Yarra Bend Park

Yarra Bend Park is a large natural bushland park on the Yarra River about 4 km northeast of central Melbourne, spanning Kew, Fairfield and Abbotsford in the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra. Managed by Parks Victoria, it is the largest area of natural bushland close to the city centre. Notable for its river gorge, open woodlands, picnic areas, walking and cycling trails, and a significant grey-headed flying-fox colony.

Visitors can expect an extensive urban bushland setting along a bend of the Yarra River with steep river escarpments, eucalypt woodland, grassy picnic areas and formal lookouts. The park contains sealed and unsealed walking and cycling trails including the Main Yarra Trail, the Studley Park Boathouse for boat hire and cafe, Dights Falls at the northern end, a public golf course, ovals, playgrounds, barbecues and birdwatching opportunities, particularly around the flying-fox colony at Bellbird Picnic Area.

Reserved in 1877 and formally gazetted as a national park in 1929, Yarra Bend Park is one of Victoria's earliest parks. The area includes the former site of the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum established in 1848, the first large institution of its kind in Victoria, and retains historic features such as the Studley Park Boathouse dating from 1863.

The park lies on the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, for whom the Yarra River (Birrarung) holds cultural importance. Today it is valued as a major inner-city natural and recreational reserve for community gatherings, outdoor recreation and nature appreciation.