The Great Outdoors

Making up part of Verdant Hill’s extensive open reserves and public spaces, the peaceful neighbourhood parks have been designed so that residents can easily enjoy moments away from the busy everyday life. And they’re located to ensure that there’s a pocket park just a short stroll from every home.

Each with their own character and design – but all inspired by the beauty of nature – the parks make the perfect setting for picnics with family, a calming space for yoga and meditation, and a place to read in the sunshine, chat with friends, exercise or simply unwind.

One of the creekside pocket parks will retain a more natural ambience in keeping with its location and setting, while others will feature a more landscaped feel. Throughout Verdant Hill’s various green spaces, residents will find unique playgrounds to keep young hearts healthy and young minds active, as well as quirky cubby houses, a hoops court, exercise equipment, shelters, barbecue facilities, bike racks, drinking fountains and, of course, lawn areas, shade trees and beautifully tended garden beds.

Of the five parks, the three largest are fringed by the creek reserve with the meandering waterway forming a soothing backdrop to the parks’ grassy slopes. The fourth and fifth are like hidden gems to be discovered at the end of residential streets, making them the ideal destination for a quick stroll in the fresh air.

In total, Verdant Hills boasts open space covering an area equal to almost 30 Melbourne Cricket Grounds – including wetlands, creekside reserves, the vast, central Greenway, and of course the intimate pocket parks themselves.

Some would astound their friends with tricks and dares, others by sheer speed either on the flat or careering downhill trusting their instincts and skill. They were the times when parents trusted us to come home with never anything more than a scuffed knee or a harmless bruise. Thanks to our bikes, we learned the joys of exploration, the responsibility of rules, and respect for others. And thanks to Verdant Hill’s array of cycling opportunities, those times have returned, just in time for our children.

With safe, modern bike paths not only circling the entire area of Verdant Hill but also criss-crossing it, kids and grown-ups can ride in the fresh air, away from busy traffic.

As well as bike lanes on key roads, 7.5 kilometres of carefully created shared and dedicated bike paths trail like ribbons along the open space of the Greenway, hug the contours of the tranquil creek-side reserve, and pass by the parks and sporting precinct.

For those who prefer to stay on the smooth, flat bitumen, it’s easy to ride a complete circuit of Verdant Hill, stopping by the creek for snack, at the ovals to watch some sport, or one of the public parks to rest the legs a while. And of course, there’s the magnificent Greenway, providing almost 2 kilometres of open, traffic-free cycling.

For convenience and security, pocket parks dotted around the address will have bike racks, giving cyclists the chance to hop out of the saddle and go for a stroll, or just lie in the sun, not to mention do their bit for the environment by cycling to the planned town centre adjacent to Verdant Hill.

Viewing platforms allow curious minds to take a closer look at the natural environment while educational signage along the creekline will help explain the heritage of the site and the importance of a healthy and diverse environment to our modern life. And for those who just wish to sit and take in the ever-changing beauty, park benches provide the perfect spot to soak up the sights and sounds of the waterways' wildlife.

Covering a significant proportion of the overall address, the wetlands and creek reserve are the result of a careful and concerted effort to rejuvenate the long-neglected natural watercourse, remnant grasslands and historic dry-stone walls. Combined, they transform into a soothing natural centrepiece of the address that's perfect for inspiring young imaginations and encouraging a true sense of adventure.

A kilometre from the wetlands, the easy-to-follow path along the seasonal creek brings urban explorers to Verdant Hill’s heritage precinct. Here the relics of a bygone farming era can still be clearly seen. The ruins of the original farmhouse provide a glimpse into the life of the local pioneers, with the chimney and bluestone walls of the century-old home standing watch over former orchards and gardens.

Whichever way you turn at Verdant Hill, there is something for residents of all ages to explore and discover.

Whether you’re a keen sportsperson eager for some rigorous competition, a fitness buff who loves any excuse to get the pulse racing, or you just prefer to take things a bit easier with a daily stroll or bike ride, Verdant Hill has what you need.

For passionate cricketers, footballers, tennis players and the like, the magnificent sports precinct is calling. Along with the two full-sized sports fields and multi-use hardcourts that are planned for the area, a superb purpose-built community sports pavilion is also on the drawing board, complete with changerooms, clubs’ area, bike racks, drinking fountains and more, making it ideal for local and visiting sports teams and their supporters.

If more frequent, self-motivated fitness is more your style, cycling tracks and running paths weave their way throughout the parklands and open spaces, with a specially designed outdoor exercise zone to mix up the routine, and drink stations located throughout Verdant Hill to keep up the hydration. For many avid joggers, the running track along the two-kilometre Greenway will be a favourite destination, while for those with more of a cross-country focus, the pathways along the creek line will be the ideal stretch as it takes in the natural surroundings of the rejuvenated waterway and its picturesque dry-stone walls and preserved grasslands.

Of course, Verdant Hill is not just for athletes. It’s widely acknowledged that just 30 minutes of exercise a day is enough to enjoy better health, and walking would have to be the most accessible and convenient form of exercise for most. There’s no need for special equipment or clothing, it can be done solo or in a group, and it can even be enjoyed with our four-legged friends – and Verdant Hill’s paths and trails make it safe, easy and relaxing.

In all, this remarkable address combines the best of comfort, natural beauty, convenience and a healthy lifestyle.