One of Mamma's favourite places for a family picnic has to be Maroondah Reservoir Park. This parkland reserve is alive with birdlife, beautiful gardens and great family walks. You have to check out if the reservoir is overflowing into the spillway (usually in spring after a good amount of rain).

Then walk along the base of the wall. It is very trippy looking up from the bottom of the dam but the echoes that bounce off the wall are super loud and the gutter at the base is perfect for racing leaves along when it is filled with water.

Mamma highly recommends making the hike up the stairs through the Rose Stairway for a wander along the dam wall (there is a ramp but is very steep). The views are spectacular and you can turn the hike into a bushwalk loop if you continue on the other side.

After that you will most certainly need to head back to the car to grab the esky and the snacks! There is stacks of space to choose from for a picnic. The park has a massive population of bird life with some friendly - and some not so friendly cockatoos and rosellas looking for food. FYI - bird feeding is prohibited in the reserve.

the nitty gritty

public toilets - playground (currently fenced off) - water hazards - plenty of car parking - bird life - steep hills in parts - no rubbish bins - dogs are not permitted - picnic seating - good shaded areas - gas bbqs - wood fire bbqs - Mountain Tucker food van on weekends

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Maroondah Highway Healesville

Mamma's special mention: Not keen on packing a picnic? Head to Innocent Bystander for lunch. The pizzas are amazing!