Free tours of Melbourne's hidden nature

Within the buildings, concrete and bitumen of Melbourne, nature’s hidden treasures are all around us – we either forget, or just don’t know where or how to look. These free interactive walking tours will take people – workers, locals, visitors – on a journey of discovery to learn how to see and find the plants, insects, birds (other than pigeons and seagulls!) and animals that inhabit the city. Participants will walk away with new-found knowledge and appreciation that you don’t have to go to a national park to find nature’s beauty - it can be found wherever we are.

Experiencing nature has multiple health and social benefits, they don’t say “stop and smell the roses” for nothing. Nature is all around us, even in the built-up city, and is more than the street trees, planter boxes, pigeons, seagulls and the possibility of rats lurking in laneways. The walking discovery tours will help people see the nature all around them, so they can experience the positive feelings of wonder and beauty, and the associated health benefits. The free tours will be accessible to all and the shared experiences of participants will strengthen the community and encourage protecting the environment.