By KATH GANNAWAY
POOLS are great, and the beach is awesome on a hot day, but when you have littlies in tow, there’s nothing more relaxing than playing in the cool, shallow waters of a mountain stream.
Splishing and splashing on pebble beaches of the Yarra River, or the sand beaches at Emerald or Lillydale lakes, running through the water spouts at Seville Water Park or building rock dams in one of the many streams throughout the Dandenongs, the Yarra Valley or the Mystic Mountains of Marysville, offer pure summer bliss.
The Seville Water Play Park is ideal for pre-schoolers, while for older kids, floating down the Yarra River on a tube at Warburton, is the ultimate summer fun.
Whereever kids and water come together, vigilance and safety is paramount, so always check out water activities carefully and choose age-appropriate places to make a big splash.
We’ve put together a list of some of the favourite places to cool off and have fun this summer … so grab a towel and some sunscreen and check out some of these great suggestions.
Badger Weir Park, Healesville.
Gallipoli Park, Marysville.
Kays, Olympic, Kensleys and Beagleys picnic grounds on the Sassafras Creek at Kallista.
Emerald Lake Park, Emerald.
Donnelley’s Weir, Healesville.
Lillydale Lake, Lilydale.
Seville Water Play Park, Seville.
Upper Yarra Dam, Reefton.
The Grace Burn, Queens Park, Healesville.
The Yarra River at Warburton Caravan Park.
Big Peninsula Tunnel at McMahon’s Creek.
Maroondah Dam, Healesville.
