Coburg Lake Reserve is a city oasis not ten minutes drive of the CBD. I didn't even know such a…read morehaven existed until the start of this year. With two kids and a need to free my mind with fresh air whilst they play, there simply is no better place than here. Three playgrounds with every thing a kid could want to play with, and good walking distance between all three so mummy gets the refreshment she needs! Wildlife is a plenty off the shore of the lake and it's delightful to see the hoards of families with their bright, colourful blankets out picnicking on sunny weekends, kids squealing with a mix of joy and fear as they throw bread to the energetic and sometimes intimidating ducks and swans. I love it for all the walking tracks, each one ultimately leading to some monument or imposing statue, playground or viewing platform. The tranquility of watching the streams of the lake, listening to the water amidst the parklands brings such serenity. History abounds with bluestone hedging along some of the trails. Complete with amphitheatre and lake side gazebo, huge free BBQ facilities, plenty of seating including wooden, patio like seats with direct frontage overlooking the lake, and shaded areas; to me it's magical, heaven within a tram ride away to the city.

Finally there is a break in the weather and I can go for a bicycle ride around the Coburg Lake…read moreReserve. This former quarry for the bluestone granite that built the old Pentridge Prison was made into a lake with extensive parkland around it about a hundred years ago. There is so much in this large park with lots of lawns and trees. On my ride I pass a few sculptures in the park, a couple of playgrounds (one with the largest twister game board in the world), BBQs, picnic tables, a band stand, bicycle trails, seats, picnic tables and of course, a couple of toilet blocks. I stop and rest at a new beautifully designed lookout point with a view over the valley. I rode around the lake. There are ducks and a swan and cygnets on the lake and on the lawns a couple of galahs are foraging for food. And there are many people, like myself, picnicking the park and the good weather but the park is so large that it doesn't feel crowded, except right down by the lake. I leave the park and follow the bicycle trail south along the Merri Creek but that's another story.

A must see if no car get bus from Seymour station drops you right at the lake at Black Caviar…read morestatue! Then walk 200m to public toilets, pub or bakery a great town to visit connect with train or later bus to Shepparton or back to Seymour!

I'm not really all that sure whether I can consider this place to be a Melbourne institution…read moreconsidering that it is a park, and I'm not sure whether you can consider parks institutions in the same way that you can consider pubs to be institutions. Still, this part certainly does have a reputation, not only because it is big, and that it has a rather large lake in the middle of it, but for four days every year they block it off just so that a bunch of cars can go for a pleasant drive around the said lake why making so much noise that you can hear it from the other side of the city, and a bunch of people come from all over the world to sit in stands and to basically wave flags while watching the said cars drive aorund the lake. Still, it is a delightful place to spend some time, and there are lots of things to do here, and lots of picnic grounds as well, and a number of sporting places, including a golf course, driving range and numerous ovals. Actually, they have a huge sporting complex here in fact. Yeah, I do rather like this place, and if you are keen for a challenge, try running around the lake.

What a peaceful place to visit and do your jogging and / or walking!…read more I really enjoyed the calmness of the location despite sporting events happening all around us. The ducks and other fowl were all over - just loved the place!