Mashabei Sadeh: Golda Park and the ANZAC Trail

Nature and history are close together around Mashabei Sadeh: Golda Park combines a lake and open green spaces with picnic areas and a lookout point. Near the park is also the restored NAAFI well house (Be’er Nafi), with a permanent exhibition about the ANZAC Trail. The surrounding area therefore offers different themes to consider when choosing the focus of your trip.

Golda Park: Lake, Green Spaces, and Panoramic Views

Golda Park is near Mashabei Sadeh and Mashabim Junction and covers about 540 dunams. Around the lake, water, lawns, and picnic areas alternate; a lookout point adds to the open landscape. The different areas make the park a specific destination for anyone looking to spend time outdoors and seeking more than just a single viewpoint.

From the northwestern end of the lake, a stairway about 200 meters long, made from railway sleepers, leads up to the Tali Lookout. From the top, views stretch across the expanse of Mount HaNegev toward Mahmal Ridge and the Ramon Crater. The path thus connects two different perspectives on the park’s surroundings: the lake at the starting point and the sweeping landscape view at the top of the stairs.

A Well House Connected to the ANZAC Trail

Near Golda Park is the restored NAAFI well house, also called Be’er Nafi. The well house features a permanent exhibition about the ANZAC Trail. Together with the lake and lookout point, this historic feature gives the surrounding area another, cultural dimension. Those who are equally interested in nature and history when planning their trip can weigh these different priorities against each other when choosing where to stay.

More Landscapes and History in the Southern District

The broader travel destination of the Southern District also offers a variety of natural and cultural attractions. Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve encompasses Israel’s largest oasis, with springs and waterfalls, ibex, hyraxes, and flowing streams. A hiking trail follows the year-round Nahal Arugot to a hidden waterfall and pools upstream. Trail conditions may change after flooding.

Masada stands as a symbol of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction, and the final resistance of Jewish patriots against the Roman army in 73 CE. The surviving remains include Herod’s palaces and Roman siege works, among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world. Registering in advance in the visit coordination system for your selected visit date secures a place in Masada National Park.

The visitor center at the Ramon Crater combines the life story of Israel’s first astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel Ilan Ramon, with an introduction to the world’s largest crater and its unique natural phenomena. Advance registration in the visit coordination system also secures a place there for your selected visit date. Check the registration information in advance if you are planning to visit these sites.

Besor Park (Eshkol), also in the Southern District, has extensive lawns, picnic facilities, and children’s playgrounds on the river’s eastern bank near the Ein Besor spring. Marked cycling routes and a disc golf course add to the activities available on site. The contrast with the desert landscapes is also evident at Ashkelon National Park: its southern section is a nature reserve for the distinctive flora and fauna of the sand dunes. The Canaanite Gate in Ashkelon was built from mud bricks and kurkar bricks, dates to 1850 BCE, and is considered the oldest vaulted gate in the world. Tel Be’er Sheva offers a view of modern Beersheba.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Vacation Rental

When looking for a vacation rental in Mashabei Sadeh, you can first decide whether the nearby park, with its lake, stairway, and lookout point, is the main focus of your trip. This helps keep your choice of accommodation connected to the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Zuqim, Eilat, Sapir, Be'er Ora, Sede Boker, Ein Bokek, Beersheba, Hatzeva.

Back to the main travel overview: Southern District.