Best Free Parks Melbourne Near Me

4worldlovers:
Batman Park is located towards the northern end of the Yarra River in Melbourne, and is comparatively smaller than most other parks in Melbourne CBD.

Those driving to the park can take Spencer Street or King Street to get here.

Batman Park was established in 1982 and was named after John Batman; one of the chief contributors and founders of Melbourne. Visitors are welcome to explore this serene parkland and enjoy nature – perfect for a weekend get-together. Visitors will be happy to know that Batman Park has outdoor picnic areas and BBQ facilities.

As the park is just a few minutes away from the bustling streets of Melbourne, visitors can easily access the nearby bars and pubs.

4worldlovers: Edwards Park is boarded by Liardet Street, Esplanade East and Dow Street Port Melbourne. Edwards Park is next to Lagoon reserve across Liardet Street.


The 606 (Fisherman’s Bend to Elsternwick) bus route travels along Liardet Street and passes the gardens directly. Bus routes 250, 251, 253, 238 can be accessed from Bay Street Port Melbourne, Edwards Park is one block walk along Liardet Street.

The light rail Tram 109 (Box Hill to Port Melbourne) or Tram number 1 (East Coburg to South Melbourne Beach) to Richardson Street are within walking distance.

Free parking is available around the perimeter of the park, check signage for parking specific restrictions.

The playground features shade sails over all of the equipment. The senior kids play structure features a large wave slide, climbing steps and platforms, a chain net climbing wall, ladders, monkey bars, a flying fox and firemans pole with a stand on spinner located close by. The other play area is designed for younger kids and has a spider web rope climbing frame, small slide with steps, a swing set in addition to a large sandpit with scoop and two sit on springers.

Dogs are not permitted off leash and are not permitted near the playground or picnic area, penalties apply. Nearby Lagoon Reserve is a designated dogs off leash area.

Parking restrictions may apply in the surrounding roads and streets, please check the parking signs for full details or call ASSIST on 03 9209 6777 for specific parking information.

Originally this site was a saltwater lagoon, first developed into serviceable land in the early 1870s by dredging, draining and infilling the lagoon. The intention was to utilise the land for housing, however, it was deemed unsuitable for this purpose and in 1897 was set aside to be developed into park land for the residents of Port Melbourne.

Edwards Park gradually developed through the 1900s with tree planting and setting out of pathways. A playground, planted shelter belts, palm trees, and a trugo court and club room followed in subsequent years. The game Trugo was a unique Australian invention, a hybrid of bowls and croquet developed by the railroad workers in the 1920s. The court at Edwards park is one of two clubs within the municipality, the other is located at Garden City Reserve and is known as Sandridge Trugo Club. Both courts are open to all. Bookings essential.

4worldlovers:
Footscray Park is a regional open space with extensive garden beds and other facilities. It provides views to the city skyline, Flemington Racecourse and connections to the Maribyrnong River Trail.


Footscray Park has a designated dog off-lead area which is located on the western side of Thomson Water Garden (Victoria University side).


Dogs must be on-lead when in five metres of the trail along the Maribyrnong River. All other areas of Footscray Park require all dogs to be on a lead.


Dogs are not permitted in the playground area at any time.


Penalties can apply to any dog owner/handler found to be in breach of the above provisions.


Council encourages all pet owners to be responsible pet owners particularly when in public spaces.

Footscray Park has the most intact Edwardian period public garden in Victoria which was designed by noted architect Rodney Alsop, who won a competition for its design in 1911.

The park contains a memorial garden for soldiers who served in World War I and World War II as well as a memorial to the poet Henry Lawson.

The all-abilities playground at Footscray Park is located between the pond area and the Maribyrnong River. The playground is fully fenced and contains a water play area, natural play elements, sandpit, musical elements and other playground equipment set amongst trees and garden beds.

If you would like to hold personal training sessions in Footscray Park you must apply for a personal trainer permit.

If you are thinking of having your special day in Footscray Park you must apply to book the space.

To make a booking download and complete the Park Booking Form (DOC, 535KB)

If you would like to hold an event in Footscray Park you must apply to make a booking.

To ensure the continued enjoyment of all our public spaces, please report any disrepair, damage or vandalism to us below.

Visit the Friends of Footscray Park Facebook page and see how this community group helps keep the park looking beautiful.

4worldlovers:
Covering 188 hectares, Royal Park is the largest park within the municipality of Melbourne.

As a public park, it has open spaces for recreation and areas of native and indigenous vegetation. Stretches of grass alternate with areas of lightly timbered eucalypt forest, home to possums and a huge variety of birdlife, including rosellas, wrens, robins and birds of prey.

4worldlovers:
Fitzroy Gardens is one of Melbourne’s most historic and beautiful gardens. Located in East Melbourne, Fitzroy Gardens is bounded by Lansdowne, Wellington, Clarendon and Albert streets.

Originally set aside as a reserve in 1848, the gardens were named after Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, Governor of NSW. The gardens were laid out in 1859 and were developed as a garden under the supervision of Deputy Surveyor-General Clement Hodgkinson, with the assistance of gardener James Sinclair.

The layout follows a classic Victorian era design, featuring pathways lined with magnificent elm trees, known to be some of the best grown in Victoria. There are a variety of flowers and ornamental shrubs and trees, which together with extensive lawns creates a diverse and layered landscape.

The watercourse that runs through the centre of the gardens is an ephemeral tributary of the Yarra River, Birrarung. The Scarred Tree in the south-east section of the gardens is associated with the pre-colonial use of the area by Aboriginal peoples and it is registered on the Aboriginal Heritage Register. The tree was a redgum, one of a number of remnant redgum found in the gardens.

The gardens contain several buildings and structures which are of architectural significance in their own right, including the Band Pavilion (1864), Sinclair's Cottage (1866) and the Rotunda (1873).

4worldlovers: Yarra Park is one of the main public parklands in Melbourne and is located within the city’s vibrant sports and entertainment precinct. It provides the setting for the MCG and nearby Punt Road Oval.

Yarra Park has a significant indigenous pre-history, and is also noted for both its landscape and sporting heritage, dating back to the 1850s. Included in this heritage, are the sporting statues that surround the MCG.

Like the stadium that adjoins it, Yarra Park is managed by Melbourne Cricket Club on behalf of the people of Victoria. MCC reports in to the Yarra Park Advisory Committee.

A water recycling facility and landscape upgrade will secure the future of the trees in the park, which is all part of the Yarra Park Master Plan.

4worldlovers: Aboriginal cultural landscapes form the core of Victoria’s network of parks and reserves and have been modified over many thousands of years of occupation. They are reflections of how Aboriginal people engage with their world and experience their surroundings and are the product of thousands of generations of economic activity, material culture and settlement patterns. The landscapes we see today are influenced by the skills, knowledge and activities of Aboriginal land managers. Parks Victoria acknowledges the Traditional Owners of these cultural landscapes, recognising their continuing connection to Victoria’s parks and reserves and ongoing role in caring for Country.

4worldlovers: Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare - We grow and sell indigenous plants and are transforming Westgate Park into a biodiverse, bush-like habitat for people to enjoy.

For two decades, volunteers have revegetated Westgate Park with indigenous plants and there is now a good tree canopy and veg...


Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare is pleased to have the opportunity to make a submission on the proposed So...

On Saturday, 22 more microbat nest boxes were put in the Park by Miles Geldard. We now have a growing group ready to take on ...

We were offered these quirky, art deco-like tables and here they are, repurposed for the Nursery.

Although conditions were unexceptional, and a few common species were not observed, the surveyors had a wonderful day. The ap...


After a wetter than usual April with a total of over 100 mm rainfall, the water level is high in both large lakes. This has p...


Recent rains have freshened the park, which looks excellent. On the day of the survey volunteers were weeding, collecting lit...