What a great park and it just keeps getting better. So much for the kids to do and great places for…read moreadults to relax or play as well. Apart from the old steam train that the kids love to climb on, there is a multitude of other equipment for them to enjoy and wear themselves out (do they ever wear out) on. Plenty of space, plenty of grass, plenty of trees, fairly well fenced off from the traffic as well. Has to be the best park in the local area and they are adding climbing walls and a bunch of other stuff to make it even better. Locally known as the train park, close to shops, Bayswater railway station and bike paths. There is just so much to like and it is free.

Insportz Knox is the sporting ground to go to for a variety of sports including volleyball, soccer,…read morenetball and cricket. The courts are multi-purpose so games on them alternate throughout the day. The last time I went there was to be acting cheerleader for a group of friends playing 5-a-side soccer. It cost them $70 a season to play and they absolutely loved it. Inside can get pretty loud as lots of games are played on different courts/fields at once. Personally I don't understand how each played knows which ref is blowing their whistle for a foul or penalty - every whistle was super loud! I was rather a jittery cheerleader as a result. The courts are available for hire at $60 an hour, minimum. This seems pretty pricey to me but then again I'm not out hiring courts every weekend so I really have no idea. There is also a bar available for hire that is sometimes open. Wait staff are available for hire if catering for birthday parties or functions. Insportz doesn't cater for 21st birthday celebrations or high school after parties though. I don't know what high schooler would want to host a party on a soccer field but each to their own.. All in all the place is pretty good. It's popular, it's loud and there is plenty of great athletes to watch.

Recently transformed from its weary state to a grassy haven in the centre of The Basin, the Basin…read moreTriangle is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon. Opposite the small group of shops on Mountain Highway, this little park area is a favourite amongst locals and visitors wanting a place to take the kids or the dog for a good old run around. With the play equipment getting a recent overhaul, what was a pretty tired wooden structure is now a state of the art (and quite futuristic) play area surrounded by chairs and tables for parents to drink their coffee and chat whilst the kids let out their energy. With the Basin Fish & Chip shop located across the road, this often proves convenient on a nice afternoon, as the lush grass provides the perfect place to unwrap your order and eat your chips. If you're after something healthier, grab a wrap or pie from the bakery or one of the coffee shops and unwind under the trees. Also the location of the yearly Basin Music Festival, the triangle is as old the suburb itself and recent boom sin property prices in the area is sure to usher in a new age of style and demographic to The Basin.

Ruffey Lake park has something for everyone. Plenty of…read moreBBQ's and covered tables and benches, fun playgrounds, and a huge off leash dog area. Clean toilets and actual working taps ( yes lots of public toilets have no working taps, no locking doors and just plain gross). I find Ruffey lake very enjoyable to visit and amenities are well maintained. Lots of hills and paths for variety. Definitely a lovely day out!

This is a big park. Like huge…read more It feels like you could be far away from the world, but then you can get a glimpse of nearby houses and a small view of the Doncaster mall sitting up on a hill. It really is nice for a daytime, the sun is out so you should be outside type of day. It's good for a walk around their many paths, or for a picnic on one of their many open hilly spaces. If I was a dog, this would be optimum day out stuff. Because at Ruffey Lake Park, there are dogs galore, on leashes, on the footpath, running around, soaking up some sun rays, taking a dip into the lake, this park is their oyster. The lake itself, is average size, it's nothing to exclaim over, or take in. For seating, if you didn't take a blanket with you and are one of those don't-like-grass people, then find yourself one of the many benches that are laid out throughout the park. For the kiddies, there are two playgrounds with swings and activities, I feel like whenever I've been here, that area is hands down the most populated part of the park. For all of your park needs, Ruffey Lake is a stand out.

The Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully is a perfect spot for an afternoon out with a young…read morefamily. There is a large playground that has been recently renovated and is brand new. It has a child safe gates and a fence around it to encourage supervision. It is a pretty popular playground and gets quite busy on sunny days. The park has two really pretty lakes complete with ducks. There are boardwalks and bridges to walk over and a nice track that meanders all around the park. To appreciate the peace and the beautiful scenery make sure to take a seat at one of the park benches scattered all around - they are perfectly placed for the best views. Although if you are coming for peace and quiet you'd be best off coming during a weekday as on weekends and school holidays there will be kids everywhere. The Knox Bicycle Track runs alongside the park making it a great picnic lunch spot if you're going on a big ride. Kids often ride their bikes around the tracks in the park and there are plenty of grass areas big enough to kick a ball around and be more active. Supervision of kids is essential around the lake as there are no barriers or anything to prevent people from falling in. Dogs are common visitors to the park and must be kept on a leash at all times. The park is really unique in that it caters to every member of the family, young and old and it really is a beautiful spot. Very popular for wedding receptions and events there is a pergola at one end that often plays host to quite a crowd. There are adequate parking spaces available as well as side street parking.

With the outer east slowly building up and attracting more and more new residents to the area, one…read moredifference we have to the west is the amount of greenery we hold dear. At the foot of the Dandenongs, between Fern Tree Gully and Boronia, sits the Tim Neville Arbouretum, a huge expanse of lakes, fountains and open space that has been a favourite for picnics, weddings and lazy Sunday afternoons for as long as I can remember. As a kid we used to come here on our bikes and tear around the paved track that winds its way through, across the footbridge and past the amphitheatre, that is home to yearly Christmas Carols by Candlelight. Perfect on a warm day, there are also BBQ's to use, and plenty of rooms for a large group.

I love parks, and I definitely love going for a stroll through parks, especially when they are…read morelocated in the middle of a city. However, what really captures my attention is a park with a lake because, honestly parks with lakes are really, really cool. Okay, when I was younger I also liked parks with play equipment, as well as parks with lakes you could swim in (though you can't actually swim in most lakes these days because they happen to be pretty filthy). Sure, this park is probably not one of my favourites, namely because it happens to be one of those suburban parks that don't stand out as much as some of the parks closer to the city, but it still has a charm of its own.

I haven't been to this park for quite some time, and I was informed that the playground area and…read moretoilets have been revamped, so I decided to take my 3yo granddaughter to check it out, she had a great time playing on the play equipment and looking at all the ducks and other birds, it was a wonderful time for her and that made me very happy 10/10

Nice little suburban street park with landscaped paths and grassy areas with both sun and Shade…read morefrom some big trees. Has some large rocks to climb on as well. There are two 4 seater benches, a see saw, 2 swings, a covered climbing platform with slide and pole. There is also a thing with four seats on a spring. A nice peaceful spot to keep kids busy for an hour or so, take a picnic etc... Note: no toilet or bbq facilities. It's a big two thumbs up from me. Enjoy.

There are really only two options for 10 pin bowling. The first would be described as less…read moreconcerned about the atmosphere and more about the game itself. The second is more about the atmosphere than the game. Strike is the latter. Of course, you're paying a bit of a premium for that atmosphere. It's a fun, vibrant place to punish those funny looking bits of wood at the end of the lanes. And if you want to punish your ears, there's also Karaoke. As I mentioned, it can be a bit on the pricey side, but there are sometimes special deals on offer that make it a much more attractive option for the tight of wallet. For example, there are often school holiday deals that make it cheaper for the under 18s to bowl. There's also a family special where two adults and two kids can get a game up until 6pm for $40, which isn't a bad deal, really. There's also a cocktail bar, and some pool tables, so there's stuff to do if you're not into bowling.

The venue is good for bowling and pool Also the foods are…read morenot too bad try don't have much choice on drinks and some of the staff are good service some are really bad service