Support is available at every stage of your child’s life and development.

The Healthy City Strategy outlines how we will continue to work with our community and partner organisations to ensure our residents are healthy, safe, resilient, connected and included. Seven priority areas have been identified to promote a Healthy Community:

• improving social and emotional wellbeing
• increasing healthy eating
• increasing active living
• increasing adaptation to the health impacts from climate change
• reducing injury and harm
• preventing family violence
• increasing connection and engagement of community life.

Find the resources below curated specifically for helping parents, guardians and families.

Visit our local markets or shopping centres for a little bit of retail therapy and to explore our local arts, crafts, fashion, food and drink.

The mighty Yarra River winds its way through Manningham, where walking and cycling trails hug the banks. Get out into the fresh air with those you love and have an adventure beneath the gum trees.

Enjoy jogging and cycling opportunities along our regions trails. Encounter native flora and fauna on the Mullum Mullum Trail – cross the suspension bridge at Finns Reserve and you may even be lucky enough to spot a platypus in the Yarra. If you continue onto the Main Yarra Trail you can ride your bicycle all the way to the city or complete a 42km circuit by joining the Koonung Trail and the Eastlink Trail back to your starting point.

Experience adventure at Wombat Bend. The massive adventure playground and maze provides adventures for the whole family. On the banks of the Yarra for that extra special day, it’s dog friendly with outdoor cooking facilities, a fitness station and so much more. And speaking of dog-friendly, your four-legged friend can join you on a lead in the outdoors at a range of parks across Manningham. Explore Banksia Park in Bulleen, Stiggants Reserve in Warrandyte, Ruffey Lake Park or Westerfolds Park in Templestowe. If you like to grab lunch and coffee before you experience our great outdoors, head to Warrandyte. The fenced Federation Playspace, celebrating Warrandyte's gold rush past with delightful gold train and trailer, a mineshaft (slide) and tunnels, is just a stone’s throw from the Yarra River and the Warrandyte Bakery – perfect for coffee and a pie!

Grab your coffee and follow the Yarra River through the Warrandyte River Reserve west towards Stiggants Reserve until Andersons Creek. The Yarra River is instantly relaxing and calming and there are colourful artworks to enjoy along the path. Dip your toes in the water, try your hand at fishing or grab a canoe and paddle down the river to Pound Bend Reserve and Warrandyte State Park for a truly unique experience.

Encounter Australian wildlife, with koalas, wombats and kangaroos amongst the mighty gum trees of Currawong Bush Reserve. Native flora in bloom, bright red bottle brushes, sunny yellow wattles, and so much more photogenic subjects for your keen eye. Landscapers, sculptors and artists have helped create a natural play space for kids to explore and immerse themselves in the outside world.

Offering 8 different walking trails, you can get out there, explore nature and take a moment to breathe in this escape from the hustle and bustle of city life in this oasis in the heart of the suburbs.

Explore the possibilities for outdoor adventure in Manningham.

Escape to nature itinerary highlights

• Mullum Mullum Trail
• Westerfolds Park
• Currawong Bush Park
• Federation Playspace

Start the day enthusiastically with a walk, run or ride of the 42km circuit starting at the new Mullum Mullum Stadium on Springvale Road, Donvale.

Follow the Mullum Mullum Trail north through stunning areas of the Mullum Mullum Valley – keep an eye out for abundant bird life, frogs in wetlands and even the occasional koala.

Soak up views, bushland and open parkland as the circuit crosses over the Yarra River into Westerfolds Park, follow the Main Yarra Trail and continue where the trail joins Koonung Creek Trail .

The final leg of your marathon heads north back to the Mullum Mullum Stadium where you can reward yourself with a coffee and bite to eat.

After more of an amble than a marathon? Currawong Bush Park is truly an oasis in the heart of the suburbs - a space for rest, relaxation and seeing nature in action.

Getting there early you will see the local grey kangaroos waking up, hear birds sing and other wildlife in this true bush setting.

Landscapers, sculptors and artists have helped create a natural play space for kids to explore and immerse themselves in the outside world.

Currawong Bush Park offers 8 different walking trails so you can get out there, explore nature and take a moment to breathe in this escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Wrap up the day by heading into the township of Warrandyte and soak up the tranquillity. Renowned for its gold mining origins and famous painters and potters, today the village abounds with galleries, craft shops, restaurants, coffee shops and historical places of interest.

Parking is available opposite the Grand Hotel, at Warrandyte River Reserve, Federation Playspace or behind the library off Webb Street.

The fenced Federation Playspace celebrates Warrandyte's gold rush past with delightful gold train and trailer, a mineshaft (slide) and tunnels. Just a stone’s throw from the Warrandyte Bakery – perfect for your mid-morning coffee and cake!

From here you can follow the Yarra River through the Warrandyte River Reserve west towards Stiggants Reserve until Andersons Creek. The Yarra River is instantly relaxing and calming and there are colourful artworks to enjoy along the path.

Dip your toes in the water, try your hand at fishing or grab a canoe and paddle down the river for a truly unique experience.

Dogs on lead are welcome and on the first Saturday of the month (except January) the Warrandyte Riverside Markets are held at Stiggants Reserve.

Grab a coffee, lunch or just explore the township before heading back home.

Explore Manningham

Encounter, experience and explore your Manningham.

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We love supporting vibrant diverse and events that benefits the community.

You’ve come to the right place if you’re considering hosting:

• festivals
• community events
• weddings
• corporate functions
• photography shoots
• commercial filming
• family days.

Holding a successful event requires careful and considerate planning. We work with event organisers to ensure events are safe and cause minimal disruptions. If you’re organising a public or private event in an outdoor public space, you may need our approval to do so.