Parks Victoria reveals 3 new wellness trails for the ultimate reset

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
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Reconnecting with nature has never been so easy.

In a world that doesn’t stop moving, it can be hard to find a moment to stop and appreciate the little things. And it’s no surprise to anyone who loves the great outdoors that going for a walk can alleviate stress, improve concentration and enhance overall mood. In fact, case studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health show that 98 per cent of people report mental health improvements when engaging with natural outdoor environments.

Woowookarung Regional Park in Ballarat, Victoria
Studies show nature walks can significantly improve mental health. (Image: Parks Victoria)

Luckily for us, Australia is brimming with incredible hikes, from trails that trace the coastline to multi-day bushwalks and everything in between. But tugging on your boots and making tracks isn’t an automatic ticket to happiness. In today’s world, it can be hard to hit pause, clear the mind and be present, even when surrounded by nature.

However, Parks Victoria is making it a little easier with a new series of self-guided wellness trails designed to encourage mindfulness, relaxation and rejuvenation across some of the state’s most serene regions.

Where are the new trails?

Currently, Parks Victoria has introduced three different wellness trails. Each walk offers a different experience and its own unique set of activities.

Grass-Tree Nature Trail

Kangaroos in Woowookarung Regional Park in Ballarat, Victoria
Spot friendly kangaroos along the walking trail. (Image: Parks Victoria)

The first option is within Woowookarung Regional Park , a stunning 641-hectare former plantation on the outskirts of Ballarat. Although the greenspace is filled with plenty of bushwalking tracks, those keen to do the wellness walk should follow the 1.8-kilometre Grass-Tree Nature Trail. While wandering through stringybark eucalypts, grass trees and native heath, you’ll be encouraged to slow down, reflect and reconnect with nature. Keep your eye out for kangaroos and echidnas, and, depending on the season, colourful native wildflowers.

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Birrarrung Park

Birrarrung Park near Melbourne, Victoria
The 2.2-kilometre wellness walk traces the Yarra River. (Image: Parks Victoria)

City slickers can take in the scenery on the 2.2-kilometre Birrarrung Park loop, just a 30-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Perfect for inner-city urbanites who need a quick nature fix, this wellness walk is an easy way to get your steps up and your stress levels down. Listen to the soothing sounds of the nearby Plenty and Yarra rivers as you work through posture techniques, sensory practices and relaxation strategies. Those with accessibility needs can easily join this wellness walk, with completely flat paths catering to mobility aids and prams.

Sherbrooke Falls walk

Hikers in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges National Park
Reconnect with nature in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria)

If you prefer to push yourself a little further, head deep into the Yarra Valley‘s Dandenong Ranges National Park. Amongst the cool-climate Sherbrooke Forest , you’ll find a 5.5-kilometre loop that winds through towering Mountain Ash gums and lush ferns. Using the NatureFix app, engage in six different stations that work to deepen your connection to nature. Guided audio talks you through breathing techniques and gratitude exercises before helping you create a sound map of the forest’s symphony.

Whichever wellness walk you choose to do, you’ll finish feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated – equipped with the tools to take care of yourself – mind, body and soul.

How do the new wellness trails work?

By downloading the free NatureFix app , you’ll be guided through a range of simple activities, specifically tailored to each trail. From breathing exercises to posture techniques, each task focuses on improving mindfulness and reducing stress levels. The app also teaches users about sensory practices and grounding strategies, as well as boosting creativity through sound mapping.

The self-guided format of each wellness walk means participants can do it in their own time, too – all while avoiding the fees and booking processes that often come with wellness-based experiences in Australia. It’s the perfect way to unwind at your own pace, without having to do it alone.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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8 towns in Victoria’s Heartland that will delight your tastebuds

(Image: Visit Victoria)

    Jade Raykovski Jade Raykovski
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    Get out of the city and close to nature in Victoria’s Heartland, one of Australia’s finest food-producing regions. 

    This fertile area is abundant in natural beauty, rich volcanic soils, mineral-rich waters, artisan producers and farm fresh produce. In towns spanning the Central Goldfields, Macedon Ranges and surrounds, just a short drive or easy train ride from Melbourne , you can taste a plethora of incredible food and world-class wine in these best of Victoria’s Heartland food regions. 

    1. Daylesford

    Lake House Restaurant, Daylesford
    Dine on the multi-course fare served at the elegant and light-filled Lake House Restaurant. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

    Warm and inviting, fans of Japanese cuisine should make a beeline for Kadota . Settle in for Japanese flavours, in cocktail glasses and on the plate, that have been carefully produced using seasonal local ingredients.

    For those who love a farm-to-table moment, Sault is the place to be. Fresh ingredients – directly from the restaurant’s kitchen gardens, or from regional organic farms and producers – are crafted into a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Hat-awarded Head Chef Jack Powlay.

    Boasting gorgeous water views from its location on the banks of Lake Daylesford, Boathouse Restaurant is perfect for an elevated dining experience.

    For a special treat, a visit to the two-chef-hatted restaurant  at the Lake House is a must. Savour beautiful views and a seasonal menu championing small-scale local suppliers and their own farm just 10 minutes away. 

    2. Hepburn Springs

    If you're exploring Victoria food regions to visit, Surly Goat is one restaurant you won’t want to miss.
    Tuck into hearty, farm-fresh flavours. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Taking cues from its Swiss-Italian roots and the area’s produce, the picturesque Lavandula Farm  houses a seasonal trattoria, rustic wine bar, and a new deli and larder inside the original Shepherd’s Flat Post Office. 

    For another dining destination immersed in the area’s history, visit The Hepburn Pavilion  café at Hepburn Bathhouse. Brunch, lunch, scones and house-made cakes are served under the vaulted ceiling of this Edwardian heritage-listed building. 

    And while The Surly Goat  may have a farm-like ring to it, it’s in fact a homely restaurant that takes seasonality seriously. Chef David Willcocks heads up an ever-changing set menu celebrating local and small-scale regenerative producers. 

    3. Trentham

    Add Sisko Chocolate to your list of Victoria food regions to visit for a sweet stop along the way.
    Satisfy your sweet cravings with handcrafted treats. (Image: Sisko Chocolate)

    No trip to an Aussie regional town is complete without a stop at the pub. Pig & Whistle Hotel sits surrounded by farmland. Soak it in from the locally beloved beer garden. Here, pub classics include a parmigiana with an Irish twist.  

    For a more refined experienced, dine at du Fermier , where chef and owner Annie Smithers crafts a weekly menu of French farmhouse-style dishes, often sourcing ingredients from her nearby farm in Lyonville. 

    And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave town without a cheeky stop at Sisko Chocolate Studio , where owner Christina Tantsis has built a chocolate-lovers wonderland inside a stunning architectural space. Her handcrafted creations use couverture from Valrhona, a certified B Corporation, and the hot chocolates are positively sinful. 

    4. Woodend

    Kuzu Izakaya in woodend, daylesford
    Taste incredible Japanese cuisine at Kuzu Izakaya.

    Taste local drops in town at the family-owned Woodend Cellar and Bar  – complemented by tapas and artisan platters featuring sourdough from the local bakery – or at 600 Above , a wine bar with a sunny courtyard and cosy fireplace serving small and large plates.  

    Nearby, Kuzu Izakaya  is the go-to place for Japanese dining. Chef Eriko Pannam has crafted a moreish menu of creative and traditional dishes; think miso cream scallops and everyone’s favourite, Japanese fried chicken. 

    Mount Macedon Winery  is another must-visit for wine connoisseurs. Enjoy a glass and wood-fired pizza on the deck, or opt for fine dining at their Cellar Door Restaurant.

    5. Kyneton

    Piper Street in Kyneton is overflowing with top-notch eateries. Take Prato , specialising in traditional Greek dishes and pinsa (a lighter, crispier version of traditional pizza); or the upscale Midnight Starling , where chef Steve Rogers serves French classics inside a historic building with bluestone cellar. 

    A little further down, The Piper Street Wine Company is a European restaurant and wine bar inside a gorgeous heritage building. Their evolving menu highlights one European country or region at a time, so there’s always something new to discover. Further along, Fook Shing  delivers a flavour-packed Southeast Asian menu using local and regional Victorian produce.

    6. Castlemaine

    Blue cheese from Long Paddock Cheese.
    Discover rich, creamy cheeses crafted by a certified cow’s milk artisan cheesemaker. (Image: Long Paddock Cheese)

    Cafes, bars and restaurants have taken up residence inside this former Gold Rush town’s historic buildings. At The Mill Castlemaine – an 1870s woollen mill turned creative hub – you’ll find Long Paddock Cheese , a small-scale artisan cheesemaker that uses certified-organic cow’s milk from a nearby family-owned farm; and Das Kaffeehaus , a Viennese cafe serving traditional Austrian food with coffee from their small batch roastery. 

    Meanwhile, inside the Midland Hotel you’ll find the chef-hatted Bar Midland , founded by locals Loudon Cooper and Alexander Marano. Their monthly set menu celebrates Victorian producers who focus on sustainable land management, and often utilises indigenous food, introduced wild animals and weeds.

    7. Lancefield & Romsey

    A flatlay of food from Lost Watering Hole.
    Savour beautifully plated dishes in a relaxed setting. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Art meets food and wine at Mount Monument , located just outside of Romsey. The beautiful vineyard is home to a sculpture park, cellar door and restaurant with a menu shaped by the Macedon Ranges’ rich seasonal produce.  

    In town, The 1860 Romsey  has reimagined a 160-year-old hotel. Here, country pub charm meets modern bistro, with a menu that supports local at every opportunity (their Central Victorian Oakdale Black Angus steak is a winner).  

    A few minutes’ drive north, the Lost Watering Hole  in Lancefield is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant crafting 100% naturally brewed beers. Their unusual names – No Dodo, Flightless, Big Roo – make sense once you learn Lancefield is the location of one of the richest deposits of megafauna fossils in Australia.

    8. Harcourt

    Lovely pastries from Hartcourt Produce & General Store.
    Treat yourself to buttery, house-made Danish pastries. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Harcourt is famous for its apple orchards and cider production, and there’s no better place to visit than The Little Red Apple . At this roadside store, you can stock up on fresh crisp apples, ciders, vinegars, juices, and other gourmet products. 

    To taste more local delights, pop into the Harcourt Produce & General Store , renowned for their house-made danishes, or stop at Sutton Grange Winery  where winemaker Chris Smales crafts wines using their organically grown estate fruit. Open on Sundays, it’s an idyllic spot to slow down over wine, pizzas and share plates. 

    Start planning your next outdoor adventure at victoriasheartland.com.au.