Darragh’s Favourite Spots Within 15km

Darragh’s Favourite Spots within 15km

Our worlds have unfortunately become a lot smaller due to Covid restrictions over the past 18 months. With limits to who we can see and where we can go changing every couple of months, it’s important that we continue to live and explore as much as we can. Melbourne is an incredible city with a plethora of hidden gems for it’s residents to uncover, which I have been trying to do over the past number of weeks and months. Below, I have put together a shortlist of my top places to explore within my 15km limit.

Flying Fox Colonies at Yarra Bend Park, Kew

If you’re longing for an escape to the wilderness to surround yourself with trees and gaze at some native Australian wildlife, but The Grampians are just a little out of reach at the moment, try heading on a walk along the Yarra Bend at Kew. The Grey-headed flying fox colony established at Yarra Bend Park in Kew can be seen from the Bellbird Picnic area, off the Yarra Bend Boulevard. There are excellent views from Yarra Boulevard, looking out over the colony and towards the city skyline. Over summer, the colony can swell to over 30,000 individuals including young, but during winter the population of flying foxes falls to around 6,000 individuals. Head out during the day to see these cute little creature hanging from the trees along the river having a snooze or a natter with their neighbour, or at dusk as the colony fills the skies and swoop along the bend before heading off for a feeding frenzy.

Botanical Gardens

If flying foxes doesn’t put the air beneath your wings, maybe a venture through the variety of lands at Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens will transport you to a more fitting woodland setting. The gardens have something for everyone, whether you’re after a leisurely stroll around the curving paths or chasing some challenging hills to climb as part of your fitness regime, the Botanical Gardens will satisfy your needs. From Guilfoyle’s Volcano located in the south-eastern corner of the gardens for a great view of both gardens and city, or the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden for families who want an interactive and educational day out, or for the budding historian who wants to explore the ancestral lands of Kulin nation, this flora and fauna wonderland will help you and yours forget that you’re less than 5km from home.

Melbourne Street Art Walk

If the jungle you’re after is more of the contrete variety, you’re in the right city. Melbourne offers some of the best street art the world has to offer, with world renowned artists having graced the streets and alleys pre and mid pandemic to create colourful and awe-inspiring displays that can be found spanning across the city. Below are a list of “Must-See” walled areas across the city, however there are other works, such as the pandemic inspired work in Southbank by Melbourne’s own artist, CTO, which can be found in other locations around Melbourne’s suburbs.

• Duckboard Place
• AC/DC Lane
• Hosier Lane
• Flinders Way
• Presgrave Place
• Union Lane
• Tattersalls Lane
• Drewery Lane
• Guildford Lane
• 436 Queen Street
• Blender Lane
• Croft Alley
• Meyers Place
• Coromandel Place
• Caledonian Lane
• Upper West Side Arts Precinct
• 223 Franklin Street

Port Melbourne to St Kilda Walk/ Run/ Cycle/ Skate/ Blade/ Swim…….

If sea, sand and salty air float your boat, a journey to the coast may be the one for you. Although our weather here in Melbourne may not be the envy of other states and territories, when the sun comes out, we appreciate it even more. The coastal path accomades both cyclists and pedestrians, so you can choose to walk, run or cycle beside this sandy stretch. For those more brave, the cool waters of Port Phillip attract swimmers, SUP paddlers, wind surfers and kite surfers, the latter who appear when the winds pick up and are a spectical for all land dwelling creatures to enjoy. The walk also features a number of take away coffee and food establishment who offer refreshments along the way, and allow you to support small business during these trying times. Another interesting feature of this walk for all the astronomers out there is the Solar System Costal Walk. Dotted along the path are mini sculptures of the planets in our solar system, with the Sun located at Marine Parade in St Kilda and the outer most planet, Pluto, located in Port Melbourne. However, I would suggest doing the walk in reverse, as the models become more interesting the bigger they get and are spaced closer together, the closer you get to the Sun. At the time of writing, we are still limited to 5km, and unfortunately this walk is 5.9km, however with restrictions easing in the coming days, I am hopeful that by time this goes to print, you will be able to fully enjoy all this walk has to offer.

This list is only a very brief insight into some of the outdoor escapes I have been able to venture to during lockdown, but have been a welcome relief from the challenged that lockdown has thrown my way. As we’re always looking for new locations to explore, feel free to let the team here at anzuk Education know of any hidden gems you like to visit to get away from your locked down life that we can add to our list!