Jells Park Jells Park

Jells Park is nestled in the Dandenong Creek Valley, Wheelers Hill, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

The park attracts over 900,000 visitors a year, with over nine kilometres of paths and trails, 127 hectares of wide open space and enough picnic areas for everyone to enjoy.

It is easy to see why Jells Park is so popular. It has so much to offer, with natural bushland, wonderful scenery and reminders of our history, protected for the future and ours to enjoy now.

Things to Do
Experience the Dandenong Creek Trail on foot or by bike as it makes it's way through a variety of bush landscapes and parklands.
Enjoy a family get together at one of the many barbecue and picnic areas.
The Yabbie Hill Playscape and four other playgounds in the park provide an adventure wonderland for children.

Jells Lake
Jells Lake is a beautiful man-made feature with a variable water level that flows from the Dandenong Creek. No boating or canoeing is allowed. Fishing in Jells Lake is permitted only from the two larger jetties. A valid Recreational Fishing Licence is required. No fishing is allowed within the conservation area.

Relish the wide open spaces, panoramic lake views and the tranquillity of peaceful surroundings.

Cycle, walk, run or rollerblade around a network of sealed trails.
Fish from the jetties on the western side of the lake for redfin or short-finned eels and yabbies (valid Recreational Fishing Licence required).
At the bird hide, you can view Australian native birds such as swamphens, darters, cormorants and pelicans as well as birds that migrate to Jells Park from Asia during summertime.

The oaks and ashes ovals may be booked for large group outings or functions.

Walking and cycling
All paths and trails in Jells Park are multi‐use so you can cycle, jog or simply stroll.

Dandenong Creek Trail
The main Dandenong Creek Trail runs north‐south through Jells Park, linking with the Eastlink Trail, Scotchmans Creek Trail and the Blind Creek Trail (near Nortons Park). There are many opportunities to eplore the surrounding parklands through this network of trails.

Lake Conservation Trail
The conservation trail meanders around the eastern perimeter of Jells Lake. As you pass through the wetlands and billabongs on this trail look out for a variety of native birds such as the Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Cormorants, Darters and if you are lucky, Pelicans. The bird hide provides an excellent viewing spot.

Facilities
Six picnic areas with different outlooks, each with shelters, barbecues, water and toilets nearby.

Five adventure playgrounds for the kids.

The Jells Park Visitors Centre has a conference area and a tea house which offers refreshments and light meals.

Nine kilometres of trails and tracks meandering through a variety of park landscapes.

Heritage
Named after one of the first pioneer settlers in the area, Joseph Jell, the park has had an interesting history, being used for grazing, a piggery and even a storage area for the American Army during World War 2 .Prior to European settlement, Aborigines from the Woiworung and Bunurong tribes lived on the land for over 30,000 years.

Jells Park was officially opened in April 1976 and is now one of the most popular parks in Melbourne catering for over 700,000 visitors each year.

Fauna
The major habitat areas linked by the Dandenong Creek and its tributaries are welcome havens for wildlife, especially birds, in a densely settled urban environment.

Over 150 bird species either live or visit the park so you are sure to see swamp hens, cormorants, herons, coots, native ducks and even the elegant pelican around the lake and in the wetlands of Jells Park. During the warmer months of the year a number of birds migrate to Jells Park from China and Japan to escape the cold winters of their homelands. Making the park their home for several months of the year, these birds breed, rest and feed on fish and insects.

Higher up on the dryer slopes, amongst the box and stringybark eucalyptus trees, nocturnal creatures including possums, bats and sugar gliders can be seen frolicking in the treetops at night, in search of food.

Vegetation
The 129 hectares that make up Jells Park contain a diversity of vegetation communities. Along the Dandenong Creek and throughout the park's floodplains and wetlands, riparian plants and trees flourish, including melaluca and the rare Yarra gum. Up on the higher slopes, where the plants have adapted to lower water levels, dry forest species such as the stringybark and yellow box eucalypt prevail.

Remnant, indigenous vegetation still exists along the Dandenong Creek with 116 species of native plants being recorded in Jells Park alone. This vegetation plays an important role in sustaining over 200 species of animals including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish that inhabit the park.

Looking After the Park
We have a "carry in, carry out"policy so please take your rubbish with you.
Please keep your dog on the lead and out of the conservation areas at all times. Remember all native plants and animals are protected. Light fires only in designated fireplaces.

Disability Information
Accessibility Rating: 5 out of 6. Jells Park is a popular place for outdoor recreation, and offers a high level of accessibility. The car parking areas are large, with several designated accessible spaces. The paths around the park are sealed and wide. The Visitor Centre/tea room building has a good accessible entry, and an open floor plan. Designated accessible toilets are provided in three locations, although they do not meet all current access standards.

BBQs, picnics and playgrounds
Jells Park has many barbecue and picnic areas. Relax under the shade of the Pines, enjoy the lake views at the Elms, or watch the children enjoying the playground at Stringybark or Yabbie Hill. Please remember to take home all your rubbish for sorting and recycling.

Visitor Centre and Madelines
The Visitor Centre is a multi‐use facility consisting of Madelines at Jells caf©, restaurant, function centre, kiosk, toilet facilities and park information. Light snacks and meals are available from 9.00am daily.

Phone Madelines at Jells on 9561 4522 or go to www.jells.com.au

Opening hours
Jells Park is open every day, including weekends and public holidays, with 24‐hour pedestrian access. The vehicle entry gate from Waverley Road opens at 8.00am and closes at dusk with 24‐hour vehicle exit.

Getting there
Enter by foot along the Dandenong Creek Trail, the Scotchmans Creek Trail or via the Eastlink Trail on Ferntree Gully Road.

Vehicle access is from Ferntree Gully Road (Melway 72 A10) or Waverley Road (Melway 71 K6).

Jells Park is in the Dandenong Valley Parklands managed by Parks Victoria

❊ What's On ❊

➼ Monash Carols by Candlelight 2024 - Saturday 7 December 2024

❊ Address ❊

 ⊜  Jells Park, Waverley Road Wheelers Hill 3150 View Map
 ✆ Telephone: Parks Victoria 13 1963

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❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Jells Park 

➼ www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

➼ www.jells.com.au

➼ Jells Park - Visitor guide (PDF 1.5 MB)

➼ Top 10 Things to do at Jells Park

➼ www.wikipedia.org/Jells_Park

➼ Friends of Dandenong Valley Parklands Inc.






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