Top 5 Destinations For Park Workouts In Melbourne’s North West And Northern Suburbs

Doing your workout routine outdoors has numerous benefits, from boosting your mental health to avoiding long commutes and, of course, avoiding hefty gym fees. And where better to do it than your local park — often within walking distance and open to all with a range of equipment that can be used in many different and creative ways. Plus you get an added bonus of lungful after lungful of fresh air! Here are some of our favourite park workouts in Melbourne’s North West And Northern Suburbs.

Via Unsplash: The benefits of a park workout go way beyond the free exercise equipment (although that helps).

Oldis Gardens, Northcote

A centrepiece of the Northcote neighbourhood, Oldis Gardens offers a fantastic place to run through your workout routine. Despite its central location, the park has ample space for any exercises you have planned, and there is a prominent wooden playground with a solid structure (including monkey rungs and a balance beam) that can be incorporated into extra-creative workouts (once the kids are gone, of course). The well-kept trees and creek mean that even on hot days this can be a great option for an outdoor workout in Melbourne. If you’re not within walking distance, there are also several metro stations and bus stops that allow easy access to the park.

Princes Park, Carlton

The wide open spaces here make it the perfect location for those more explosive workouts, and the well manicured lawns mean it’s a pleasure to be there. Similar to Oldis Gardens, there is a sturdy playground that can be utilised for your workout, but the real draw here is the large, open green spaces. There is a great atmosphere, and numerous other people use the space to exercise meaning there’s a good chance you’ll see others going through their own routines. Additionally, the open nature of this park means plenty of sunshine on a good day, helping boost mood while you exercise and providing you with that all important vitamin D. And, with Ikon Park stadium just around the corner, maybe you can draw a little inspiration. 

Image by Mat Connolley via GNU Free Documentation License: There are so many parks in Melbourne that you are guaranteed to find a workout spot near you!

Queens Park, Moonee Ponds

You would be forgiven for thinking you’d just wandered into Jurassic Park here, with lush greenery all around and paths to explore. The park acts as a perfect retreat from the otherwise busy streets that border it and the perfect place to get focused on your workout routine. Queens Park also has a cafe, which is ideal for a post (or pre) workout drink to keep you refreshed and hydrated. Speaking of hydrated, there is also an outdoor public pool open from 6am to 7pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 7pm on weekends. The prominent lake will be the first thing you see in this historic park; while it means less open space to run, it provides a beautiful backdrop to your workout and can help keep the air cool on the hotter days of the year. Additionally, there are two playgrounds that can be included in your routine to change up your exercises and large trees that give ample shade if you’re working out during the heat of the day.  

Clifton Park, Brunswick West 

Slightly smaller than some other public spaces, Clifton Park still packs a wallop with a massive range of amenities. First, the synthetic public soccer pitch allows for a range of activities that would otherwise be dampened by bad weather, as well as group sports. Additionally, there is a basketball ring that can allow you to mix some hoops into your routine as well as a walking circuit for warmups and cooldowns. Clifton Parks substantial skate park may not be ideal for you and your workout, but the range of options means that a trip to the park can be a family outing, with each member doing their own thing, from running laps and shooting hoops to a kickabout with friends and riding the bowl. 

Image by Russell Laurie via CC BY-ND 2.0 license: Playgrounds — no longer just for kids! Get creative in your workout.

Aberfeldie Park, Moonee Ponds

This large park located in Moonee Ponds is ideally suited for those who include running in their workout routine; the green haven offers a large compacted-earth track which makes for a fantastic alternative to the concrete and tarmac of surrounding streets. As well as the earthen path, there are also large grassy areas plenty big enough to accommodate even the largest group workouts. Don’t fancy running on dirt? Aberfeldie also has a 400m athletics track in the centre of the park meaning you can pit yourself against the clock and get some laps in on this professional-grade public space. While you usually have to get creative in a park workout (and you totally can here, using the playground), Aberfeldie actually has public gym equipment that can be used to add new exercises into your regime that might otherwise be hard in an outdoor environment. 

Working out outside offers such benefits as a boosted mood and better mental health, which can be exponentially increased in green spaces such as Queens Park. Additionally, parks have the added bonus of being easily accessible to those living in cities, so whether you’re based in Moonee Ponds, Northcote, Brunswick West or any other neighbourhood with a bus connection, you can fit an outdoor workout into your week. Plus, they’re free! Public parks mean everyone has access to use them and with areas such as Aberfeldie containing free exercise equipment, it can be a great way to change up your routine at no extra cost.