Long Forest blends rare mallee woodlands, quiet picnic spots, bush trails and handy services—ideal for calm, meaningful community participation and short, structured outings:

• Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve — unique Bull Mallee habitat south of the Divide; signed walking tracks for short, sensory-friendly nature walks (carry water; no dogs). Parks Victoria+1

• Happy Valley/Long Forest trailheads — simple picnic nooks and access points into the reserve for brief, planned outings. Welcome to Moorabool

• Merrimu Reservoir Picnic Area (Coimadai) — quiet water views with picnic facilities; check current opening hours. srw.com.au

• Melton Botanic Garden (nearby Melton) — lakeside paths, BBQs and dry-climate plant collections maintained by the Friends group—great for gentle, structured visits. melton.vic.gov.aufmbg.org.au

• Toolern Creek Regional Park & Trail (Melton corridor) — shared paths, revegetation and new links improving easy, graded walking options. Explore Outdoors

• Werribee Gorge State Park (Pentland Hills/Myrniong) — short riverside walks from Meikles Point with big views; choose easy sections. Parks Victoria

• Lerderderg State Park – MacKenzies Flat access — shaded picnic area with gentle river strolls close to Bacchus Marsh. Parks Victoria

• Bacchus Marsh Visitor Information Centre (Lerderderg Library, Main St) — friendly hub for maps, local tips and event info. Moorabool Shire Council

• Transport hub: Bacchus Marsh Station (V/Line) — staffed regional rail for supervised travel training and purposeful trips; Melton line upgrades will boost capacity. V/Lineinvestment.infrastructure.gov.au

Local schools we often liaise with — Coimadai Primary School, Pentland Primary School (Darley); for secondary, Bacchus Marsh College and Melton Secondary College. coimadaips.vic.edu.aupentlandps.vic.edu.aubmsc.vic.edu.aumeltonsc.vic.edu.au

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• Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve mallee woodland — Rocky mallee and signed walking track in Long Forest. Parks Victoria

• Happy Valley trailhead, Long Forest — Picnic tables and reserve entry signage at a Long Forest access point. Welcome to Moorabool

• Coimadai Creek/Long Forest track — Quiet bush path suitable for short, structured nature walks. Parks Victoria

• Merrimu Reservoir Picnic Area (Coimadai) — Sheltered picnic spot overlooking Merrimu Reservoir near Long Forest. srw.com.au

• Melton Botanic Garden lake loop — Shared path and lakeside plantings a short drive from Long Forest. melton.vic.gov.au

• Werribee Gorge (Meikles Point area) — River-and-cliff views from an easy riverside section near Long Forest. Parks Victoria

• Lerderderg State Park – MacKenzies Flat — Riverbank picnic lawns and gentle access beside the Lerderderg River. Parks Victoria

• Long Forest schools collage — Entrances for Coimadai Primary, Pentland Primary, Bacchus Marsh College and Melton Secondary College. coimadaips.vic.edu.aupentlandps.vic.edu.aubmsc.vic.edu.aumeltonsc.vic.edu.au