Correction (10 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources between 9 October 2026 and 10 October 2026.
Free first: this page covers five places near Lower Plenty, one in Templestowe and four in Eltham. Three are parks, one is a wetland and one is the Eltham Library. None of the Parks Victoria, council or library pages we read mention an entry fee, but check the official page before you go.
Each entry gives a cost note, a time note, a way in and a wet-weather option where the sources support one. We checked every place against two independent sources, and where a hours line is not published we say so rather than guess.
The mini-itinerary is in the Quick answers at the bottom.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Parkland loop walk | Westerfolds Park | Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe |
| Playground and sculptures | Alistair Knox Park | 829 Main Road, Eltham |
| Indoor browsing and gallery | Eltham Library | Panther Place, Eltham |
| Creek-side trail walk | Barak Bushlands | Falkiner Street, Eltham |
| Wetland dog walk | Lenister Farm Wetlands | 60 Homestead Road, Eltham |
Westerfolds Park — Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe VIC 3106
Cost: Parks Victoria’s page lists no entry fee. Parks Victoria describes over 120 hectares of parkland for picnicking, cycling, walking and canoeing. It lists the Westerfolds Loop Track as 4.8km, a 1.5 hours circuit past the old manor, woodlands and native shrublands. The Westerfolds Ridge Picnic Area has electric barbecues, a picnic shelter, a picnic table, a playground and a toilet, and Parks Victoria says Eastern Grey Kangaroos are often seen in open grasslands.
Time needed: Parks Victoria gives the loop track as a 1.5 hours circuit, and says gates are open 6am to 6pm, extending to 9pm during daylight savings.
Alistair Knox Park — 829 Main Road, Eltham VIC 3095
Cost: the council page has no cost line, so all we can say is that it describes the park as open 24 hours a day and mentions no entry fee. Nillumbik Shire Council lists climbing equipment of various sizes, plus slides, rings, swings, bridges and rockers. Its features list also names a BMX track, picnic tables, shade areas, toilets and a BBQ. The council adds that several sculptures appear in the park, along with a section of the Heidelberg School Artist’s Trail.
Free first: the council says the park is open 24 hours a day, and the page we read mentions no entry fee.
Eltham Library — Panther Place, Eltham VIC 3095
Cost: the library page we read lists no charge to come in. The Yarra Plenty Regional Library page lists free Wi-Fi, a coworking space, a Community Gallery, Storytimes and reading dogs. It invites visitors to enjoy exhibitions by local artists in the gallery, and says its Storytimes are renowned and much loved by local families. The library lists opening hours of 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday.
Rain backup: this is the indoor option on the page, and we have not printed Saturday hours because the library’s list does not show them clearly.
Barak Bushlands — Falkiner Street, Eltham VIC 3095
Cost: the council page mentions no entry fee. Nillumbik Shire Council calls it a peaceful open space and bushland reserve with native vegetation, creek-side views and access to the Diamond Creek Trail. Its features list notes Aboriginal significance, a lake, river or wetland and a shared trail. We could not find opening hours on the council page, so we do not state any.
Plan it: the council says your dog must be on a leash within five metres of shared paths and in the reserve area, and points to its map for off leash and on leash areas.
Lenister Farm Wetlands — 60 Homestead Road, Eltham VIC 3095
Cost: the council page mentions no entry fee. That page is thin, giving the address at 60 Homestead Road and a features tag reading Lake or River. The council’s separate Eltham Lower Park page says dogs are permitted off leash at Lenister Farm. We found no published opening hours for the wetlands, so none are stated here.
Get there: the council lists the address as 60 Homestead Road, Eltham, and no hours, so check its page before you set out.
Quick answers
What are the free things to do near Lower Plenty?
This page lists Westerfolds Park in Templestowe, plus Alistair Knox Park, Eltham Library, Barak Bushlands and Lenister Farm Wetlands in Eltham. None of the official pages we read mention an entry fee. For a simple plan, walk the loop track at Westerfolds Park, then head to Alistair Knox Park for the playground, and keep the Eltham Library as the indoor backup.
Which of these places are open 24 hours?
Nillumbik Shire Council says Alistair Knox Park is open 24 hours a day. Parks Victoria says Westerfolds Park gates are open 6am to 6pm, extending to 9pm during daylight savings, with a 24-hour car park and pedestrian access off Fitzsimons Lane. We found no published hours for Barak Bushlands or Lenister Farm Wetlands.
Can I bring my dog to these parks?
Rules differ. Parks Victoria says dogs at Westerfolds Park must be kept on a leash at all times. Nillumbik Shire Council says dogs at Alistair Knox Park must be on a leash except where signed, and not within five metres of a playground or BBQ. For Barak Bushlands the council says to check its map for off leash and on leash areas, and its Eltham Lower Park page says dogs are permitted off leash at Lenister Farm.
What is good for kids or a wet day?
For kids, Parks Victoria mentions an adventure playground in the Westerfolds Ridge Picnic Area, and the council lists slides, swings and climbing equipment at Alistair Knox Park. For a wet day, Eltham Library lists Storytimes, a Community Gallery and free Wi-Fi indoors, with weekday hours of 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Thursday on its own page.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources between 9 October 2026 and 10 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, government pages and council pages. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page before you go.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Westerfolds Park: openstreetmap.org/156129701, parks.vic.gov.au/westerfolds-park, parks.vic.gov.au/yarra-valley-parklands
- Alistair Knox Park: openstreetmap.org/1264438210, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Alistair-Knox-Park
- Eltham Library: yprl.vic.gov.au/eltham-library, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Libraries
- Barak Bushlands: openstreetmap.org/17372071, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Barak-Bushlands
- Lenister Farm Wetlands: openstreetmap.org/28242377, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Lenister-Farm-Wetlands, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Eltham-Lower-Park
