Birrarung Marr

Birrarung Marr is a place to visit with your kids if you're close to Federation Square and looking for somewhere to relax for a bit........

.......(as long as there's not a festival on - then it's a place to avoid unless you like chaos!).

It's Melbourne newest major park and is right behind Federation Square, by the Yarra River.

There's a big playground with lots of things for your kids to play on and some large rocks for them to run around and hide behind or climb........

..........The rocks have aboriginal animal shapes carved into them.........

........In fact this park has a lot of artwork relating to the indigenous tribes that used to live here.......

.......Birrarung actually means 'river of mists' while Marr refers to the side of the river.

While your kids are playing you can have a look at the other artwork around here.......

........There's a winding pathway with an eel shape signifying aborigines used this area to camp and eat......

..... You'll also find a semi-circle of metal shields made to represent the five aboriginal groups which lived in this area......

........A little further along the river you'll find Deborah Halpern's Angel sculpture which you'll see on a lot of Melbourne tourist brochures.......

.......Then take a three or four minute walk further along the river and you'll come across the Federation Bells......

......The best time to visit these bells is between 8-9am, 12.30-1.30pm or 5-6pm when the 39 bells ring.

The bells play tunes composed by 7 different Australian composers. It's certainly something I've never come across before......definitely worth a visit.

Check out the map below to find the park.

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