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.

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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 check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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The best trails and natural moments around Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
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    The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boast some of Victoria’s most stunning natural scenery, making them a prime destination for outdoor experiences.

    There’s something very special about the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. A mix of rugged bush, mist-laden rainforest, gardens bursting with vivid blooms and a network of rivers and waterfalls, the landscapes here are layered and diverse. Late summer is a particularly good time to visit, when the days are long and the region’s outdoor offerings are ripe for sun-soaked adventures.

    The best part? Despite being only an easy one-hour drive from Melbourne, the area feels a world away from the hustle. You’ll be greeted by a slower pace with fewer travellers and more room to move – allowing you to truly switch off and take it all in.

    From rail trails to rainforest walks, this is where you’ll find nature at its most rewarding.

    1. Warburton

    Biking around Warburton is one best natural experiences in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
    Hit the trails at Warburton Mountain Bike Destination. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Perched at the top of the Yarra River, surrounded by pristine national park, the town of Warburton is a haven for nature lovers. It’s known for its towering redwoods, found in the Californian Redwood Forest just 15 minutes out of town. You’ll be in utter awe of these giant trees, some of which reach heights of up to 55 metres.

    The Warburton Rail Trail is another way to experience the town’s natural beauty. This flat, 40-kilometre route goes all the way to Lilydale and is ideal for a stroll or cycle past native bushland, wineries, farmland and parts of the Yarra.

    If you want to up the pace a little, head to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, which encompasses 160 kilometres of purpose-built tracks amid wild bush terrain. For something a little more laid-back, the Rainforest Gallery is a standout spot for a wander. The gallery features statuesque Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech trees, moss-covered logs and tree ferns, and a 40-metre elevated walkway that brings you right into the centre of the forest canopy.

    2. Yarra Glen

    Yarra Glen is a beloved food and drink destination, but it offers far more than excellent produce and top-notch wines.

    A highlight is Alowyn Gardens, which stretches over seven acres. Inside, you’ll find nine different gardens with vivid floral and seasonal displays, plus a nursery featuring exotic plant species. The Wisteria Arbour is a crowd favourite, a curved walkway connecting the different gardens with a display of cascading lilac blooms.

    Intersecting with the Warburton Rail Trail, the first stage of the Yarra Valley Trail runs from the gateway town of Lilydale to Yering Station. A more manageable track of just 7.5 kilometres, it takes you through rolling farmland and pockets of native bush, with ample opportunities for wildlife-spotting.

    If you’re travelling with kids, McKenzie Reserve is a non-negotiable stop. The reserve encompasses a skate park, plenty of open grass to stretch little legs, and a nature-inspired adventure playground to suit every age and every energy level.

    3. Healesville

    One of the best natural experiences in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is seeing a Koala upclose.
    Get up close and connect with koalas. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Healesville is the region’s best place to meet local wildlife. It’s home to Healesville Sanctuary, where you can get up close to kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingoes, reptiles and more. Beyond giving you front-row access to these gorgeous creatures, you’ll appreciate the scenic charm of the tracks and trails that meander through the wildlife park.

    To see even more birdlife, head over to Badger Weir for a picnic. Situated among soaring Mountain Ash trees and tranquil waterways, the area supports several bird species, including crimson rosellas, Australian king parrots and the elusive lyrebird. Barbecue facilities are available, and several tracks leading to Badger Weir are pram-friendly.

    Fernshaw Picnic Area, located in the Yarra Ranges National Park, is another idyllic setting for picnicking and short walks, also encircled by Mountain Ash trees. Compared to Badger Weir, though, Fernshaw provides a slightly more secluded experience, making it ideal for quieter outings.

    4. Olinda

    Cloudehill Gardens is a beautifully curated, year-round garden destination featuring nine terraced gardens filled with seasonal blooms and lush plant varieties.
    Wander through terraces of ever-changing blooms. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Sitting more than 600 metres above sea level, the Dandenong Ranges have an enchanted feel and are shrouded in lush rainforest filled with tree ferns, mossy trunks and lingering mist.

    The town of Olinda is one of the finest places to experience this unique environment in all its verdant glory. At the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, rhododendrons reign and drape the gardens in a riot of colour every spring.

    The nearby Cloudehill Gardens are well worth visiting any time of year. In each of the garden’s nine terraces, you’ll find an array of plant varieties that bloom and transform across the seasons, including weeping Japanese maples that have been growing here for nearly a century.

    Besides being a haven for arbory enthusiasts, the nearby RJ Hamer Arboretum is a spectacular spot to enjoy panoramic views. Here, more than 150 tree species grow and overlook the neighbouring Yarra Valley and Great Dividing Range.

    5. Emerald

    A lady eating with the view of Emerald Lake Park.
    Enjoy a lakeside picnic at Emerald Lake Park. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set just behind the Dandenong Ranges, the foothills town of Emerald has a slightly more open feel, featuring rolling hills and open bushland. The town sits on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with a patchwork of forested reserves and accessible bush trails on the Emerald side.

    You can also take to the water at nearby Aura Vale Lake, which is popular for sailing, canoeing, fishing for eel and perch, and picnicking on the grassy banks.

    The stand-out, though, is Emerald Lake Park, a sprawling green with multiple recreation zones. Across 52 hectares, there are walking tracks, playgrounds, paddleboats, a model railway, fishing sites and a family-friendly wading pool that comes to life every summer. The park also lies adjacent to the iconic Puffing Billy, making it a perfect stop if you’re travelling on the historic steam train.

    Start planning your next adventure at visityarravalley.com.au