BACKGROUND

The Yarra Valley Parklands comprise a series of regionally significant parks and reserves which extend along the Yarra River for approximately 16 km from Ivanhoe to Warrandyte.

The parklands are located approximately 15 km north east of the Melbourne CBD and cover an area of over 1700 hectares.

 

Yarra Valley Parklands are part of a broader open-space network along the Yarra River which sretches from the river’s source in the Yarra Ranges to Port Phillip Bay.

 

Warrandyte StatePark is immediately east of Yarra Valley Parklands upstream along the Yarra  River, providing nearly 700 hectares of conservation reserves with nature-focused passive recreation in natural settings. Yarra Bend Park is 4 km west of Yarra Valley Parklands, downstream along the Yarra River. It provides 260 hectares of natural bushland, manicured lawns, picnicareas and active recreation areas.

 

HISTORY

The Yarra Valley Parklands have been progressively established since the 1970s. The main visitor site, Westerfolds, was opened in 1977. The parklands include land managed by Parks Victoria, local government, VicRoads, Melbourne Water and private land owners.

 

Some key sites managed by Parks Victoria within the Parklands include Westerfolds Park, Banksia Park, Yarra Flats and Birrarung Park.

 

The parklands are one of the most visited areas of regional open space in Melbourne, attracting over one million visits per year. The diverse range of landscapes provide for a wide variety of recreational pursuits

 

ACTIVITIES

Activities in the parklands include picnicking  by small and large groups, walking, jogging, children’s play (unstructured and in playgrounds), recreational cycling, commuter cycling, bushwalking, nature hotography, nature appreciation, car touring, mountain biking, canoeing, heritage appreciation, horseriding in leased areas, orienteering, bird watching, rollerblading, urban camping (at Longridge camp ground), visiting the Westerfolds Manor or Heide Museum of Modern Art, grass skiing, dog walking inspecified areas, appreciation of orchards (at Petty’s Orchard) and art activities through the Artist in Residence Program