Bird Photography

Start your day with calm, clarity, and connection. This is a gentle walk through Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens — ideal if you’ve been feeling stressed, disconnected, or just need a fresh start. We’ll move at a mindful pace, take in nature, chat if we feel like it, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Route: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/3847 **☕ Optional:** Coffee after the walk **🎒 Bring:** Comfy shoes, water, optional camera **🧠 Mood:** Gentle, quiet, open to connection but no pressure to talk

Start your day with calm, clarity, and connection. This is a **gentle walk** through Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens — ideal if you’ve been feeling stressed, disconnected, or just need a fresh start. We’ll move at a slow, mindful pace, take in nature, chat if we feel like it, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Route: https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/3847 This isn’t a workout or a photography tour — though you’re welcome to take photos. It’s simply a **reset** — a way to feel human again, without pressure. **☕ Optional:** Coffee after the walk **🎒 Bring:** Comfy shoes, water, optional camera or journal **🧠 Mood:** Gentle, quiet, open to connection but no pressure to talk

**WALK DESCRIPTION:** These two walks could well be full of surprises - like all of our Melbourne Bushies walks can be! Both walks are through geographically and historically significant areas to the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Both walks begin along stretches of well-formed tracks with intermittent patches of surf and beach culture. The 18km option - a first time for our club hikers - starts by going to the panoramic views of the Barwon Heads bluff. Maybe from then on expect a fast paced walk. The 15km walk is an easy one, with a few inclines. This one I think is a chat and walk, catch up with old and new MBW friends. We eventually pass lighthouses that have guided ships through the treacherous Heads for many decades, with both walks finishing at Queenscliff's historic fort that guards the bay's entrance. Both walks will be on a variety of walking tracks - sand (mostly soft, but some will be firm sand I hope!), some on paved path then finishing off on an enchanting scrub track that leads us to the Queenscliff lighthouse, where both walks end with spectacular views of the bay. Finally, no promises, but we saw a pod of dolphins off Point Lonsdale on the preview walk. You may wish to bring along a half frozen bottle of your choice to leave on the bus to rehydrate after your walk. A reminder to bring a change of footwear for the trip back, because muddy boots leave marks on the bus that our club pays to have cleaned. Please note that at this time of year there is always a possibility of encountering snakes, and appropriate leg covering is recommended. As the weather can be warm at this time of year, **please carry at least 2 litres of water.** . **DISTANCE(S):** 15km and 18km . **TOTAL ASCENT(S):** 100m Rise and 200m Rise . **GRADINGS:** Easy and Medium **Easy (E):** Walking mostly on tracks or in open country, with possibly some stretches of light scrub. Few hills and adequate rest stops. Distances may be up to 15km in flat open terrain but will be shorter if scrub or significant hills are involved. **Medium (M):** Consistent walking on tracks or in open bushland, usually with patches of thicker scrub, several moderate climbs, and/or rock hopping. Distances up to about 22kms with reasonable rest stops. A good level of fitness and walking experience is required. **.** **PLEASE NOTE:** Your RSVP on MeetUp lets us know who may be interested but does not add you to the booking list. To register and pay for the walk you must visit our clubrooms (details below). . **HOW TO BOOK AND PAY:** (a) Visit the Melbourne Bushwalkers' clubrooms on either of the two Wednesday evenings before the walk, speak to the leader and, if it is agreed to walk, make a payment to secure your place on the bus. (b) To cancel a Sunday Walk booking before 4pm on the Thursday before the walk, send a note to sunday@mbw.org.au. A credit will be issued for a future walk. (c) To cancel a Sunday Walk booking after 4pm on the Thursday before the walk contact the walk leader direct. You should be given the walk leader contact details at the time of booking. (d) The costs for the walk are $30 bus fare plus $10 visitor fee if you are not a paid-up Member of Melbourne Bushwalkers. . **OUR CLUBROOMS:** Our clubrooms are located at The Mission to Seafarers Victoria, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands. We are open Wednesday nights 6:30pm - 8.00pm. . **CONTACT US:** To contact us regarding this walk send an email to sunday@mbw.org.au. We do not regularly check the MeetUp site for messages and the above address will get a faster response. **.** **CAN I MEET AT THE START OF THE WALK?** No! Since Sunday Bus walks are generally walks starting and finishing at two widely separated locations we do not accept walkers meeting at the start of the walk. There is no way for them to get back to their transport. We can arrange for a pick-up and drop-off at a designated location along the route closer to Melbourne, however, the full bus fee is still payable since a seat has to be kept free on the bus. . **IMPORTANT TO KNOW:** Registration (membership) on Meetup is not the same as paid-up Membership of MBW. To become a paid-up Member with online booking and other benefits see: https://mbw.org.au/MBW_membership.php . **WHAT TO BRING:** A day pack containing: \* Lunch, a morning and afternoon snack. \* Full water bottle - we recommend 2 litres, more in warmer weather. \* An unlined waterproof jacket or cape, waterproof over-trousers (if your jacket is short). \* Whistle, pencil and paper. \* Personal and first aid items, including sun screen, lip screen, toilet paper, identification, Club green Health Card, some money etc. Note: The leader always carries a first aid kit. \* A change of footwear for the trip back. . **DO YOU HAVE COMPREHENSIVE AMBULANCE COVER?** The Club strongly recommends that all participants have comprehensive personal ambulance cover. . **MORE DETAILS:** The visit to the clubrooms on a Wednesday before a walk is to cover three things: (a) Provide background on the club and ensure all walkers are familiar with the safety and courtesy guidelines we adopt; (b) Meet with the leader of the walk who will be in the clubrooms to discuss any special features of the walk and ensure that adequate gear and fitness requirements are met. (c) Sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form and pay the visitor fee ($10) and bus fee ($30) to reserve a seat on the bus. No booking is accepted until the payment is received. . **DAY WALKS BY BUS** with Melbourne Bushwalkers: https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/walks/MBW_bus_walks.php

Soak in the atmosphere of community traditions, cultural diversity and vibrant festivities at the St Albans Lunar Festival, right in the heart of St Albans. This event has been attended in the past by around 90,000 people! Experience live performances, performances by roving entertainers, a children's carnival with rides and market stalls. Central to the festivities will be the amazing sights smells and tastes of traditional and street foods! This will be a great opportunity for festival style street photography with heaps to experience and photograph. For those wanting a theme, we will have 2 (1) Red and Gold -not necessarily together, red or gold is fine (2) Street Food As this will be a busy festival we won't be able to have a meal or snack together, but we have included a second meeting point so you can catch up with other members . Please note that it could be a hot day, hence the early start time. There will be toilets, drinking facilities available plus the library will be open to allow attendees to cool off and rest. The festival is easily accessible, 5 minutes walk from St Albans train station .Train travel on weekends should be free in January! Schedule: 11.00am Meeting Point 1 Outside St Albans Library 1 pm Meeting Point 2 Inside St Albans Library

Looking to get outside, clear your head, and connect with good people? Join us for a relaxed walk around the promenade of Port Melbourne during the golden hour. The route will start at the meeting point and heading towards St. Kilda. After 40m aprox we will turn around and back to the meeting point. This is a casual meetup, no pressure. Just a friendly stroll, good conversation, and a reason to step away from screens and into the fresh air. Whether you’re new in town, working from home, or just want a social reason to walk, you’re very welcome. Come as you are. Comfy shoes, water bottle, and curiosity are all you need. **Optional:** After the walk, some of us might grab a coffee nearby — feel free to join if you’re up for it!

‼️Public transport is free on weekends during January‼️😄 For this event we will be going to Port Melbourne Beach 🏝️ Slap on your sunscreen, grab your beach gear and any art supplies you like. Look for the location in the event image. We will just be relaxing at the beach drawing together. If you aren’t sure what to draw the club has a weekly drawing theme, just ask me what the prompt is 😊 ✏️ We welcome all artists of any skill level or medium, Whether you’re a beginner or pro, traditional or digital, absolutely anyone can join. ⚠️IMPORTANT⚠️ Please do not attend if you are sick. I have multiple chronic illnesses so my immune system is extremely weak. keep everyone safe by staying home if you are unwell ☔️ If the weather changes I will move the event location —————————————————— Check out our instagram @shypeoplesdrawingclub to see more about our awesome group. We also have a Discord group for online events if you would like to join and chat with more artists. ✨

👉🏻 [GET YOUR TICKET (CLICK HERE) ](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1977239373191?aff=oddtdtcreator)👈🏻 🗓️ Date: Sunday, 18 January 2025 📍 Location: Sorrento Beach (Approximately 1 hour & 40 minutes from Melbourne CBD on Sundays) 📏 Hike Distance: Around 15 km total 🕙 Start Time: 2:45 PM. Please arrive at the hike/parking location (shared via the private Instagram group chat). This allows time for a quick ice breaker and, if available, a toilet break at the car park before we set off. The hike will begin promptly at 3:00 PM. 🕔 End Time: 6:30 PM 🚶‍♂️ Pace/Effort: Friendly and social / Easy. ⌛️ Average Hike Duration: 4–5 hours, depending on the group’s pace 💬 Community Chat Access: You'll be added to our private Instagram group chat after booking! **Optional Swim After the Hike 🌊** If you’d like to stick around after the hike, you’re welcome to stay for a relaxing swim 🏊 . We’ll be finishing close to sunset, so the weather is much gentler, and there’s less chance of getting sunburned. It’s a really peaceful way to end the day if you feel like it. Looking to meet new people, explore nature, and have a good laugh along the way? This is your perfect Sunday plan! 🎉 We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Melbourne Social Hike. A welcoming day out where the focus is all about fun, friendships, and fresh air: whether you come solo or bring a mate, you’ll leave with new connections and memories! 🤩 Why Join? 🌟 Make new friends — super easy, zero pressure 🌟 Enjoy nature and fresh air with great company 🌟 Friendly vibes — laughs, chats, and good times guaranteed 🌟 Your next hiking buddy might just become your next uni mate, housemate, or travel buddy! ✨ Best practice: Passengers should try to secure transportation before purchasing a ticket to avoid any last-minute stress. **Important Carpooling Note** Drivers and passengers should adhere to the arrangements made in the Transport Group Chat. We **do not recommend swapping drivers or cars** after you’ve agreed on a ride. If you do decide to change, please make sure **all parties are clearly informed and agree** to avoid confusion. If a driver forgets, gets mixed up, or doesn’t pick you up, Wilderness Seekers Victoria (and your driver) is **not liable** for any inconvenience caused. For this reason, it is best to keep things simple with the driver you first arranged with. In the transport chat, drivers will share their preferred pick-up locations, often major CBD train stations like Parliament, Richmond, South Yarra, Southern Cross, or North Melbourne. 🎟️ **Tickets:** **All tickets are $20 per person.** This helps cover: * Public liability insurance * A $2.40 contribution per ticket directly to Parks Victoria * Experienced guides with a tour operator license who know the trails well * First aid kit and safety equipment for the group 🚗 **Carpoolers Discount** If you’re driving and offer seats to passengers, your ticket is only **$5** 🙌. 🥾 What to Bring: 👟 Comfy hiking shoes 💧 2–3L of water 🥪 Snacks/lunch ☀️ Sun protection (hat, sunnies, sunscreen) 🦟 Bug spray (always a good idea) 🎒 Optional: hiking poles, wet weather gear/raincoat 📸 How It Works: * After purchasing your ticket, you’ll receive a link to our private Instagram group chat. All final details will be shared there: Hike route, meet-up location, and any last-minute updates. * Friendly pace, friendly faces! This hike is intentionally medium, so anyone with some fitness can enjoy and chat along the way. Why Join Us? 🌱 Make new friends in a relaxed, casual way. 🌱 Enjoy nature while meeting people your age. 🌱 No pressure, just good vibes and real connections. 🌱 You never know. Today’s hiking buddy could be tomorrow’s uni mate, flatmate, or travel buddy! 🌱 Your safety is our priority. Equipped with a first aid kit on hand. 🍽️ Grab food after the hike (optional) ⚠️ Important: Must be 18+ years old to attend. Hike at your own risk. You are responsible for your own safety and belongings. Respectful, kind behaviour is a must. We are a positive and welcoming community. Zero tolerance for any unwelcome behaviour. We’re here to have fun, together! 📜 Liability Waiver: By joining this hike, you acknowledge that participation is voluntary and at your own risk. Wilderness Seekers Victoria is not liable for accidents, injuries, illnesses, theft, or transport-related issues. 🚑 If you have previous injuries, medical conditions, or health concerns, discuss with the organisers before purchasing your ticket. Transport/carpooling is a community initiative only, not a service. 👉 Please make sure to read our [Terms and Conditions (Click Here)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tUzOL94hk5Uk5c7FOjiPRHXZz--5H9p5/view?usp=drivesdk) before purchasing your ticket. Refund Policy: Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled. Tickets cannot be transferred to other events unless agreed with the organisers. 👉 Follow us on Instagram for updates and upcoming hikes: @wildseekvic 📞 Admin Contact: We highly encourage you to text our admin team before purchasing your ticket if you have any concerns about transport: Sebas 📱 0435 993 237 \| Jacob 📱 0404 870 123 🥳 Ready to make friends, explore Melbourne’s beautiful nature, and have a blast? Spots are limited, so grab your ticket now and let's hike, laugh, and connect! 🌿🎉

Join party-people from around the globe and discover Melbourne's best bars, lounges, and clubs including a famous rooftop bar/club with amazing city views, a truly wild "underground" nightclub, and a premiere Melbourne ultra-club featuring top DJ’s from around the world -all with exclusive free VIP entry. Enjoy no entry fees, no queues, free shots and exclusive “pub crawl only” drink deals @ every bar! https://pubcrawlmelb.com.au https://www.eventbrite.com/e/melbourne-cbd-pub-crawl-tickets-45461115420

Northern Virginia Photographer’s Coffee Chat is a monthly Saturday morning meetup for photographers, videographers, and creators who want to meet more local talent, swap ideas, and leave with new connections (and better shoots). We’ll keep it simple: coffee, quick intros, what you’re working on, and time to network. No pitching, no awkward formal panel, just real people building creative momentum in NoVA. Hosted at The Studio by Nonagon Productions in Falls Church. Every month at 9:00am on Saturday.

Join Nextgen Birders for a fun-filled day of birding at **Lake Fairfax Park** followed by a board game session at the **Northern VA Bird Alliance (NVBA) HQ**! Feel free to join us for the **morning walk**, the **afternoon game session**, or **both**! ***Agenda:*** * **9:00 am - 11:00 am:** Birding around Lake Fairfax Park * **11:00 am - 1:00 pm:** Board games and trivia at NVBA HQ ***Morning Birding Detail*s** (Lake Fairfax Park) * **Meeting Spot:** Main parking lot (near the restrooms and playgrounds) * **Address:** 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr, Reston, VA 20190 * **The Walk:** We will walk a portion of the trail along the lakeshore, looking for waterfowl and other birds of interest. * **Trail Note:** The trail includes both paved and unpaved sections. We highly recommend wearing **closed-toed shoes**. ***Afternoon Board Game Details (NVBA HQ)*** * **Location:** National Wildlife Federation Building (approx. 12 mins drive from the park) * **Address:** 11100 Wildlife Center Dr suite 100, Reston, VA 20190 * **Games:** We will have multiple sets of **Wingspan** as well as bird-themed **trivia** and more! * **Refreshments:** Light snacks and drinks will be provided. You are welcome to bring a festive treat to share! ***Additional FAQs:*** * **Parking:** Parking is **free** at both Lake Fairfax Park and the NVBA HQ. * **Metro:** The closest Metro stop is **Wiehle-Reston East** (Silver Line). Please note that both locations are a sizeable walk from the Metro, so taking an Uber or bus from the stop is likely the easiest option. We look forward to seeing you there!

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy registration at [Birding Gilbert’s Corner - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-gilberts-corner-january/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a bird walk at the relatively new [Gilbert’s Corner Regional Park](https://www.novaparks.com/parks/gilberts-corner-regional-park) in Aldie (see map below). With a combination of scrub, brush and meadow, this park is a great birding hotspot in southwestern Loudoun. *Limit 14. **Registration required.*** ***Questions:*** *Contact Joe Coleman at [jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org)*.

***Registration required at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy -*** [Birding Algonkian - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-algonkian-january/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a search for birds at the Algonkian Regional Park in eastern Loudoun County. This bird walk takes place each month except December. With extensive frontage along the Potomac River, its rich bottomland forests, extensive wetlands and grassy areas combine to make it Loudoun’s top birding hotspot. Bring binoculars if you have them. We’ll meet at the boat ramp next to the parking lot.

***Registration required at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy -*** [Birding Algonkian - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-algonkian-january/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a search for birds at the Algonkian Regional Park in eastern Loudoun County. This bird walk takes place each month except December. With extensive frontage along the Potomac River, its rich bottomland forests, extensive wetlands and grassy areas combine to make it Loudoun’s top birding hotspot. Bring binoculars if you have them. We’ll meet at the boat ramp next to the parking lot.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy registration at [Young Birders Walk at Gilbert’s Corner - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/young-birders-gilberts-corner-jan/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Young Birding Program for a bird walk exclusively for young birders at [Gilbert’s Corner Regional Park](https://www.novaparks.com/parks/gilberts-corner-regional-park) in Aldie. With a combination of scrub, brush, and meadow, this park is a great birding hotspot in southwestern Loudoun. Bring binoculars if you have them. *Note: This program is exclusively for young birders ages 10-18; a parent/guardian is welcome. **Registration required*** ***Questions:*** *Contact Young Birding Program Coordinator Patrick Lewis at [plewis@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:plewis@loudounwildlife.org).*

Birds of prey numbers increase dramatically each winter in the county as our resident birds are joined by many others. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy to search for winter raptors. We will drive the back roads of Loudoun until dusk with frequent stops to find and identify the many hawks, hopefully an owl or two, and any other birds that overwinter here. Bring binoculars if you have them. *Limit 16.* ***Registration required.*** Registration for Searching for Birds of Prey Field Trip **https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birds-of-prey-field-trip/** ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*, if **registration is full,** ask to be added to the waitlist by emailing . Please include the event name and date in your email. You’ll be notified if space becomes available. My car can fit 3 additional people & I have spare binoculars. Or we can go separately. ###