Swanston Reserve offers a variety of informal recreational opportunities including skateboarding, play equipment and basketball. The Lower Templestowe Pre-school is also located on this site. Swanston Reserve is well used and popular with local residents and skateboarders from all over the municipality. The Reserve has pedestrian access from Swanston St and Alison Ave.

Places and spaces

• Bulleen Bowl skateboard facility
• playground
• basketball half court
• Lower Templestowe Pre-School
• off-street parking
• netball

Swanston Reserve playground

The centre piece of the playspace is a tall tower with multiple decks, climbing ladders and a long tube slide.

In addition to swings and slides there’s loads of nature play amongst the trees and on the logs and rocks defining the mulched play areas.

The space is well catered for with an accessible picnic shelter and public toilets just across the way in the old scout hall. 

Bulleen Bowl

The Bulleen Bowl is famous for its retro feel. Initially built in 1982, the park has seen local skaters hone their skills for over 40 years.

New and improved, the 2023 upgrade works at the Bowl involved resurfacing the original snake run to make it smoother and adding a whole new street course zone, nearly doubling the area. The skatepark features a retro colour scheme to reflect its 80s heritage and includes:

• rails
• platforms
• various shaped pads and mounds
• quarter pipes
• seating areas
• funky shade shelters.

The facility is perfect for all ages, including young children learning to ride a skateboard, BMX or scooter.

The new extension and refurbished snake run make this a great park. So if you haven't skated the Bulleen Bowl already, check it out soon - it's just a five-minute walk from the Spring St/Pleasant Rd bus stop (route 280).

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Falfield Reserve is well situated on the corner of Falfield Place and Serpells Road and contains scattered trees and a boundary garden bed.

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The playground is located at the rear of this small reserve and contains a swing set and a combination unit with a slide and climbing opportunities. 

The Reserve is accessed from the original farm track which is a rocky escarpment. There is also plenty of shade under the stand of Yellow Box Eucalypts located at the front of the Reserve to enjoy a picnic on a sunny day.

Suitable age group: 2 to 10 years

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Play opportunities include a junior combination unit with a slide, swings and a rocker in a quiet and grassy location.  Perfect for a picnic on a sunny day.

Suitable age group: 1 to 5 years

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Loved by locals and visitors and flaunted as the park that ‘has it all’, Ruffey Lake Park is popular for social gatherings and family reunions.

We have three kid-friendly picnic areas which have all the facilities you'll need. Our picnic shelters and barbecues are popular - so it's a 'first come, first serve' basis, with sharing encouraged.

Paths and trails

• Ruffey Trail - A 3.0 km shared path to Finns Reserve and Wombat Bend Playground.

View a full map of the network of paths:

Self-guided tours

Bring your dog to Ruffey Lake Park

Dogs are welcome at Ruffey Lake Park and there are off lead and on lead areas for you and your furry friend.

There are also some areas in the park fenced for revegetation where dogs are not allowed so that we can keep the park beautiful.

To plan your visit with your dog, download:

Ruffey Lake interpretive signage 

New interpretive signage has been installed throughout the park and is available to download below. Information from the old signs is also available to download.

Gate hours

Gates open: 6.00am

Gates close: 10.00pm during daylight savings, 8.00pm other times

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Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.

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Spring Valley Reserve features sport and play equipment that are fun for all ages. There is a hurricane climbing net, swings, slide and sporting facilities including a basketball and netball ring and a cricket pitch. There is also picnic tables, seating and extensive landscaping. 

Places and spaces

• Hurricane climbing net
• Swings and slide
• Ball sport area
• Picnic tables

Suitable for all ages

Bus Service

905 SmartBus service (stops outside reserve on Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road)

Bring your dog

Off lead reserve, except within 15 metres of playground, barbecue area or where a sporting event is in progress.

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Pettys Reserve is well located and accessible as a regional sports venue on a major road (Reynolds Road), near a bus stop and surrounded by residents on only two sides.

The Reserve is currently being developed as a regional soccer facility, with Council's Recreation Strategy 2010 endorsing the implementation of works in two stages.

Stage 1 of the Development Plan was completed in 2012 and comprised two grass soccer fields, demolition of the former Pony Clubrooms, a crushed rock carpark with access from Smiths Road, fencing and landscaping.

Stage 2 of the Development Plan is to include a sealed carpark with access from Reynolds Road, a small sports pavilion, a small playspace and an upgrade of the soccer fields to synthetic turf.

Learn more about the Pettys Reserve Upgrade.

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Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.

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Dellfield Reserve is a small reserve with a playspace, picnic tables, basketball/netball court, bocce court and an dog off lead area.

The reserve features:

• a playspace
• picnic tables
• dog off-lead area
• basketball/netball court
• bocce court.

Getting there

Dellfield Reserve is located on the corner at 56 Dellfield Drive, Templestowe Lower. On-street parking is available. 

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Hermann Reserve provides conservation value, as part of the Porter Street, Biosite 35 in Council’s Healthy Habitats Bushland Management Strategy 2012. This includes significant remnant Red Gum trees and additional Red Gums that have naturally regenerated in the vegetated parts of the Reserve. Further planting of Red Gums in some areas that are currently mown is supported.

The reserve provides pedestrian access between Hermann Court, Dora Court and Porter Street and an attractive green buffer in this residential area. There is a Melbourne Water main drain running through the reserve and a natural wetland area. The walking/ bicycle path along Porter Street has been upgraded.

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Aloha Reserve comprises most of the Urban Miscellaneous (Reynolds Road), Biosite 35 in Council’s Healthy Habitats Bushland Management Strategy 2012.  The large local park 7340m2 (0.75 ha) runs along a drainage line and is well established with mature, remnant vegetation.  

The Reserve connects Reynolds Road to Aloha Gardens but due to lack of footpaths or bus stops along this section of Reynolds Road, there is little pedestrian traffic through the Reserve.  This steep site should be managed primarily as a conservation site. Consideration could be given to seating.

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Green Gully Linear Park is a popular linear park for local residents. It is located along a pleasant open grassed gully formed from a drainage line which leads ultimately to the Yarra River. It provides for a range of recreational facilities and features a wetland system, playground, picnic facilities and pedestrian and cycle path, as well as significant remnant vegetation. It extends from Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road across Porter Street to Reynolds Road, where it links to Jenkins Playspace via a pedestrian underpass.

Places and spaces

• Bicycle and pedestrian path
• Play equipment
• Exercise equipment
• Wetland and bush areas
• Jenkins Playground
• Bronte Playground
• Hollywood Playground

Path Length

1.4 km (sealed)

Bring your dog

Off lead reserve, except within 15 metres of a playground, BBQ area or where a sporting event is in progress

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Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.

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Tatterson Reserve is a small reserve prominently located on the corner of Meredith Avenue and Tatterson Court. Jenkins Park and playspace are located 300 metres to the east. 

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Thomas the Tank is the highlight of Bebs Reserve playground. Other fun play opportunities include a climbing web, rocker, swings and a  junior unit with a slide.  There is also plenty seating under the trees to enjoy a picnic on a sunny day.

Suitable age group: 1 to 8 years

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Ignite your imagination at the all abilities Wombat Bend. Enjoy community art and sculptures, sensory play activities, an amphitheatre and a native forest walk. You’ll love exploring the large mosaic titled ‘The Circle of Friends’ and navigating the maze panels. Or try building your own cubby house from bush materials in the nature play area (east of the playground). With a fully fenced playground, children can run wild along pathways and the native forest walk.

Pack a picnic and relax by the Yarra - or cook a meal on the onsite barbecues. There are also toilets and drinking fountains onsite.

Wombat Bend is great for children, families and people who are young at heart.

Places and Spaces

Our playground includes:

• swings
• maze
• monkey bars
• slides
• flying fox
• sand play

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Browning Reserve is a large (6,029m²), well located reserve for residents south of Serpells Road and the families of Serpell and St. Charles Borromeo Primary Schools.

It provides a pedestrian link through to Glen Orchard Close and there is a bus stop outside the Reserve on Browning Drive. Upgraded in 2008, the reserve is well maintained with attractive landscaping, good visibility and a playspace.  There are three other playspaces within a 400 metre radius.

Paths are in reasonable condition and are a mixture of asphalt and granitic sand.  Additional low landscaping to the Glen Orchard Close pedestrian link would also improve its appearance, but in general this is a pleasant and functional reserve and a low priority for upgrade.

Browning Reserve Playground

Children will love exploring and playing at Browning Reserve. The 'bird hide' cubby has a slide and cargo net and views over the swings, rocker and see-saw. There is plenty of seating shaded from the large Eucalypt trees. 

Suitable age group: 1 to 6 years

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Sarah Reserve is a large (0.8 hectare) open reserve that provides informal access from Sarah Crescent (and Serpells Road) through to Reynolds Road (bus stop). However there is a steep bank down to Reynolds Road from the Reserve and steps down the bank could be considered.

The Reserve is located in a low residential density area where a playspace would not normally be provided. Pettys Reserve is located only 250 metres away on the opposite side of Reynolds Road.

Extensive additional tree planting to improve the amenity of the Reserve, while still providing large open grass areas for informal recreation, should be a priority.

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Young children will love to test their climbing and balancing skills on the crocodile, stepping stones, swings and slide at Gertrude Reserve playground opposite the Gertrude Street shops.

The large trees provide shade over the picnic table and the paved path network make it easy for parents and grand parents to push a pram.

Suitable age group: 1 to 6 years

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Organising a large event?

Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.

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