This winter, get out in the crisp air and enjoy everything The Briars has to offer! The seasonal program includes self-guided Wildlife Sanctuary walks, programs for children and families, school holiday program, all wrapped up in Briars’ beautiful surroundings.
Bookings are essential, so don’t forget to register at:
Walk on Country and Yidaki led meditation
Sunday, 9 July 11am – 1pm
Sunday, 27 August, 11am -1pm
$50, $39 concession/ child
Be guided through the Wildlife Sanctuary by Lionel Lauch and Hudson Fraser from Living Culture. Experience an in-depth connection with country by learning about the land and indigenous culture and traditions. Then join Lionel in the Chechingurk Birdhide for a special Yidaki led meditation. Numbers are strictly limited.
Native insect village
July 1 and 15, 2 – 4pm
$25 adult, $21 concession/ child
Suitable for 8 years and older
Encourage beneficial beasties to call your garden home by making an insect village. As the cold days continue from winter into early spring, our garden insects, arachnids and other small friends need a safe place to call home. Enjoy learning about the important role beetles, millipedes, spiders, centipedes and many more play in keeping your garden thriving.
Painting nature for beginners (adults only)
August 5 and 12, 1 – 4pm
$31.90
Begin your creative process by gathering inspiration on an hour-long Ranger led stroll. Let our Rangers guide you to the hidden gems of beauty throughout the Wildlife Sanctuary as you prepare yourself to create. Then join local artist, Caroline Graley in the Chechingurk Bird Hide for a 2-hour painting workshop. Be surrounded by the wetlands as you learn and practice various painting techniques.
Games by the fire
10am- 4.30pm
June, July, August.
Visitor Centre.
Escape the cold weather and warm up by the fire in the Visitors Centre! You may choose to join your mates in a game of chess or Uno or tap into your creative side and make your very own spider web! Available every day during the school holidays and on weekends.
Wetland wonders
10am- 4.30pm
June, July, August
Visitor Centre
Look out through the glass of our Wetland window and what can you see? A purple swamp hen foraging for food or a water reed swaying in the wind… As you observe, you’ll notice the environment teeming with life all around you. Pick up a Wetland Wonders Seek and Find activity sheet at the Visitors Centre and see what you can spot.
Briars geocaching
10am- 4.30pm
June, July, August
Visitor Centre
Want to take treasure hunting to the next level? Then the Briars site wide geocaching is for you! We’re putting a Briars spin on traditional geocaching with themed caches or boxes hidden onsite. You’ll get a clue to where each cache is hidden, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to find. See our Rangers in the Visitors centre to begin your Briars Geocaching adventure. (Note: our geocaches do not require exchanges of items).
Breathe in the Briars
9am- 4.30pm
June, July, August
Start in the Visitor Centre.
Daily mindfulness is often aided by a strong connection to place. Find that connection at the Briars by immersing yourself in nature and reflecting on the natural world. Choose to wander our Wetland or Woodland Walk. Pick up a Breathe in the Briars mindfulness guide from outside the front of the Visitor Centre or make your own way. Make some time for yourself after dropping the kids at school or on your lunch break. Use this amazing local resource to help you ground and immerse yourself in the healing power of nature.
School holiday program
Mini ecologist
June 26 and 27, 10am- 12pm
$29.90 per child
Suitable for kids 6 to 10 years old
Our wildlife needs our help to ensure their habitats are safe and have all the resources they need. We’re calling all mini ecologists to join our Rangers in learning about the ecosystems our wildlife call home. Encounter some native animals face to face and help us keep habitats safe for all our wildlife.
Night walk: Spotlight on conservation
June 26 and 27, 6-8pm
$32 adult, $25.90 concession/ child
A new world emerges in the Wildlife Sanctuary after dark. Join our Rangers on a night walk as they tell the story of how The Briars is managed to contribute to the growing need to protect our biodiversity. Learn how to spotlight like a wildlife researcher and meet some native animals up close while hearing about their stories of survival and the important roles they play in their habitats.
