Surrey Park
Tucked behind quiet residential streets in Box Hill South, Surrey Park is the kind of place locals guard jealously — a leafy retreat with a pretty lake, model boats and barbecue spots that feel a world away from the suburb's busy commercial core.
The Whitehorse Council's Best-Kept Secret
Surrey Park is described by those in the know as the best-kept secret in the entire Whitehorse council area and possibly in all of eastern Melbourne — high praise in a city spoiled for green space. The centrepiece is a small, genuinely pretty lake that doubles as a sailing ground for the local model boat club on weekends.
Watching miniature vessels tack across the water while ducks weave between them is an unexpectedly meditative afternoon. A recently upgraded lakeside walkway lets you circle the water and take in its reflections from multiple angles, making it a favourite for photographers chasing a peaceful suburban shot.
The park is dotted with multiple BBQ facilities — grab supplies from Box Hill Central, fire up a grill and settle in. It's the kind of easy, unhurried afternoon that reminds you why Melbourne's suburbs are worth exploring beyond the inner ring.
Getting There and Making a Day of It
Surrey Park sits in Box Hill South, easily reached on foot or by bike from Box Hill station. Combine it with a morning at the Box Hill Farmers Market (Sunday, Main Crescent car park) and you have a near-perfect low-cost Melbourne day out.
The park is free, open year-round and never crowded — even on weekends. Bring a picnic blanket, a book and something from the market's baked-goods stalls and you'll understand why this patch of green has such a devoted following among locals.
Surrey Park on video
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