Join local ecologist John Harris as he takes you on a journey through Warrandyte State Park’s Fourth Hill.

John will undertake a bird survey and help you identify birds found in the Warrandyte area. 

Walk rating: 3km moderate walk, includes steep and narrow sections, creek crossing, slippery sections and tripping hazards.

Food and snacks

A light breakfast will be provided at the end of the walk. 

If you have any special dietary requirements, we recommend bringing your own food and snacks. 

What to bring and wear 

Bring a water bottle, wear solid shoes, weather appropriate clothing and bring your own binoculars so you don't miss a thing!

Download the Aussie Bird Count Smartphone Application on Android and Apple before the walk and bring your smartphone on the day.

Where to meet

The meeting place will be at Gold Memorial Drive Picnic Ground. 10 minutes before the walk starts.

Please note: the nature walk could be cancelled due to extreme weather.

This event is part our Manningham Spring Outdoors Series, where we offer a range of fun outdoor activities across Manningham.

You can also check what’s happening across other Councils by visiting the Spring Outdoors website.

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Pack a picnic rug and enjoy an afternoon of  jazz with friends at Stiggants Reserve in Warrandyte.

Featuring performances from  Shirazz, Bob Sedergreen and friends, Pippa Wilson, Stuart Cardell, Jazz Notes, Simple Syncopation (Donvale Christian College) and, opening the show, the DR Big Band. This free community event will come alive with bands, performers, delicious food, coffee and more. 

Presented by Community Music and Performances Inc, this event is supported by Manningham Council's Community Grant Program.

As part of Australian Heritage Festival 2024, Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society presents an exhibition of kitchen implements, tools and appliances used from the mid-1800s through to the early part of the 20th Century.

An asteroid the size of a large island is heading directly for earth and there appears to be no way to stop it colliding.
What should we do?

Sit at home and pray while twiddling thumbs, drink, wail and gnash our teeth or head down to the local pub for one last trivia night with friends and convivial drink?

Warrandyte Theatre Co. presents The Last Quiz Night on Earth (written by Alison Carr and directed by Bob Bramble) a comedy-drama. Audience and actors engage in a pub trivia night. 

Gather friends for a group table booking of eight. 

Join us for an engaging seminar where we'll delve into the fascinating world of fungi with expert Dr. Alison Pouliot. 

The earth’s rapidly changing climate and environmental issues have come into sharp focus through the demise of charismatic megafauna and the ‘biodiversity crisis’. But what about stinkhorns and slime moulds? How do fungi and their kin get our attention when they are not only overshadowed by more ‘popular’ organisms, but are rarely included in our ideas about ‘nature’ or ‘biodiversity’?

The good news is it seems we’re in something of a ‘fungal awakening’ and mushrooms are finally having their moment. Over the last 25 years Alison has divided her time between hemispheres, working both with fungi and their followers. She has been actively involved in fungal conservation and land restoration programs.

In this talk Alison will explore how fungi are perceived across hemispheres in conservation contexts and which fungal flagships best capture the public imagination. She will also share some stories from the writing of her recent book, Underground Lovers – Encounters with Fungi in which she interacted with fungi and their followers across a dozen countries.

There will be an opportunity at the end for participants to show their specimens or purchase books.

Booking essential: Limited to 50 people.

About the Presenter

Alison Pouliot, BA (Philosophy), BSc Hons (Zoology), PhD (Ecology/Mycology).

Alison is an ecologist, environmental photographer and author and has presented over 800 environmental seminars, forays and workshops in Australia and internationally.

Seminar field trip

Attending this event will enable you to attend the Seminar field trip: Meeting with mushrooms.

• Date: Thursday 30 May 2024
• Time: 9.00am to 11.30am

This exciting field trip introduces participants to the diversity, ecology and curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi, specific to fungi found in the region and its various habitat types.

Participants will learn some of the basic skills used to identify fungi in the field using multiple senses. The relationships between fungi and various plant species and different habitat types will be discussed. Every fungus has intriguing natural and cultural histories and stories, and these will be shared along the way.

Interested participants will be sent a registration link.

Understand the basics of technology, including smartphones and other digital devices. Learn about their functionality and the ways you can use these devices to connect with others and access services over the internet.

The topics covered include:

• using your smartphone
• using SMS
• connecting and working safely
• navigating the internet
• using email
• using social media
• using apps and software
• everyday technology
• staying safe online.

Hope. Love. Survival. What happens when the unimaginable becomes reality?

A quiet life is turned upside down when an elderly British couple prepares for an impending nuclear strike. Armed with only government survival pamphlets and unwavering optimism, they face the horrors of war with a heartbreaking mix of love, humor and denial.

This critically acclaimed adaptation of Raymond Briggs' classic graphic novel is a deeply moving, darkly humorous, and eerily relevant story about resilience in the face of catastrophe.

Why you should see it:

• a gripping and emotional theatre experience that will stay with you long after the final bow
• a blend of satire and tragedy, offering moments of both laughter and heartbreak
• stunning, intimate performances by Adrian Rice and Simone Kiefer, directed by David Tynan

Don’t miss this unforgettable production at Warrandyte Theatre Company. 

Bring a friend, spread the word, and experience one of the most thought-provoking plays of the season.

Did you know that the average Australian household increases its waste output by around 30 per cent during the festive season? 

So how can you reduce your waste without missing out on the traditions you love, or creating a stack more work for yourself?

Join permaculture and sustainability educator, Anna The Urban Nanna, and learn how to make eco-conscious, sustainable decorations using upcycled and natural materials.

This free hands-on workshop touches on ways to decorate your home during the festive season without adding to the global waste crisis. Some homemade festive snacks will be supplied during the presentation, and you will take home what you make as well as instructions to continue crafting at home.

Registrations is essential and spots are limited. 

Beyond the Table: The Dinner Party Reimagined  is a reimagining of a traditional dinner party, with a nod to 1970s nostalgia and celebrating one of the key gathering spaces in our homes, the humble dining table.

The installation is on display at Manningham Art Gallery as part of Melbourne Design Week, Australia's premier design festival featuring events across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Emerging Manningham artist Isobel Goodman responds to and selects works from Manningham Council’s ‘Potters Cottage Collection,’ a grouping of vessels created by the Potters Cottage co-operative. The co-operative was founded in Warrandyte in 1958 to advocate for and sell handmade functional Australian pottery.

Goodman hand builds her signature papier mâché and plaster sculptures – organic and abstracted forms to reference a dinner party table setting – vases, cutlery, plates, and candlesticks that play off and create a contemporary juxtaposition against the Potters Cottage vessels from the 1970s. 

Surrounding the central dining table presentation is a display of paintings from local Manningham artist Jade Piltz. These works depict bright, layered and abstract domestic objects that encapsulate the exhibition’s celebration of communal gathering and ritual. 

During Melbourne Design Week (15-25 May) visitors can take home a flower to celebrate this exhibition. 

Artist Bios: 
Isobel Goodman was recently awarded a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Melbourne. Her practice focuses on sculptural exploration and the body’s navigation of space and environment through the perspective of APD (Auditory Processing Disorder). She invites audiences to examine their relationship between the physical self and how we navigate the world around us.

Jade Piltz is a Warrandyte painter and ceramist. She is fascinated by our innate search for belonging, our desire for meaning and relationships to change and transition. Using mark making, she explores the ways our interactions with surrounding spaces and objects, narrate and inform our lives.

This Exhibition was supported by Gabriela Mello, owner and director of Warrandyte Pottery, through artist mentorship and technical and conceptual support and curated by Lucy Beattie Hughes, Manningham Council’s Creative Industries Officer.

Jade Piltz, Alone, Together (detail), 2024,  acrylic on canvas, 168 x 122cm. Image courtesy of the artist. Photo by: Emily Brookfield.
 

 
Melbourne Design Week is Australia’s largest and leading annual design festival and takes place from 15 to 25 May 2025.

The 2025 program spans 11 days of 350+ events, exhibitions, talks, and installations throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Melbourne Design Week is a vital platform for emerging and established creative practitioners, offering the Australian design community and audiences the opportunity to engage with a diverse program of talks, tours, exhibitions, installations, and workshops. Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and is curated and delivered by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

Visit designweek.melbourne to view the full program.


 

This fun, hands-on session is designed to improve your confidence by the river.

Join Life Saving Victoria's expert instructors on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River) to:

• Learn how to spot hidden dangers in the water and understand how currents work.
• Practise real-life safety skills and basic rescue steps, like using life jackets.
• Discover how to care for our rivers and enjoy them responsibly.

Please note:

• The session does not involve entering the water.
• Registrations are essential. All ages are welcome, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
• Wear comfortable clothing, a hat, sunscreen and closed-toed shoes, and bring a drink bottle.

About Riverfest

This event is part of the 2025 Birrarung Riverfest. Celebrate our river at one of 60+ events hosted over three weeks from 6 to 28 September.

Whether you enjoy riverside walks, cleanups, creative workshops or paddling adventures, there's something for everyone at Riverfest.

Riverfest is presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association and our partners Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo collaboration and Melbourne Water.

Check out the full Riverfest program here.

Our Partners

Session host: Life Saving Victoria & Manningham Council

Riverfest host: Yarra Riverkeeper Association

Major partners: Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo - Yarra Strategic Plan, Melbourne Water

Join us for an engaging evening with acclaimed author Amanda Hampson as she introduces The Deadly Dispute, the latest instalment in her award-winning Tea Ladies series.

Set in 1967 Sydney, this cozy crime novel reunites readers with the intrepid tea ladies—Hazel, Betty, and Irene—as they uncover secrets, scandals, and sticky situations.

Amanda will share insights into her writing journey, the resurgence of cozy crime fiction, and the art of crafting compelling mysteries. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into a world of intrigue and nostalgia.

The World's Biggest Sit In (WBSI) is a world record attempt for the largest chair based exercise class ever held.

WBSI is a call to action - to rethink physical activity, get moving, raise awareness about the importance of good musculoskeletal health, and raise much-needed funds to support people living with musculoskeletal disease.

WBSI is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. It is free to participate, and fundraising is encouraged. Register to join in the action in person or online.

Cinderella wants to go to the ball. Jack needs his cow to give milk. Little Red is off to Grandma’s. And a Baker and his Wife are desperate to break a family curse. But when they all head into the woods to chase their wishes, they find that getting what you want isn’t always what you need.

Packed with humor, heart, and unforgettable songs, Into the Woods Jr. is a fast-paced musical adventure perfect for audiences of all ages. 

Come see what happens after once upon a time — and before happily ever after.

Join local ecologist John Harris as he takes you on a journey through Warrandyte State Park’s Fourth Hill. John will undertake a bird survey and help you identify birds in the Warrandyte area. 

Key details

• 3km moderate walk, includes steep and narrow sections, creek crossing, slippery sections and tripping hazards.
• Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a water bottle and binoculars. A light breakfast will be served after the walk.
• Download the Aussie Bird Count app on Android and Apple before the walk.
• Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. 
• Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the start time.

The meeting place will be at Gold Memorial Drive Picnic Ground, Warrandyte. 

Please note: the nature walk will be cancelled in the event of extreme weather.

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Beyond the Game is an all-abilities basketball training program designed to empower individuals living with disability through inclusive sport, physical activity and social connection

Beyond the Game's mission is to create a fun, supportive, and accessible environment where participants of all skill levels can build confidence, improve their fitness, and enjoy the benefits of team sports. We focus not just on basketball skills, but on developing life skills such as teamwork, communication, and resilience.

Each session is tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of our participants, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and be part of a positive community. 

Cost is $32.80 per session with the first trial session free. Funding can be provided through a participant's NDIS plan. This price includes registration as well as a training uniform.

Manningham Seniors are invited to free trial classes to learn Chen-style Tai Chi hosted by the Australian Oriental Martial Arts Tai Chi Inc.