By JESSE GRAHAM and VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THOUGH the Yarra Valley and the Dandenongs are full of leafy towns, it’s still easy to become overwhelmed with the worst of the summer heat.
Luckily, no matter where you travel, you’ll never be too far away from a pool or a spot to cool off, with indoor and outdoor pools dotted through the area.
In the Yarra Valley, Healesville’s indoor pool, the Jack Hort Memorial Pool, is located next to Healesville High School on Camerons Road, while the outdoor pool can be found in Queens Park, off of Don Road.
Yarra Junction’s indoor pool sits just off of the Warburton Highway, opposite the town’s main shopping strip, and for those not up for a swim, Seville Water Play Park can be found on Monbulk-Seville Road.
The Water Play Park’s jets are turned on during the summer months, and the park is open all day for free, and has a nearby playground and shady areas.
Up north, Marysville has an outdoor pool for visitors, open from 1pm to 6pm during weekends, public holidays and school holidays.
The Monbulk Aquatic Centre, on Baynes Park Road and the Belgrave outdoor pool in Borthwick Park provide plenty of swimming opportunities in the hills, as does the Olinda outdoor pool.
The Olinda Pool opened in early December after being closed down with major cracks in the pool in late 2013 – following a campaign from community members, the Yarra Ranges Council and the Victorian Government came on board to save the pool.
In Emerald, the Emerald Lake Park is open from 8am to 8pm, just outside of Emerald’s main street, offering paddleboat rides, fishing and a wading pool for children.
Little Peninsula Tunnel, just outside of East Warburton on the Woods Point Road, is a place to sit in the shade and tip your feet into the water.
Entrance to the area is on the left-hand side of the road, driving out from Warburton, and a short walk down to the river. Generally, the water levels are low, and visitors can dip their feet and cool off – however, the area is unsupervised, and mobile reception is poor.
When visiting, always take supplies such as food, water and sunscreen, and check fire danger ratings.
For opening times and entry prices for pools, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au
