Living in the Melbourne or Mornington Peninsula areas we're blessed with some of the most beautiful parks, playgrounds and reserves a family could wish for, so pack your picnic basket & take a road trip this weekend. We've also listed some local skate parks below for the bigger kids. 

Here are some suggestions to get you started

Arthurs Seat, Arthurs Seat Rd, Dromana

A fantastic view of the Peninsula & Port Phillip Bay, this gorgeous area has great BBQ & picnic facilities & plenty of places nearby to explore on the scenic walking tracks through Arthurs Seat State Park.

Ballam Park Playground, Cranbourne Rd Frankston, Mel Ref 103 B4

Not only does this Park have a huge range of play equipment for kids of all ages, a sandpit & basketball court, there’s grassed area big enough to have a game of cricket or soccer & paths winding throughout for bike or scooter enthusiasts. Plus two covered areas for a BBQ or picnic to recharge your batteries.

Bicentennial Park & Scotch Parade Reserve, Scotch Parade Chelsea Mel Ref 93 E12

Two gigantic slides are a big draw card, lots of other play equipment for all ages & grass galore to run free. There’s also has a great skate park very close by for the bigger kids

Frankston Regional Waterfront Playground, Pier Promenade, off Nepean Hwy Frankston, Mel ref 100 B3

Great playground, picnic & BBQ area right near Frankston’s shallow child friendly beach that stretches for miles. Don forget your bucket & shovel. Take a wander along the boardwalk from Oliver’s Hill to the Life Saving Club

George Pentland Botanic Gardens, Williams St Frankston, Mel Ref 102 E5

With play areas for kids of all ages, picnic tables & BBQs the most fun part is the gardens themselves. Take the kids for a walk or ride around to discover some interesting features including indigenous sculptures and chat to the ducks in the pond

Jells Park, Jells Rd Mt Waverley

Situated in the Dandenong Valley, this 127ha park has playgrounds, picnic areas, 9km of walking & cycling paths, an enormous lake where you can go fishing and an abundance or native flora & fauna for you and your family to enjoy the tranquility of nature.

Langwarrin Flora & Fauna Reserve, Warrandyte Rd Langwarrin, Mel Ref 103 C10

A popular walking & cycling track (no dogs allowed), it’s a great place to escape and take in the sounds of nature

Moorooduc Quarry, Two Bays Rd Mt Eliza, Mel Ref 106 A7 

There are several walking tracks around the quarry, which was established in 1887. Take the steps to the top & overlook this amazing mass of water, which was formed when the quarry flooded in 1961. This is fairly heavy going and the path is narrow in some places so is best for kids aged 4 & up or those who have a fair amount of stamina, unless you have the stamina yourself to carry a toddler when he decides to sit down and not go another step further!

Mornington Park,

Lots of play equipment for young & old & enough grass to run little legs ragged. Close to Main St Mornington, the pier & the beach. 

Sandfield Reserve Playground, Sandfield Drive Carrum Downs, Mel ref

Open grassy spaces for picnicking or running a muck, this park also has basketball & tennis facilities, a skate park and roam free space to dogs. The play equipment is suitable for young and old

Seaford Foreshore/Wetlands, Nepean Hwy Seaford, Mel Ref 97 & 99

With a white sandy beach on one side and the Nepean highway on the other, following this track on foot or bike takes you all the way from Frankston/Long Island to Chelsea where you can stop to refuel for your trip home

Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve (Lower), Fenton Crescent/Liddesdale Ave Frankston South, Mel Ref 102 A7

A beautiful serene walking track that makes you forget you’re in the middle of a small city. The Liddesdale end is close to Frankston Foreshore, cross the Nepean highway and you’re at the boat ramp at the bottom of Oliver’s Hill. Dogs must be on leads.

Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve (Upper), Caladenia Circuit Frankston South, Mel Ref 102 D9

The Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve, Frankston North, Mel Ref 100 C8

There are literally hundreds more parks, reserves & playgrounds scattered throughout our suburbs. If you would like us to include your favourite don’t hesitate to Contact Us so we can tell people about. Or maybe you’d just like to tell us about a great family day you had at one of the above places.

Meanwhile we’ll be adding more all the time so keep an eye out for regular updates.

Skate Parks

Seaford North Reserve, Railway Parade, Seaford, Mel Ref 99 E2

Sandfield Drive Reserve, Sandfield Drive, Carrum Downs, Mel Ref 100 J4

Lloyd Park, Cranbourne-Frankston Rd, Langwarrin, Mel Ref 103 J4

Frankston Skate Park, Samuel Sherlock Reserve, Cranbourne Rd, Frankston

Hastings Skate Park, Fred Smith Reserve, foreshore, Marine Parade Hastings, Mel Ref 154 K11

Rosebud Skate Park, Rotary Park, opposite Boneo Rd & Point Nepean Rd, Mel Ref 170 A1

Rye Skate Park, RJ Rowley Reserve, Melbourne Rd Rye, Mel Ref 168 D5

Sorrento Skate Park, Next to Sorrento Community Centre, David McFarlan Reserve, Mel Ref 157 A7

Mornington Skate Park, Civic Reserve, off Dunns Rd Mornington, Mel Ref 145 G4

Crib Point Half Pipe, Stony Point Rd, Mel Ref 195 A3