Whittlesea City: Shows, History and Nature

Whittlesea City can be explored through a range of travel interests: the Whittlesea Show offers a specific event date, while history, museums and trails provide other themes for a stay. Some of these experiences are within the City of Whittlesea. The location details can help you choose a holiday rental based on the activities you have in mind.

The Whittlesea Show: a November event with plenty to offer

A post published by the City of Whittlesea in October 2025 describes the Whittlesea Show as an annual event held on the first full weekend in November. It takes place at the Whittlesea Showgrounds in Whittlesea. Check the current event dates before your trip.

The program includes show jumping and woodchopping, an animal area and market stalls, as well as cooking and craft demonstrations. Live entertainment, interactive activities and historical displays add to the range of offerings. This gives you the chance to explore different interests rather than planning your visit around just one type of event.

Settlement history and museums in the municipality

Westgarthtown is a historic dairy settlement founded in 1850 by German and Wendish immigrants. Today it is located in the residential suburbs of Thomastown and Lalor, within the City of Whittlesea. The Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden is in the Westgarthtown Pioneer Precinct in Thomastown and tells the story of German and Wendish families who came to Australia to establish dairy farms north of Melbourne.

The City of Whittlesea has restored the original farmhouse, barn and outbuildings. Visitors can explore the farmhouse, bathhouse, smokehouse and cart shed. MoPA Thomastown offers a different focus: the single-storey museum has excellent accessibility and facilities, as well as WHOA!, Australia’s first wheelchair-accessible climbing structure.

Walking maps and heritage trails

For trails within the municipality, the City of Whittlesea provides six easy-to-follow walking maps. They cover Bundoora, Epping/Lalor, South Morang, Thomastown, Mernda Villages and Mill Park. The maps are designed for people of all ages and abilities, including wheelchair and pram users. Check the Council website before your trip to see whether the maps are currently available.

The Epping North heritage trail brings together natural and cultural heritage: its themes include historic places and landmarks, as well as local flora, fauna and ecological values. This makes the landscape, alongside settlement history, another possible focus for your travel plans.

Parklands and nature in the area

bunjil nganga Parkland is a 114-hectare parkland and the largest parkland in the City of Whittlesea. Its trail network includes 3.6 kilometres of walking and cycling paths, with views from the hills. Animals that can be seen there include birds of prey, bush birds, small marsupials, skinks and kangaroos. The park offers a way to take in trails, scenery and wildlife together.

Nearby, Yan Yean Reservoir Park offers picnic areas and walking paths; native plants and wildlife are also among its features. Within the City of Whittlesea, Funfields Theme Park is a major visitor attraction. Its offerings include water slides, a wave pool, a toboggan ride and family-friendly rides.

Choose a holiday rental based on your travel interests

Whether you are most interested in the show, Westgarthtown’s history, walking trails or parklands, first decide which experiences you want to shape your stay. Then choose a holiday rental based on its actual location and your plans. This way, your search reflects the activities you want to explore, without letting any one outing determine your entire stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mill Park, Mansfield Shire, Ballarat City, Baw Baw Shire, South Gippsland Shire, Bass Coast Shire, Moira Shire, Mount Alexander Shire.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.