington August Run Natural Run. Race numbers will be issued at the start from Half Peninsula Athletic Features 7:30am on Fun Run day. Choose between a 5km Marathon $25 Club Inc Reserve, or 10km fun run or walk, or a 21.1km half U17: $10 Ian Muir 9am – 12pm Grayens Rd, marathon. Water will be supplied at each 5km Moorooduc interval. Awards to winners in all categories plus 5975 4685 awards for the outright winners. All finishers will receive a certificate. Free carparking available. Entries accepted on the day until 8.30am.

Saturday 29 Admiral Napier Palms Lawn, This is an annual regatta for Sea Scout and other Free Yes for First Victorian August – Sunday Cup Regatta Albert Park groups interested in water activities, conducted by participants Sea Scout Group 30 August the 1st Victorian Sea Scouts at Albert Park Lake. (scout David Winwood Groups compete for the “Admiral Napier Cup”, members). named after the original “Napier Cup” presented to 9571 2487 8am – 4pm Spectators the Sea Scouts of Victoria by Rear Admiral W.R. are Napier in 1930. Events include sailing, rowing and welcome. a seamanship competition.

Saturday 29 Community Karkarook Park Come along and join the fun of tree planting and Free No Parks Victoria August Planting Day - help our native birds and animals at Karkarook 13 1963 Karkarook Park Park. Please wear sturdy footwear and gloves. Tools will be supplied. www.parkweb. 9am – 12pm vic.gov.au

Sunday 30 Community Braeside Park Come along and join the fun of tree planting and Free No Parks Victoria August Planting Day - help our native birds and animals at Braeside 13 1963 Braeside Park Park. Wear sturdy boots, protective clothing and bring along gloves to enjoy the great outdoors. www.parkweb. 9am – 12pm Follow directional signage to find the meeting vic.gov.au point.

Sunday 30 Defence Lake Grebe Picnic A Defence Department event involving a 5/10km Adult: $28 Register in Start to Finish August Attack Area, run/walk, displays of military equipment, vintage Conc: $16 advance or Event Albert Park aircraft, aerial displays, parachutists, the Army Child: $16 on the day. Management band and more. 8am – 1pm Family: $67 Fiona Welsh 9645 1333 www.starttofinish. com.au

Join in the fun with Parks Victoria’s Licensed Tour Operators

Tours and activities include:

Abseiling Canoeing Four Wheel Drive Touring Rock Climbing Ballooning Caving Heritage Tours Sea Kayaking Bicycle Touring Coach/Bus Touring Horse Riding Ski Touring Birdwatching Dolphin Tours Horse-Drawn Wagon Tours Spotlight Tours/Night Walks Boat Touring Fishing Mountain Bike Riding Surfing/Surf Education Bushwalking Fossicking/Prospecting Rafting Trail Bike Touring

Some activities are seasonal while others operate all year round. Visit the Parks Victoria website www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or call 13 1963 for more information.

Welcoming Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities to Parks

Parks Victoria is committed to welcoming culturally and linguistically diverse communities to our extensive parks system. Two new services are available to assist non-English speaking people to access information about parks. Parks Victoria has developed a Multilingual Park Note that welcomes the reader to Victoria's park system while incorporating important visitor information. This is available in 33 languages and can be found on Parks Victoria's website www.parkweb.vic.gov.au. In addition, an interpreter service is available for callers to Parks Victoria's information line 13 1963 which can provide detailed information about all of Victoria's parks.

Details correct as at 15/05/09