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 5 October 2026 and 9 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
This page lists five weekend options in and around Wollert: one in Mernda, one in Yan Yean, one in Mill Park and two in Epping. They run from pub live music and a golf-course breakfast to a pool, an indoor play cafe and a wetland walk.
Each place was checked against at least two independent sources, and prices are shown only where they were printed. Where a venue does not publish weekend hours, this page says so, so check before you head out.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday live music, kids meals | Bridge Inn Hotel | Kids meals including a drink and dessert | $10 |
| Weekend breakfast, driving range | Growling Frog Golf Course | Daily green fee, Adult, 18 Holes | $69 |
| Swim or gym session | Mill Park Leisure | Casual Swim Fees: Adult (16 years and over), Casual Entry | $8.25 |
| Indoor play and coffee | Ark Play Cafe | see below | not printed here |
| Wetland walk, dog area | Lyndarum Wetland | see below | not printed here |
Bridge Inn Hotel — 1425 Plenty Road, Mernda VIC 3754
Bridge Inn Hotel is in Mernda, and its site says that every Friday night it has local entertainment, naming artists such as Gary Eastwood and Joel Quinn. That is a general statement rather than a dated gig list, so check who is playing. The site’s lounge area lists a huge kids playground, and the kids meals including a drink and dessert are $10. The general opening hours block on its site lists Thu - Sat as 10:00am - 3:00am, and bistro and lounge hours are listed as subject to change.
On the menu (copied from thebridgeinnhotel.com.au/bar on 5 October 2026):
- Kids meals including a drink and dessert: $10
Get there: Bridge Inn Hotel’s site places it at the intersection of Bridge Inn and Plenty Roads in Mernda, so check the PTV planner for your trip.
Growling Frog Golf Course — 1910 Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean VIC 3755
Growling Frog’s site says it is set on 280 acres of bush and wetland, and that its restaurant is not strictly exclusive to golfers, with visitors more than welcome. The site lists a Breakfast Menu of 8am – 11:30am, weekends only. The driving range is listed as open seven days a week, with last balls sold 30 minutes before close, and the range prices 35 balls at $10.50. For a round, the green fees page lists an adult daily fee of $69 for 18 holes and $48 for nine holes.
Listed prices (copied from growlingfroggolf.com.au/green-fees on 9 October 2026):
- Daily green fee, Adult, 18 Holes: $69
- Daily green fee, Adult, 9 Holes: $48
- Daily green fee, Juniors (under 21), 18 Holes: $45
- GPS Carts, 18 Holes: $56
Time needed: The site gives no round length. It prints the weekends-only breakfast menu of 8am – 11:30am and the range rule of last balls sold 30 minutes before close.
Mill Park Leisure — 33 Morang Drive, Mill Park VIC 3082
Mill Park Leisure is listed on the council’s swimming pools and leisure centres page, and the council describes an 8 lane, 25m pool. The fee page lists adult casual swim entry at $8.25, a child (3 – 15 years old) at $6.45 and a family of two adults and two children at $21.20. For the gym, it lists casual gym adult at $23.20. Its hours page prints Monday to Thursday as 6:00am – 10:00pm and Friday as 6:00am – 9.30pm, with two overlapping seasons for weekends, 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00am – 8:00pm, both covering October.
Listed prices (copied from millparkleisure.com.au/entry-fees on 9 October 2026):
- Casual Swim Fees: Adult (16 years and over), Casual Entry: $8.25
- Casual Swim Fees: Child (3 – 15 years old), Casual Entry: $6.45
- Casual Swim Fees: Family (2 adults, 2 children), Casual Entry: $21.20
- Gym Casual Fees: Casual gym adult, Casual entry: $23.20
Plan it: Because its hours page lists two different weekend closing times that both cover October, confirm the weekend close with Mill Park Leisure before you set out.
Ark Play Cafe — 1/52 Willandra Drive, Epping VIC 3076
Ark Play Cafe is in Epping, and the Whittlesea explore page calls it a bright, fun-filled indoor play space where kids can explore, imagine and play while parents relax with a coffee. Its site describes a less crowded, high-quality play environment with nutritious food. Ark’s site lists a coffee card of ‘1 coffee = 1 stamp 10 stamps = 1 FREE coffee’, and says it is available on Uber Eats. Entry prices were not readable, so none are shown.
Rain backup: The council’s explore page describes Ark Play Cafe as an indoor play space, and its site says opening hours may vary due to private events, so check before you go.
Lyndarum Wetland — 34W Wyena Grove, Epping VIC 3076
The council says Lyndarum Wetland has an area of 14.6 hectares, with a playground, fitness equipment, a dog off-leash area, a walking and bike track, car parking, lake and wetlands. The council places the off-leash area in the middle of the park, under the powerlines between Manor House Drive and Great Brome Avenue. We did not find an entry price on the council page, and no hours are stated.
Free first: Start here if you want the lowest-cost option on this list: the council page prints no price for Lyndarum Wetland, but confirm any parking or event rules with the council.
Quick answers
What is on in Wollert on a Friday night?
Bridge Inn Hotel in Mernda says on its site that every Friday night it has local entertainment, naming artists such as Gary Eastwood and Joel Quinn. The site does not give a dated gig list, so check with the hotel before you go.
Where can I get weekend breakfast near Wollert?
Growling Frog Golf Course in Yan Yean lists a Breakfast Menu of 8am – 11:30am, weekends only, and says its restaurant welcomes visitors as well as golfers. The site does not publish venue opening hours, so check before you drive out.
Where can I take kids this weekend near Wollert?
Ark Play Cafe in Epping is described by the council’s explore page as an indoor play space. Bridge Inn Hotel’s site lists a huge kids playground in its lounge. Lyndarum Wetland lists a playground on its council page. Mill Park Leisure lists a child (3 – 15 years old) casual swim at $6.45.
Is there somewhere to walk a dog near Wollert?
Lyndarum Wetland in Epping lists a dog off-leash area and a walking and bike track on its council page. The council places the off-leash area in the middle of the park, under the powerlines between Manor House Drive and Great Brome Avenue.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources between 5 October 2026 and 9 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, the places’ own websites and council pages. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, between 5 October 2026 and 9 October 2026, the date given beside each menu. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place 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
- Bridge Inn Hotel: openstreetmap.org/466543369, thebridgeinnhotel.com.au, thebridgeinnhotel.com.au/bar
- Growling Frog Golf Course: openstreetmap.org/101676340, growlingfroggolf.com.au/contact, explore.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Growling-Frog-Golf-Course-and-Restaurant, growlingfroggolf.com.au/green-fees, growlingfroggolf.com.au/driving-range, growlingfroggolf.com.au/restaurant, growlingfroggolf.com.au
- Mill Park Leisure: whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Swimming-pools-and-leisure-centres, millparkleisure.com.au, millparkleisure.com.au/about-us, millparkleisure.com.au/entry-fees, millparkleisure.com.au/opening-hours
- Ark Play Cafe: arkplaycafe.com.au, explore.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Family-fun
- Lyndarum Wetland: openstreetmap.org/60237777, whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Lyndarum-Wetland, whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Local-parks-and-reserves, openstreetmap.org/759944822, whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Dog-parks, explore.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Pet-friendly-and-off-leash-parks
