20 top spots for family barbecues in the Victorian Goldfields

Picnics and playgrounds are a great way to spend the afternoon with the family! There are many places throughout the Victorian Goldfields which feature excellent play spaces and barbecue facilities. Take a look through the following list to find twenty of the region's top spots for family barbecues.

Bakery Park in Amphitheatre is a fantastic spot to bring the family for a picnic/barbecue due to the excellent undercover picnic area, playground and fences. A huge peppercorn tree stands between the barbecue area and the playground which offers heaps of shade and is perfect for kids to climb. Read more...

The Axedale Park is a well equipped recreation area which features a playground, skate park and undercover picnic/barbecue facilities. Axedale is a beautiful little town to visit and is located just twenty minutes out of Bendigo. Read more...

This beautiful playground is tucked away on Francis Street behind Maldon's Visitor Information Centre. The playground has lots of great equipment and is bordered by gardens and undercover areas. An undercover picnic area with free electric barbecues makes this a fantastic spot to bring the family for a picnic while the kids play. Read more...

The Eureka Stockade Memorial Gardens commemorate one of Australia's most defining historical events - the Eureka Stockade Rebellion of December 3, 1854. The park is extensive and has many excellent features including a musical playground, fantastic barbecue and picnic facilities, sweeping green lawns, and a scenic lake and walking track. The beautiful gardens are also home to the Eureka Centre (formerly known as the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka), where the iconic Eureka Flag can be viewed, as well as a cafe. Read more...

Toll Bar Park is a well equipped picnic and play area in Lexton. The park boasts a playground, undercover fenced toddler play space, undercover electric barbecues and picnic tables, ball court, toilets, historical relics and information signs. Read more... 

This brilliant community space in Daylesford, VIC is a fantastic place to bring the family for a barbecue, play and skate. With sunny lawns and shaded playground equipment, you can relax in the undercover barbecue area while the kids have fun. A beautifully landscaped nature play area features a sandpit, log steps, narrow walking tracks and a chalk board. Read more...

This beautiful hilltop park in Creswick, Victoria features a scenic lake, walking tracks, playground, picnic/barbecue areas, and extensive outdoor court facilities. A shady, grassed area at the entrance to the park features a historic rotunda, wood fire barbecues and a toilet block. Further into the park, alongside the tennis courts, lies a fantastic playground and picnic area with undercover electric barbecues. Read more...

Big Tree Park in Guildford is home to a spectacular ancient River Red Gum thought to be somewhere between 500 to 1,000 years old. This impressive giant stands across the road from the park, which features a playground, undercover barbecue area, picnic tables, tennis courts with basketball hoops, a toilet block, information signs and rubbish bins. Read more...

Green Hill Lake is located 4km east of Ararat and is a fantastic free area for recreation, camping, fishing, boating, swimming, barbecues and bushwalking. When you first enter the Green Hill Lake Recreation Area the lake lies directly ahead with some basic undercover areas and picnic tables. Keep following the road around to the right and you will come up to a large gravel parking area with a fantastic playground, undercover barbecue area and boat ramp. The playground overlooks the water and is under cover. Green Hill Lake also offers a great campground. Read more...

The Stuart Mill Community Recreation Reserve is a great spot within picturesque Stuart Mill - a former gold rush town located along the Sunraysia Highway between Avoca and St Arnaud. The reserve is very well maintained and features a large oval, playground, free undercover electric barbecue, picnic tables, beautiful gardens, and interesting statues. A notable feature of this beautiful park during spring time is the gorgeous assortment of flowers and blossom trees growing in and around the reserve. Read more...

The Tarnagulla Soldiers' Memorial Park is a fantastic place to bring the family. It features a large undercover barbecue area with free electric barbecue, picnic tables, toilets, beautiful trees and grassy area, a playground with a shade sail, war memorial and cannon, kangaroo chair and giant checkerboard on the ground. Read more...

The Orme Snowden Reserve is a great playground and barbecue area in Bealiba. The park has a basic fence surrounding the whole area with a safety gate, making this a fantastic place to bring small children to play while you are cooking up a barbecue. There's a free electric barbecue set in a large bench in the undercover area, along with a picnic table, a rubbish bin and a water tank with a tap. Read more...

The Lions Club Park in Avoca is located on the bank of the Avoca River and is a great spot for camping, barbecues and picnics. Beside the playground is a large gazebo with an electric barbecue, two picnic tables, and a water tap on the side. Bring the family along for a barbecue and a play, then take a scenic stroll along the Avoca River Nature Trail. Read more...

Gordon Gardens is a fantastic, family friendly spot to spend an afternoon. The large playground area is completely fenced and has safety gates plus park benches, which makes this an ideal spot to bring little kids. The park has two excellent undercover barbecue area with free electric barbecues. One barbecue area (close to the playground) has wind blocks, picnic tables and rubbish bins. The other barbecue area, over the other side of the park, has plenty of seating and lots of space. Read more...

This spectacular park features several free electric barbecues, picnic tables, a gazebo, a giant hillside slide, mineral spring taps, swimming spots, a few great trees for climbing, scenic walks, a miniature railway within a fenced area (great for little kids), toilets and plenty of educational signs. Read more...

16. Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve, Blackwood VIC


Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve, Blackwood VIC

Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve is a gorgeous park, picnic and play area which runs alongside the beautiful Lerderderg River. Sample some mineral water, take a walk across the foot bridge to enjoy views down the creek, or head off on one of the longer walking tracks. Be sure to keep an eye out for the resident Kookaburras! Read more...


17. Lake Weeroona, Bendigo VIC


Lake Weeroona, Bendigo VIC

Lake Weeroona is a beautiful ornamental lake surrounded by parkland in Bendigo, Victoria. Sweeping lawns sprawl along the waters edge with plenty of shady space for rest and recreation. Multiple undercover barbecue and picnic areas are located along Napier Street, along with a fantastic fenced adventure playground, toilets and information signs. Read more...


18. Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve, Taradale VIC


Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve, Taradale VIC

The Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve is a fantastic public space which features a creatively designed wooden playground, a mineral spring tap, beautiful scenery along Back Creek, many walking tracks to choose from, and an undercover barbecue area complete with open fire place. Read more...


19. Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, Malmsbury VIC


Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, Malmsbury VIC

Featuring a beautiful lake, walking tracks, informative signs, a fenced playground, and excellent picnic facilities, the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens is an outstanding attraction of the historical township. The Coliban River runs along the western side of the gardens, and the impressive Malmsbury Viaduct stands to the south. The viaduct was constructed in 1859 and is one of the largest 19th century engineering structures erected in Victoria. Read more...


20. Stanley Park Waterfall, Mount Macedon VIC


Stanley Park Waterfall, Mount Macedon VIC

This beautiful little waterfall is tucked away within the Stanley Park Bushland Reserve in Mount Macedon. Turitable Creek runs through the reserve and cascades down over a rocky ledge into a little gully filled with ferns and lush vegetation. Stanley Park also features excellent play equipment and picnic facilities. The playground is located right alongside the undercover barbecue area, and there is a toilet block a short walk over the bridge on the other side of Turitable Creek. Picnic tables are scattered around the park and walking tracks take you on scenic strolls throughout the reserve. Read more...

What's your favourite barbecue spot in the Victorian Goldfields? Let us know in the comments below.