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Melbourne’s southern suburbs meet the ocean, and Altona Beach is a great destination for campers. There’s a well-equipped holiday park and a scout camp, which offer access to the calm seas of this south-western beachside suburb. Hikers and bikers can also head to the Cheetham Wetlands, on the western edge of Altona, and take in the views of the natural and artificial wetlands from the observation tower.
On Melbourne’s northern edge, Warrandyte State Park, on the banks of the Yarra River, is a popular spot for bushwalking, canoeing, bird watching, and mountain biking. It’s the closest state park to the city. Camping isn’t permitted in the park, but its accessibility from Brunswick and other parts of central Melbourne mean that outdoor-loving travellers can easily visit on a day trip.
Brunswick is a year-round destination, but Melbourne’s weather is notoriously fickle: a popular local saying is that you can experience all four seasons in one day in Melbourne. Because the Brunswick neighbourhood itself is in the middle of the city, it doesn’t really matter what the weather is like, though. Enjoy the restaurants, boutiques, and galleries if the weather isn’t ideal for outdoor adventures, and head to a beach or nature reserve further afield when it is.