NATURE is all around us and can provide great, accessible and inexpensive day trip destinations over the holidays.<\/p>\n
Parks Victoria\u2019s Siobhan Rogan said the natural landscape of gardens, parks, forests and reserves can offer plenty of things to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are plenty of different activities you can do depending on what you feel comfortable in so long as it\u2019s done safely,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeyond just walking, people can take a horse or dog to spaces where they\u2019re welcome\u2026 people have a particular fondness for their animals so it\u2019s a great way to spend time with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBike rides, even if they\u2019re regular bikes, mountain or trail bikes are also ideal because many parks do connect to other spaces that allow those trails to continue a great length.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s lots of opportunities to tick off a bit of a bucket list of things to do and see and feel a sense of achievement at having done that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Rogan said there are many benefits to visiting the state\u2019s natural resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been so many studies about actually allowing ourselves to take in the environment, and how that helps our physiology and our mental space,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s the physical activity side of it but many people say to us they\u2019ve gone on a walk out there and they\u2019ve heard the wind, felt the rustle of the trees and have just been chuffed at the experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cNature really is good for our health. Even socially when walking the dog, it\u2019s a great talking point to meet new people and engage with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond being a space for other activities like rock-climbing, barbecues, four-wheel driving, many natural reserves are also equipped with installations for those looking to learn something new on their trip.<\/p>\n
Ms Rogan said between signage, groups and QR codes, parks can now double as outdoor education sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn most places there\u2019s interpretative panels and signage about what you can see and the sorts of experiences that are there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, we can describe the walk as well as the sorts of plants and animals that might be on the way and how to take care of the bush when you\u2019re travelling through it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are also booklets usually created by nature groups on the types of species often with links to websites so people can really endeavour to learn and understand even more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the best opportunity is walking with a person or group who really knows the place with an interpretative walk or tour.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NATURE is all around us and can provide great, accessible and inexpensive day trip destinations over the holidays. Parks Victoria\u2019s Siobhan Rogan said the natural landscape of gardens, parks, forests and reserves can offer plenty of things to do. \u201cThere are plenty of different activities you can do depending on what you feel comfortable in […]<\/p>\n