by Janice Heath (
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Welcome. Here you can find the most unique, fun, traditional, tasty, wacky, historical, contemporary, discovered and undiscovered places, events, experiences and things to do.
This Sunday 1 September is National Wattle Day. The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia's national floral emblem so this is definitely a day for the green and gold.
To help you get out and enjoy the view, not to mention the first day of Spring,
Parks Victoria has some suggestions for good spots to find the best displays of golden wattles. It's also Fathers' Day, so there's even more reason to collect the family and friends, pack a picnic and go bush.
Parks close to the city and surrounds:
Wattle Park
Burwood
Only 13km east of the city, Wattle Park lives up to its name with 12,000 wattles planted in the 1920s. There's also walking tracks, historic buildings, picnic grounds, a golf course, tennis courts and 55 hectares of natural bush.
Warrandyte State Park
Pound Bend Reserve
Approximately 25km to the north east of Melbourne, Warrandyte State Park is a popular spot to see the wattles in bloom. The Yarra flows through the park so there are river views as well as the brilliant golden hordes of different varieties of wattles.
Lerderderg State ParkLerderderg campground area
Travelling north west from Melbourne Lederderg State Park is a journey of approximately 70km. This park is lovely at many different times of the year and particularly good in wattle season.
Further out:
Cape Conran Coastal Park
Yeerung River
In far east Gippsland, Cape Conran Coastal park has beautiful beaches, rivers and flora and fauna. Walk along the Estuary View Trail to experience a mix of different ecosystems, native plants and animals and wattles, of course.
Greater Bendigo National Park
One Tree Hill
Bendigo is famous for its gold mines and is also blessed with multiple parks and forests which showcase another kind of gold, the wattles, and other flowers brilliantly.
For the latest information about park conditions, contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.
