LOCATIONS
- handy tips & hints

Great family fishing spots close to Melbourne
From: Peter D'Angelo

A fishing trip is sadly often overlooked as a family event, where even if someone doesn't want to fish all day long there are plenty of other things to keep you busy, and more importantly together as a group. I know many young people who started off being 'dragged along' on a fishing trip, and now can hardly be 'dragged away' from a fishing trip!

There are many great fishing locations which can offer fun for the kids, or for that matter a bit of relaxation for a parent. Playgrounds, BBQs, walking tracks, shops and plain old 'peace and quiet' are all avaliable. Overall, everyone gets out of the house for an inexpensive day in the fresh air, and can usually avoid the crowds in a number of spots within one hour's drive of Melbourne. Here are some of my suggestions, heading south/east of Melbourne:

River Fishing
Warburton is less than 60 minutes from Melbourne, and the Yarra River is very easily accessible from the highway in a number of locations. A great walking track runs along the river which provides heaps of fishing access, there are grassed park areas just out of the township with BBQ facilities, and the main street offers 'country style' shopping. Some sections of the river run very shallow over a pebbled bed, and are safe for kids to wade in. The drive to get there is also scenic, and there is a trout farm close by which might offer the unsuccessful river angler (particularly kids) an opportunity to take home a catch. Other similar locations along the Yarra are at Launching Place, about 40 minutes from Melbourne, and Westerfolds Park in Warrandyte, 30 minutes.

Lake Fishing
Again, a number of places with undercover picnic areas, playgrounds and grassed areas, walking tracks, etc. Both within 30 minutes of Melbourne, and stocked with trout, are the Rowville Lakes and Lilydale Lake.

Surf Fishing
When the weather suits, this is my favorite place to go (preferably with an older family, as the sea can be rough and dangerous). The surf beaches are long and fairly unpopulated, so a short walk can get you into a quiet location by yourselves. Even if you don't have surf fishing gear, you can either borrow some gear, or fish with medium size rods in close to shore with great success, as I have done. If you don't want to fish, you can walk, read a book, sunbake, sleep, or just relax to the sound of the surging waves. A good place to take the dog too, if council laws permit. Most beaches are within one hour of Melbourne, and will have good spots where the dunes and headland provide shelter. Favorite places include Kilcunda, which also offers rockfishing/rockhopping, and the Portsea backbeach.

All up, a fishing trip with the family can be cheap. For example, $10-20 of petrol, $10 of bait/tackle, a packed lunch, and bringing along your bikes, balls, books, can mean a full day trip for under $40, and hopefully a big meal of fish for dinner!

(23 May 2003)