Nestled in the gorgeous surrounds of Castlemaine Botanical Gardens is a beautiful and spacious playground. An enormous acorn tree is the centrepiece with lots of unique and natural play equipment circling out from the base of the gargantuan skyscraper.

Our fave country feature was a sweet little homestead cubby. There are also swings, slides, old school flying foxes (“these were the flying foxes Mamma used on playgrounds when she was little!”), monkey bars and a little wooden train (to match the VLines tooting by on the nearby tracks).

A huge shed makes for an impressive playground party venue, fit-out with barbecues and LOTS of tables. There is plenty of seating in and around the play equipment, and lots of picnic tables dotted about, and what’s a botanical garden if not a picnic palace!

Mamma visited in early winter, where the autumn leaves were still around and the kids had a blast traipsing through the thick layer of leaf litter (as well as throwing bunches at the parents of course). Mamma will have to come and see this playground in all it's glorious seasons as it’s sure to be stunning. This (for sure) is day-trip worthy. From the Melbourne CBD, it’s an easy 90 minute drive.