Yarra Bend Park

Overview

Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne's largest stretch of natural bushland, running along a wild bend in the Yarra River where escarpments, river red gums and open woodland replace the manicured lawns found in most inner-city parks. Dights Falls — an artificial weir built in the 1840s to power the old Ceres Flour Mill — remains the park's most recognisable landmark, framed by river red gums at nearby Galatea Point.

Time a visit for sunset and you'll likely catch the resident colony of grey-headed flying foxes lifting off from their daytime roost, fanning out across the sky in a genuine spectacle. Beyond that, the park runs to walking and biking trails, kayaking and canoeing on the river, an 18-hole golf course, and plenty of picnic spots scattered along the water.

Greg Elms

Images: Supplied. 

Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.