Anakie: Fairy Park, Mt Anakie and Gorge Walk

Anakie offers different starting points for planning a trip: fairy-tale scenes and interactive attractions at Fairy Park, a memorial site in town and walking destinations in the wider region. Consider which focus matters for your stay when looking for a hotel in Anakie. This will help you choose activities for your trip without conflating destinations in Anakie with excursion destinations in the wider area.

Fairy Park: Fairy-tale Scenes on a Hill

Fairy Park is regarded as Australia's first themed attraction and has been operating since 1959. The grounds feature 32 scenes in castles, cottages and caves, surrounded by well-maintained gardens. The stories depicted include Cinderella at the Grand Ball, Jack in his beanstalk story, the Teddy Bears at their picnic, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The visitor path runs up and back down a hill on paved paths, passing the fairy-tale scenes along the way. From the summit, there are 360-degree panoramic views of the extinct volcano Mt Anakie and the landscape beyond.

The facilities for children are also specifically described: at the medieval Camelot Playground, they can explore secret passages, climb towers and encounter mythical creatures. Visitors can set a large model railway in motion at the push of a button. Fairy Park also has an adventure playground, a kiosk, a dining venue, a gift shop and picnic areas. The fairy-tale scenes, play areas and model railway offer different focuses within the same attraction.

Other Places in Anakie

The Anakie District Memorial Gates are located in Anakie Reserve and commemorate those who fought in the First and Second World Wars. They therefore offer a different point of interest from the fairy-tale world of Fairy Park. Also in Anakie, Hot Shots Paintball Adventure Park offers paintball at 895 Granite Road. Those considering different activities for their trip can group these destinations by theme: remembrance, fairy-tale worlds or paintball.

Walking in the Wider Region

The Anakie Gorge Walk is located in the wider area around Anakie. This easy family trail follows Stony Creek through a dry gorge. Along the way, visitors may spot wallabies, koalas, native wildflowers and birds. The trail is listed as 3.5 kilometres long, with a walking time of 1.5 hours one way. The distance and walking-time details are current as of June 2017; check current trail conditions before setting out.

Stoney Creek Picnic Area is the starting point for the Anakie Gorge Walk, the Wadawurrung Walk and the Ted Errey Circuit Walk. At Anakie Gorge Picnic Area, visitors can picnic or relax and choose from several trails, including the relatively flat Anakie Gorge Walk. The different details help you fit a stroll or hike into your day’s plans: the Gorge Walk has a stated distance and walking time for each direction, while the picnic area offers several trail options. By comparison, the visitor path at Fairy Park goes up and back down a hill on a paved path, passing fairy-tale scenes. The experiences therefore differ both in their setting and in their character.

Discover more destinations: Skenes Creek, Aireys Inlet, Carlsruhe, Kangaroo Flat, Chewton, Beechworth, Longwood, Bushfield

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.