Correction (4 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 on 4 October 2026.
This page answers one question: which parks in and around Richmond are worth the trip, and what do the official pages say is there? It covers six places. Four are in Richmond, one is in Burnley and Yarra Bend Park is in Fairfield.
Facilities come from Yarra City Council and Parks Victoria pages, and each entry says whose listing a fact is from. We have not published walking distances or grades, because the pages we checked do not give them.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Garden beds and shady lawns | Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Park | Coppin St, Richmond |
| Riverside reserve with a playground | Annettes Place | 5-11 River St, Richmond |
| Sculpture trail on an island | Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park | Herring Island, Yarra River, Richmond |
| Sports oval and barbecue area | Burnley Park | 150 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond |
| Bushland trails and walks | Yarra Bend Park | Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield |
| Mature trees and a rotunda | Golden Square Bicentennial Park | Madden Grove, Burnley |
Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Park — Coppin St, Richmond VIC 3121
The council describes Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Park as a small park in Richmond with ornamental garden beds, shady lawns and specimen trees. Its facility list shows a dog off-leash area and a drinking fountain. It reads as a garden stop rather than a sports park.
Water and toilets: the council lists a drinking fountain; we could not find a toilet on its facility list.
Annettes Place — 5-11 River St, Richmond VIC 3121
Annettes Place is a small reserve along the Yarra River, the council says, and it provides access to the Main Yarra Trail. The council lists a playground, picnic area, seating, tables and chairs, and a dog off-leash area, and calls it a great spot for family picnics.
Start at: the council prints the address as River St, Richmond; from there it describes access to the Main Yarra Trail.
Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park — Herring Island, Yarra River, Richmond VIC 3121
Herring Island is a small 3.2ha artificial island on the Birrarung, and Parks Victoria lists nine environmental sculptures along the Herring Island Sculpture Trail and a grassy picnic area with free electric barbecues. Drinking fountains, picnic shelters and nearby toilet facilities are provided, per Parks Victoria. Parks Victoria places the island in South Yarra, while the council lists it as Richmond.
Weather call: the free punt is a seasonal weekend and public holiday service from January until Easter per Parks Victoria, so outside that window you need another way across; check its page and the Bureau forecast first.
Burnley Park — 150 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond VIC 3121
The council says Burnley Park covers more than six hectares, overlooks the Yarra River and is close to Bridge Road and Swan Street. Its facility list runs from barbecue and basketball court to playground, soccer ground, sports oval and a dog off-leash area. The council also mentions a formal barbeque area and a sporting oval with a pavilion.
Water and toilets: the council lists public toilets; we could not find a drinking fountain on its facility list.
Yarra Bend Park — Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield VIC 3078
Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne’s largest natural bushland park, according to Parks Victoria, whose page lists the Dights Falls Walk, trails for strolling or biking, picnics and a round of golf. The council’s facility list shows barbecue, car parking, picnic area, playground and public toilets.
Distance / grade / surface: Parks Victoria names the Dights Falls Walk, but we could not find its distance, grade or surface in the text we checked, so open the official walk page.
Golden Square Bicentennial Park — Madden Grove, Burnley VIC 3121
The council calls Golden Square Bicentennial Park a small reserve in the Golden Square precinct in Richmond, with mature trees and expansive lawns. Its facility list shows barbecue, dog off-leash area, drinking fountain, picnic area, playground, and tables and chairs. The council’s photos also show picnic tables and a rotunda.
Start at: Madden Grove in Burnley is the address the council prints. It also says dogs must be kept on-leash within ten metres of playground areas, and barbecue and picnic facilities.
Quick answers
Which Richmond parks have dog off-leash areas?
The council lists a dog off-leash area at Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Park, Annettes Place, Burnley Park and Golden Square Bicentennial Park. Parks Victoria says Yarra Bend Park has popular off lead areas including Westfield and Deep Rock, with on-lead walking around much of the park. Rules differ by park, so read each official page before you go.
Which parks near Richmond have a playground?
The council lists a playground at Annettes Place, Burnley Park and Golden Square Bicentennial Park. Its facility list for Yarra Bend Park also shows a playground.
Where can I find a barbecue in a Richmond park?
The council lists a barbecue at Burnley Park, Golden Square Bicentennial Park and Yarra Bend Park. Parks Victoria says Herring Island has a grassy picnic area with free electric barbecues, though the island’s free punt only runs in a seasonal window.
Which Richmond parks list toilets or drinking fountains?
The council lists public toilets at Burnley Park and Yarra Bend Park, and a drinking fountain at Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Park and Golden Square Bicentennial Park. Parks Victoria says Herring Island has drinking fountains, picnic shelters and nearby toilet facilities. Facilities change, so check the official page first.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, council pages and government pages. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page before you go. The photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of place, not the places on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Park: openstreetmap.org/33117835, yarracity.vic.gov.au/dame-nellie-melba-memorial-park
- Annettes Place: openstreetmap.org/220549962, yarracity.vic.gov.au/annettes-place
- Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park: openstreetmap.org/49458524, yarracity.vic.gov.au/herring-island, parks.vic.gov.au/herring-island-environmental-sculpture
- Burnley Park: openstreetmap.org/27630008, yarracity.vic.gov.au/burnley-park
- Yarra Bend Park: openstreetmap.org/9278415, yarracity.vic.gov.au/yarra-bend-park, parks.vic.gov.au/yarra-bend-park
- Golden Square Bicentennial Park: openstreetmap.org/31440747, yarracity.vic.gov.au/golden-square-bicentennial-park
