In Melbourne, nature is never far. Did you know we share this garden city of ours with more than 1,500 different insect species?
From 1 to 7 March 2026, participate in our Insect BioBlitz to help us discover all the local critters who call Melbourne home. We’re encouraging you to take a moment, step outside and look closer at the world around you. You’ll be amazed at what you see!
Explore Melbourne’s parks and gardens, or discover what’s hidden in your backyard.
How to get involved
During the one-week BioBiltz from Sunday 1 March to Saturday 7 March:
- Record insect observations from around your home and local green spaces in the City of Melbourne on iNaturalist – making an important contribution to science.
- Join us at fun and free BioBlitz activities across the city, including guided walks and family-friendly activities.
- Take part in our iNaturalist photo competition to go into a prize draw.
We’re also running activities in February help you get ready for the Insect BioBlitz:
- If you’re not sure how to use iNaturalist, join our online training session on Wednesday 18 February.
- We're launching Insects of Melbourne – your pocket-sized guide to the colourful and curious insects calling Melbourne home. Join us on Saturday 28 February to learn from insect experts and pick up your free guide.
Map
Event list
BioBlitz event list
Wednesday 18 February 2026 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm
Online iNaturalist training (Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne)
Join us for an online introductory session to using iNaturalist - a free data collection platform to help you record and share your nature observations.
Hear from ecologist, entomologist and science communicator Dr Luis Mata who will take you through what iNaturalist is, how to use the platform, and tips for making high-quality observations with a focus on insects.
This training session will take place online (Microsoft Teams)
Saturday 28 February 2026 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Insects of Melbourne – launch event
Join us for the launch of Insects of Melbourne – your pocket-sized guide to the colourful and curious insects calling Melbourne home.
Learn from insect experts, take a tour of the Test Garden and grab your free copy of the new Insects of Melbourne guide.
The Edge, Fed Square, Swanston Street and Flinders Street, Melbourne 3000
Sunday 1 March 2026 10:00 am to 11:00 am
BugBlitz for kids
We’re kicking off our Insect BioBlitz with a BugBlitz for kids!
Join our Park Rangers to become insect explorers and discover the hidden world of insects.
Most suitable for children aged 6 to 11 years old. Guardians must be in attendance.
Trin Warren Tam-Boore Wetlands, Royal Park, Parkville 3052
Monday 2 March 2026 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Westgate Park BioBlitz
Join us at Westgate Park for a morning insect BioBlitz.
As part of a guided walk, hear from Mars Reid from Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare and ecologist Dr Julian Brown from the University of Melbourne.
Learn about the plants that make up Westgate Park, the common pollinator-plant interactions you might see, and where and how to look for pollinators.
Westgate Park, 93-125 Todd Road, Port Melbourne 3207
Tuesday 3 March 2026 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
Lunchtime BioBlitz – St Martins Melbourne Pollinator Corridor Site
Join us for a lunchtime BioBlitz with Emma Cutting, founder of Heartscapes and the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor Project.
Using iNaturalist, we’ll go on an insect hunt to record insects in the new indigenous garden at St Martins Youth Arts Centre. You’ll also get to hear about the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor Project and how you can help our local critters.
Car park of St Martins Youth Arts Centre, 28 St Martins Lane, South Yarra 3141
Wednesday 4 March 2026 12:00 pm to 01:30 pm
Lunchtime BioBlitz - Southbank Community Gardens
Join us for a lunchtime BioBlitz to visit Southbank’s local community gardens.
As part of a guided walk, you'll get to explore two community gardens - Southbank Sustainability Communal Garden and Melbourne Square Community Garden. Discover and document insects you spot using iNaturalist. Hear from the community champions who are taking care of the gardens. Learn about what is being grown and harvested and how you can be involved.
Boyd Community Hub, 207 City Road, Southbank VIC 3006
Wednesday 4 March 2026 08:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Insects at night
Join us at Royal Park for a night time BioBlitz with entomologist Dr Luis Mata.
Get up and close to the insects that come alive at night! Discover and document the insects you find using iNaturalist and make an important contribution to help us better understand the insects in the park.
Australian Native Garden, Royal Park, Parkville 3052
Thursday 5 March 2026 12:30 pm to 01:30 pm
Lunchtime BioBlitz – Pollinators and plants in the city
Ever wondered how insects move across the city?
Join City of Melbourne’s Senior Urban Forester Dr. Freya Thomas, on a lunchtime BioBlitz walk through the CBD.
You’ll get to learn how to look for and survey pollinators, important pollinator and plant interactions, and how these critters move across our city landscape.
Melbourne Visitor Hub, 90-130 Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000
Friday 6 March 2026 02:30 pm to 03:30 pm
Royal Park BioBlitz with Invertebrates Australia
Join us at Royal Park for an insect BioBlitz with Invertebrates Australia.
Take a guided walk through the park and hear from insect expert Kate Pearce.
Using iNaturalist, we’ll go on an insect hunt to record insects along the way. You’ll also get to hear about Invertebrates Australia, the work they’re doing, and how you can help our local critters.
Australian Native Garden, Royal Park, Parkville 3052
Saturday 7 March 2026 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Project Cultivate BioBlitz – Melbourne General Cemetery
Join us at the iconic Melbourne General Cemetery for a morning insect BioBlitz.
As part of a guided walk, you’ll get to explore the cemetery’s new native grasslands as part of 'Project Cultivate’. Hear all about what’s been planted by Helen Tuton, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust Horticulture Assets Manager, and record insects you spot along the walk using iNaturalist.
Melbourne General Cemetery, Macpherson Street entrance, Parkville 3052
Record iNaturalist observations
Record and share the insects you find using the iNaturalist platform.
Learn more about how to use the tool below. We're also running a free online iNaturalist training session on Wednesday 18 February.
Don’t forget to upload your best iNaturalist photo from the BioBlitz under the 'Photo competition' tab to go into a prize draw.
iNaturalist information
iNaturalist is free and simple to use:
- Download the iNaturalist mobile app or visit www.inaturalist.org
- Create an account.
- Make an observation by heading outside, snapping a photo or sound recording and uploading it through the app or website.
- Try to identify the species you’ve observed as best you can. It’s ok if you don’t know the species – others can help identify it later on.
- Add the date, time and location of your observation (in the app, this is automatic).
- Add notes or include additional photos if you want to.
- Share it with the public for all to see and/or help identify the species.
Our City of Melbourne Libraries staff can help you learn how to use iNaturalist.
Book a free, one-on-one, in person appointment for digital assistance. You can book online or call 9658 9500 to make a time.
Explore all the iNaturalist insect observations that are being recorded across the one-week BioBlitz.
Photo competition
Enter the iNaturalist photo competition
We’re on the lookout for the best insect snapshots captured during the Insect BioBlitz! Upload your best iNaturalist insect observation photo here to go into the prize draw.
The best 3 photos will be selected by our Urban Forest and Ecology Team and win one of three Museums Victoria Store $100 Digital Gift Cards. We’re looking for unique and interesting observations which showcase Melbourne’s insect diversity.
To be eligible, make sure:
- Your insect photo was taken in the City of Melbourne during the Insect BioBlitz 2026 (between 1 - 7 March 2026).
- You have also uploaded your insect observation on iNaturalist.
We can’t wait to see your photos!
How to enter
- Select 'Post your photo' to add your BioBlitz picture to the competition below.
- Under 'submission' tell us a bit more about your insect observation (for example, where and when did you discover it? do you know what it is?)
- Add your email address – if you are a prize winner we will contact you via this email.
- By adding a photo you confirm you agree to the Terms and Conditions below.
Terms and Conditions for the City of Melbourne Insect BioBlitz 2026 iNaturalist photo competition (Competition).
By entering the Competition you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
- The Competition is being run by Melbourne City Council (City of Melbourne), ABN 55 370 219 287, 120 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (Council).
- Information about how to participate and details of the prize offered is published on City of Melbourne’s Participate Melbourne website.
- The Competition commences on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 12.00am AEST and closes on Saturday 7 March 2026 at 11.59pm AEST (Competition Period). Any entry that is not received during the Competition Period will be invalid.
- Council will select 3 winners based on the discretion of Council, that will take place within 1 week of the Competition Period closing.
- Council will contact the winners via email to confirm the winning entries.
- The winners’ names and photos will be published on the City of Melbourne’s Participate Melbourne website and may be published on other City of Melbourne channels.
- There will be three prize packs (Prize), each valued at $100.
- Each Prize includes 1 x Museums Victoria Store $100 Digital Gift Card. The gift card must be redeemed within the period stated on the voucher and is subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the contributing businesses.
- The Prize will be sent directly to the winner via email, using the email that was provided in the Competition entry.
- Where a Prize is unavailable for any reason Council reserves the right to provide a substitute prize of equal or greater value.
- Entrants must be 18 years or over. Council reserves the right to request proof of age and identity of the winner before awarding the Prize.
- Employees and immediate family members of Council involved in the Competition, are not valid entrants in the Competition.
- Incomplete, illegible or incorrect entries, or entries containing offensive or defamatory comments, will not be eligible to win. Council accepts no responsibility for any entries not received for any reason during the Competition Period.
- To enter the Competition, you must submit a complete and valid entry via the Participate Melbourne website during the Competition Period.
- You may enter the Competition multiple times but can only be selected once as the winner.
- Any personal information collected by Council will be treated in accordance with Council’s Privacy Policy.
- By entering the Competition, you agree for Council to use your name and details as provided in your Competition entry to contact you to matters relating to the Competition, and you consent to such use. Entrants may direct any request to access their personal information to Council’s Urban Forest and Ecology team (nature@melbourne.vic.gov.au).
- In the event that you are a winner of the Competition, you consent to the disclosure, publication and dissemination of your Competition entry including name, uploaded photo and submission response for the purposes of the Competition, and Council’s advertising and marketing purposes (as winner of the Competition).
