CERES Brunswick East sits right on the Merri Creek in Brunswick East, and it’s one of those places that manages to feel like a proper day trip even though it’s ten minutes from the CBD. There’s no entry fee, no ticket booth, and no set path you have to follow. You just wander in, let the kids find the chooks, and see where the morning takes you.
What used to be a quarry and then a landfill is now a working urban farm and sustainability centre, with a cafe, a grocery, a nursery and a genuinely excellent playground built around the theme of soil (more on the giant millipede shortly). I know this was one of Joyce’s family favourites when her kids were younger, so I took my daughter recently, and even in a short window it’s easy to see why this place has been a fixture for inner-north families for decades.
What to Expect
CERES is more park than attraction, so don’t expect a single “thing” to do – expect a green, slightly rambling site you can explore at toddler pace or teenager pace, depending on who you’ve brought along.
The site is spread across 4.5 hectares, with gravel and paved paths linking the different zones: the playground, the chook yard, the market garden, the nursery, the grocery and the cafe. It’s lovely to walk through, but the paths aren’t all flat or smooth, so a pram with decent wheels makes life easier than one built for footpaths only.
There’s no single loop that “does” CERES in twenty minutes. Families who get the most out of it tend to block out two to three hours, especially if lunch at the cafe is part of the plan.
Highlights for Kids
The Terra Wonder Playspace is the reason a lot of families make the trip.
It’s built around the idea of soil life, scaled up 500 times, so kids climb through a giant millipede made from recycled wood and tractor parts, clamber over an octopus-like creature built from old tyres and rope, and dig in a multi-level sandpit.
It’s free to use and open every day during daylight hours, right at the back of the park near the Honey Lane Market Garden.
Beyond the Playground
Beyond the playground, kids can:
- Say hello to the 200-odd free-ranging chooks in the chook yard
- Wander the Community Garden and Honey Lane Market Garden
- Peek into the nursery, which has a good range of edible and native plants
- Browse the Nursery & Bookstore, which has a good range of edible and native plants alongside a small but well-chosen selection of children’s books on nature and the environment
- Spot wildlife around the dam
- Ride or walk the Merri Creek bike path, which runs right along the edge of the park
If your family is into gardening or growing food, the market garden beds are a nice, low-key way to show kids where vegetables actually come from – no pressure, no signs telling you not to touch.
The Merri Cafe
The Merri Cafe is built with families in mind. Alongside the main organic, seasonal menu, there’s a kids menu, so you’re not stuck ordering a side of toast for a fussy four-year-old.
What we love is that kids can play while you eat. There’s a sandpit right near the tables, plus a small stash of toys, which buys you a good ten or fifteen minutes of peace with a coffee in hand.
A few practical notes:
- Hours: Open daily, 8.30am to 3pm
- Bookings: Walk-ins only – no bookings, unless your group is ten or more, in which case ask about their events packages
- Menu: Organic, seasonal, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Prices sit closer to a nice inner-city brunch spot than a park kiosk
- Access: Wheelchair and pram accessible, close to the main car park
If you’re after something quicker or cheaper, the Organic Grocery & Bakery next door is worth a look for snacks or picnic supplies you can eat out on the grass instead.
What Parents Need to Know
- Cost: Entry is free. You only pay for food, groceries, nursery purchases or market stall items.
- Toilets: There are accessible bathrooms in the main buildings near the entry courtyard.
- Pram access: CERES is wheelchair accessible, and the cafe and nursery are easy to reach from the main car park. The path to the grocery is sloping and finishes in a lightly gravelled courtyard, so you may need a hand with a pram there.
- Parking: Free, with 54 spaces inside the park via the Stewart Street gate. It fills up on weekends and market days, so arrive early or park on Stewart or Roberts Street. There’s also paid parking at the Cretan Brotherhood car park on the corner of Nicholson and Stewart Streets.
- Public transport: The number 96 tram from the city stops at Blyth Street, a two-minute walk from the main entrance. Northcote, Anstey and Brunswick train stations are also within a short bus or walk.
- Booking requirements: None for a general visit. If you want to book a birthday party, the Red Train at Terra Wonder Playspace can be hired for parties and events.
What’s On for Families
CERES runs regular programs for families, not just one-off events, so it’s worth knowing what’s on offer if you want to make it a habit rather than a once-off visit.
CERES Market runs on the first and third Saturday of the month, midday to 6pm, with local makers, artisans and live music. Check the CERES website before you go, as the schedule has changed in the past and isn’t every Saturday any more.
Nature Playgroup runs Monday and Wednesday mornings during term time at CERES Brunswick East, for kids aged 2 to 5 with a parent or carer. Sessions follow the seasons – planting seeds, feeding the chickens, exploring the Merri Creek and making art from natural materials. CERES also runs seasonal “Kids in Nature Week” sessions over the school holidays, split into age groups for 2–5 year olds and 6–12 year olds. Bookings are required and go through Humanitix.
The Rhythm Tree runs family music classes at CERES from Monday to Saturday, for babies right through to 8-year-olds. It’s a licensed Music Together program, run in a “pressure-free” style rather than as a formal performance class, and has been based at CERES for over a decade. Classes are ongoing and enrol by term, so check their website for current availability.
If you’re planning a visit around any of these, it’s worth building in extra time either side to let the kids loose on the playground too.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Yes, particularly if you live in the inner north or want a free, nature-based outing that doesn’t involve a car full of gear.
It suits toddlers through to primary-aged kids best, since the playground has plenty of climbing and digging but nothing that requires much independence or age. Younger babies will still enjoy the walk and the animals, just without the climbing.
Budget two to three hours if you want to see the playground, the animals and grab something to eat. It’s free to enter, so the only real cost is whatever you spend at the cafe, grocery or nursery.
Families who love farmers markets, gardening or nature play tend to love CERES most – if your kids need constant structured activities, it’s a more open-ended outing than somewhere like a paid indoor play centre.
FAQs
Is CERES Brunswick East free to visit?
Yes, entry to the park is completely free. You only pay if you eat at the cafe, shop at the grocery or nursery, or buy from market stalls.
Is CERES suitable for toddlers?
Yes. The Terra Wonder Playspace has a shaded sandpit and low climbing structures suitable for toddlers, alongside taller elements for older kids.
Does the Merri Cafe have a kids menu?
Yes, and there’s a sandpit and a small selection of toys near the tables, so younger kids have something to do while you eat.
Is there parking at CERES?
Yes, there are 54 free spaces inside the park via the Stewart Street entrance, plus street parking and a paid car park nearby on weekends when it’s busy.
How long should we plan for a visit?
Most families allow two to three hours to see the playground, animals and gardens, and to fit in a meal at the cafe.
Is the CERES market on every Saturday?
No – the CERES Market currently runs on the first and third Saturday of the month, from midday to 6pm. It’s worth checking the CERES website before you visit, as the schedule has changed over the years.
Comments are closed.