Beach boxes on the quiet beach at Bonbeach

                                               the south river walk, above. the wetlands and park, below

Bonbeach has a large amount of open space. The houses only stretch a few blocks back from the beach and the golf club spreads from the river to the south, back along the bike track towards the wetlands and parks. The beach is a fabulous open space for children, the sand flat and firm and the waters shallow and sheltered. The is hardly any public parking from Edithvale the the north as far as the Paterson river, so the beach at Bonbeach is private. Local are issued with parking permits but almost everyone walks down. There are little cafes at the Life Saving and Sailing clubs, most only open through the summer. You see people walking on the beach in all seasons and weather conditions, walking their dogs or even just choosing this as the option for walking down to the shops at Chelsea. There are seats and sheltered areas at the river entrance and people sit there all day watching the river traffic come and go. 

The wetlands have really come into there own this year. This google map does not show the greening up of the parks and the huge lakes that have returned to the wetlands. There is always water in the deepest parts even through the drought. The wetlands are remnant and reconstructed areas of the CarrumCarrum swamp. The wildlife are enjoying the wetter conditions with ducks breeding up and egret, herons and pelicans on on the river and wetlands. Also some of the fattest kangaroos I've ever seen in the fenced (protected) ares up at the Edithvale end. Sports grounds extend along the back of the housing development. Football, cricket and hockey are played on the well maintained fields through the week and weekends. There are facilities spread though the parks and netball grounds and a basketball stadium available. Centennial Park is a huge landscaped open area with walking tracks, woodland areas, lakes, dog parks and a pony club linked to it. Also a fantastic children's play area. 

The river itself is a well used open space. Patterson Lakes boat traffic flows out of the 3 flood gates up and down the river and out into Port Phillip Bay. The Water Police Dock and the Parks station are also here. The River has footpaths running either side with the south side track linking with the Dandenong Creek Path. The photo above shows the stretch going past the National Rowing Centre. Foot bridges cross the river at the entrance and at Wells Road. Its a pretty long walk around, about 7km but a huge number of local people I talk to do the walk with their dog, children on bikes or as a run every day. The riverside paths also have parks, lawn, native trees and BBQs which are well used by families picnicking during the warmer monthesWhen the river is low and the tide is out little beaches form where toddlers can play in the shallows. Fishermen set up along the river for all day sessions and seem to get fairly good results.