Warrandyte State Park

Dotted with relics of the gold mining era, the hills around Warrandyte have a distinctive bluish-green hue, typical of the foliage of Red Box, a common eucalypt of the area. The Yarra links a number of areas which together form Warrandyte State Park, only 24 kilometres from Melbourne by road. The 620 hectare park's treasures include spring wildflowers, native wildlife and the site of Victoria's first gold discovery in 1851.

Flora & FaunaThe wildlife, so diverse on the fringe of such a big city, includes kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, platypus and koalas. Over 100 bird species have been recorded as well as many reptiles, frogs, fish and insects.

Most of the bush seen today has regrown since then. Smooth-barked Manna Gums and Silver Wattles line the Yarra River, while an assortmant of Box Eucalypts and other Wattles cover the hills. Much of the hilly area is characterised by open, forested country, with an understorey of native grasses, creepers, orchids and other wildflowers.