Point Cook is the place I call home, and a place often ridiculed by Melbournians, much like the west side of the city as a whole. The most common argument is that it lacks culture or soul, and admittedly it's pretty hard to argue against. After all, that's the downside of any new and purpose built residential suburb. It takes time for a new town to define itself and find its purpose. What frustrates me are the naysayers claiming there is nothing to do. If they ever dared leave the city, they would soon realise that west side of Melbourne has easy access to national parks and raw countryside that most Melbournians can only dream about.
Take Point Cook coastal park. Here's a wild, windswept beach and unspoilt parkland of over 840 hectares, that you can practically call your own. As I did last night, on a gorgeous late Sunday afternoon. There was just me and the local wiIdlife. I slowly drove past two wedged tail eagles perched 5 metres from me on a fence post, watched a highly active colony of black faced cormorants settle in for the night on a disused pier, and smiled at frenetic Honeyeaters washing themselves in a water fountain. I even sat with a llama chilling in the sun.
There's a couple of nice loop walks to do, and the Point Cook tower and original homestead grounds to explore. There are excellent playgrounds for kids, and rarely used, shady electric barbecues. There's also a cafe, though I've never seen it open to the public, only for private functions thought I might be wrong. It's also a great place to watch planes take off at the RAAF base next door, which they do each weekend.
The Finer Details
Gates close at 5pm in the winter months, when you generally have the place to yourselves. You'll find the Coastal Park at the end of Point Cook road before the RAAF base.
Be careful of going off the path if you do explore - this is an area of wild and untouched grasslands. Snakes are rampant - we've had a couple of sightings ourselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment