Hume City: Landscapes, Nature and Culture

Hume City brings together open plains, volcanic hills and deeply cut river valleys with nature experiences, art and guided tours. When planning a trip, you can choose different highlights: a walk through grasslands, encounters with retired racehorses or a look at the art and history of the local community.

Landscape and protected nature

Hume City's natural landscape is shaped by vast plains, volcanic hills and deeply cut river valleys. Emu Bottom Wetlands offers a specific perspective on conservation: this nature reserve is where Hume City Council and local groups protect plants and animals and improve the water quality of Jacksons Creek. The local community and the Friends of Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve have restored the area through weed control and replanting.

The Broadmeadows Valley Park Walk makes it easy to factor distance and walking time into your plans for the day: the trail is 4.2 kilometres long, with a walking time of around 65 minutes. It passes through remnant grasslands rich in wildflowers. Endangered Golden Sun Moths, kangaroos and the threatened Growling Grass Frog live there. The combination of a specific walking time and a distinctive habitat makes this trail a standalone option for anyone looking to combine nature and exercise.

Guided experiences and activities

URBNSURF Melbourne is Australia's first surf park and is located in Tullamarine. This makes a clearly defined surfing experience one of the activities that set Hume City apart. Living Legends offers a different pace: on guided tours, guests visit and pat retired champion racehorses in their paddocks. Tours run daily at 11 am and 2 pm. These fixed times help you fit your visit into your plans for the day.

Art and community history

The Hume Triptych consists of three oil paintings and depicts Craigieburn, Broadmeadows and Sunbury. It focuses on three specifically named places that appear in the same work of art. Hume's Civic Collection also offers a way to engage with the local community: it includes artworks and historical objects that reflect its artistic, social and political ideas.

There is an important condition for visiting the Civic Collection: objects can only be viewed by prior appointment, which should be made at least three weeks in advance. Plan your visit well ahead rather than treating it as a spontaneous stop. This lets you fit your interest in art and history around the other experiences on your trip.

Wine and dining

Hume City also has a wine tradition: its historic local wineries are a great place to taste the region's renowned Shiraz. This adds a culinary highlight that is quite distinct from walks, conservation and art. Marnong Estate offers private dining at its Bankvale Run restaurant. If you would like to include wine and food in your trip, there are two different options here: tasting regional Shiraz and dining at Bankvale Run.

Getting around

Hume City is served by the Tullamarine Freeway, Western Ring Road, Hume Freeway and Calder Freeway. Melbourne Airport is in the south of the municipality. These details provide a practical starting point for getting your bearings without limiting local experiences to one way of arriving or one place to stay. Choose accommodation to suit the landscapes, activities or cultural offerings that are most important to your plans.

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