The skirl of bagpipes rings out across the expanse of Queens Park once a year at the annual Highland Games when Scots and those with Scottish heritage gather for a day of sport and fun. At other times, the "thwack" of a golf club hitting a ball punctuates the air. And depending on the time of year, you might hear the sound of willow striking leather in a cricket match and the shrill of the umpire's whistle during a game of Aussie Rules football.
Queens Park is home to these activities and more, in the pretty valley beside the Barwon River between the Geelong suburbs of Newtown and Highton. The park's 18-hole public golf course is one of the most picturesque and popular within the region.
Sealed walking tracks skirt the river beside the golf course and beyond, providing excellent opportunities for walking, running and cycling. The tracks link with other riverside parks and new bridges have been built across the river to further expand opportunities for walking/cycling. You can go for kilometres beside the river, from Buckley Falls to Breakwater, through native bush, along the valley with impressive homes perched high on the hills, to the southern edge of the city and beyond.
Queens Park also has great areas for picnics and barbecues, and plenty of open space to enjoy. The river and the vegetation along its banks are home to a wide variety of native birds and other animals.
Queens Park is off Queens Park Road, between the Barwon River and Newtown and Highton. It has picnic tables and toilets.
