Hume City: Nature, Surf Park and Local Culture
Accommodation in Hume City
Hume City brings together expansive plains, volcanic hills and deeply incised river valleys with a diverse range of things to experience. These include a walk through wildflower-rich grasslands, guided tours to visit retired champion racehorses, and URBNSURF Melbourne, Australia’s first surf park, in Tullamarine. Art, conservation and regional winemaking traditions are also part of the picture. If you are planning your trip together, you could start by considering which of these interests will influence your choice of holiday rental.
Discover the landscape and nature
Hume City’s natural landscape is shaped by plains, volcanic hills and deeply incised river valleys. One specific way to experience the grasslands is the Broadmeadows Valley Park Walk: the trail is 4.2 kilometres long, and the walk takes about 65 minutes. It passes through remnant grasslands rich in wildflowers. Endangered Golden Sun Moths, kangaroos and the threatened Growling Grass Frog can be found there. Those interested in the landscape and wildlife will find a specific trail here with a clearly stated distance and walking time, rather than just a general natural backdrop.
Another aspect of nature can be seen at Emu Bottom Wetlands. This nature reserve is where Hume City Council and local groups protect plants and animals and improve the water quality of Jacksons Creek. The local community and the Friends of Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve have restored the area through weed control and replanting. As well as its landforms, the work to protect them is part of Hume City’s story.
From horses to the surf park
At Living Legends, visitors can visit and pat retired champion racehorses in their paddocks. Guided tours are offered daily at 11 am and 2 pm. These set times make it easier to fit this activity into your day. The experience is quite different from a nature outing or an art visit: the focus is on the horses and the guided visit with them.
URBNSURF Melbourne in Tullamarine offers a different kind of experience. As Australia’s first surf park, it gives Hume City a distinctive connection to surfing. Together with the tours at Living Legends and the Broadmeadows Valley Park Walk, it offers a choice of activities for different travel interests, without them all centring on the same theme. If the surf park is part of your plans, Tullamarine is a specific location to consider when looking for a holiday rental.
Art, history and regional food and wine
Hume’s Civic Collection comprises artworks and historical objects that reflect the artistic, social and political ideas of the local community. Visits to view items in the collection are by appointment only; appointments should be made at least three weeks in advance. If you would like to include a visit, arranging it in good time is therefore one of the practical preparations to make.
The Hume Triptych consists of three oil paintings depicting Craigieburn, Broadmeadows and Sunbury. The three places shown make the work a distinctive way to connect with the region, while the Civic Collection includes artworks and historical objects from the local community. For food and wine interests, historic local wineries offer tastings of the region’s well-known Shiraz. Marnong Estate also offers private dining at its Bankvale Run restaurant.
Getting here and choosing a location
Hume City is served by the Tullamarine Freeway, Western Ring Road, Hume Freeway and Calder Freeway. Melbourne Airport is in the south of the municipality. If you choose accommodation based on your planned activities and how you will get there, these roads, the airport and Tullamarine provide specific geographical reference points. Nature, horse tours, the surf park, art and wine offer different focuses for a stay; the right holiday rental depends on which of them you want to make a priority.
For more places to explore in Hume City, you can also consider Bulla and Broadmeadows.
For the broader travel overview: Victoria.
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