Exploring Melbourne’s Suburbs: Maroondah Attractions

The City of Maroondah is a local government region in Victoria, tucked neatly in the eastern suburban region of Melbourne. It was created in 1994 through the amalgamation of the former cities of Croydon and Ringwood, and currently has a population of 112,310. Suburbs located in the city include Croydon Hills, Croydon South, Croydon North, Ringwood North, Ringwood East, Heathmont, Bayswater North and parts of Park Orchards and Vermont. If you are planning for a visit to this beautiful township anytime soon, make sure to book Melbourne bus hire for a convenient ride.

1. About The City Of Maroondah

Spread across an area of 61.4 square kilometres, Maroondah is named after an indigenous word meaning ‘leaf’, which signifies the green environment of the city. The early settlers of the region, which is now known as Croydon, used the space for grazing cattle in the late 1840s. The area was initially known as White Flats, due to the White Top coarse grass that grew there.

In the late 19th century, the original Ringwood village emerged, following the sale of land for brick making and fruit growing activities. After the construction of the Railway from Lilydale to Hawthorn through Ringwood, the township facilities were consolidated, with a good number of banks, schools and churches to accommodate the growing population. In 1960, during the post-war period, Ringwood earned formal recognition as an active part of wider metropolis region, which eventually gave rise to its declaration as a city. Later in 1994, Croydon and Ringwood were merged together to form the city of Maroondah.

For a place that has had a rich history over a period of decades, there is much to explore this iconic place, with plenty of things to do. Let us discover a few of these!

2. Arts And Culture In Maroondah

Boasting of a wide range of community and art facilities across the city, Maroondah has got to offer some of the best cultural and artistic programs in Victoria. One of the notable venues is the Maroondah Federation Estate, featuring a Sensory Time Trail, tree sculptures and landscaped gardens, along with a courtyard capturing the footsteps of federation. Bring all your senses into play at the ‘Amazing Space’, featuring innovative and exciting equipment.

The Karralyka Centre is another premium destination with a fully equipped theatre, accountable for hosting a range of exhibition programs and community performances. And if you are looking for some locally crafted artworks, head towards the magnificent historical estate of the Wyreena Community Arts Centre set within 4 acres of beautiful gardens.

3. Ringwood Lake Park

Located next to the Belgrave Railway Line at the corner of Mt Dandenong Road and Maroondah Highway, the Ringwood Lake Park stretches over a shoreline of 1 km and an area of 1 hectare in size. It was created in 1926, by damming the Sandy creek, which was once a muddy area with fallen grasses and logs.

Over the years, the features of the park have been developed by the local community, not only to provide recreational opportunities, but also alternative habitat for wildlife. The spot is currently used for picnic and social gatherings, with plenty of sightseeing, bushwalking, bike riding, fishing, yabbying, photography and birdwatching opportunities.

4. Aquanation

Aquanation is an ideal place for friends and family outing, with plenty of features to pounce upon. It has got everything covered for people of all ages and abilities. Some of the key highlights include:

• Warm Water Pool
• Exciting waterslides
• Splash Play for kids
• Lap Swimming
• Group fitness classes

Along with the 10-lane pool, there is a dedicated learn-to-swim pool and leisure play pool for children. The waterslides can be accessed through the stairs, with its exit in the splash deck. The innovative twin booms take care of water space requirements for diving, lap swimming, water polo, swimming carnivals, club training and other activities. The best part here is the dry diving facilities, which cater for an effective training program, with an opportunity to learn diving in a controlled environment.

5. Skating

The Maroondah City Council offers amazing facilities for BMX riders, roller-bladers and skaters. For all sorts of skill levels and preferences, the city has got you covered whether its kickflipping, tail-whipping or grinding stuff.

Croydon Y Space located at the Croydon Park, a few minutes of walk from the station is an ideal place to hit the skates. It incorporates an open bowl with mini ramps and a series of street skate elements made of concrete. The centre also has a multi-use court, permanent ping pong table and a small stage area. Come along with your group of skaters, and glide past the wheels, as you set yourself up for some thrilling stunts along the way.

6. Exploring Maroondah Bushland

Home to an exotic collection of bushland reserves, Maroondah provides its visitors a unique bushwalking experience with lots to explore. Scan through the wetlands, wildlife and wildflowers, as you come across some of the threatened and rare plant species existing on the planet. The entire bushland region is divided into three layers – over-storey, mid-storey and under-storey. Containing a mix of small trees, mosses, fungi, lichens, shrubs, grasses and herbs, the under-storey vegetation is the most diverse layer of all, although the other two also play an important role in the environment.

Being a significant part of the city’s bushland reserves, the under-storey vegetation is often ignored, resulting in loss of local fauna and irreversible degradation. The area has been set aside to retain native vegetation and provide shelter for the regional wildlife, since large portions of areas have been cleared for urban developments. BBQ facilities are available nearby, along with a playground and walking track.

Choose Melbourne Bus Hire For Travelling In A Group

Nothing can be worse than messy travelling, especially when you are out there in a mood to enjoy with your group of friends. Under such a condition, the best thing to do is to avail bus hire in Melbourne for an organized way of travelling to visit Maroondah attractions.