Yarra River Reserve at Warrandyte

I visited the Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD, on February 27, 2009.

This was a 5 km return walk along the Yarra River Reserve, centred on the Taroona Reserve picnic ground, which took me from the western end of Everard Drive to the main bridge in the centre of town.

See the full set of Photos, which show the river, scenery, people having a good time, many hounds, some ducks, and young climbers on the steep cliffs.

It was a hot day, 35 degrees!

Rye Beachwalk

Situated on the popular holiday destination of Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula and nestled between Tootgarook and Blairgowrie is the coastal town of Rye.

Rye's main beach, fronting Port Phillip Bay, offers safe sandy beaches, a jetty, and attractive foreshore facilities. From 2001 to 2007, the foreshore was the venue of an annual sand sculpting event which showcased the talents of artists as they carved figurines and landscapes out of tonnes of sand. Point Nepean Road separates the wide foreshore from Rye's main shopping strip.

Around a kilometre west of the Rye Jetty is an outcrop of land called White Cliffs. At the base of the cliffs is a reconstructed old Lime Burners Kiln - a reminder of the mid-1800s when the extraction of lime was the area's primary industry. Scenic views along the coast can be enjoyed from lookout above the kiln.

Rye Jetty is one of the longest in the region, dating back to the 1830s.

My visit was on February 26, 2009, on a 2 km exploration of the beach between Rye and Tootgarook, and the Jetty.

Fiddler's Gully - Warrandyte State Park

Fiddler's Gully was once the centre of frenzied goldmining in the 1850s, in what is now the Warrandyte State Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

An interesting 4 km circuit hike starts at the small car park/picnic area on Gold Memorial Rd, ascending Wildcat Gully Track, into Wildcat Link Track, then along public access Webb Rd, and on to Fiddler's Gully Track.

Fiddler's Gully Track descends steeply past old gold mining relics and rejoins Webb Rd, then into Wildcat Link and back to the start.

My hike was on February 25, 2009, a grey and overcast day.

See the full set of Photos of my trip!

Silvan Reservoir Park

The Silvan Reservoir Park is adjacent to the Silvan Reservoir, 40 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

The Reservoir supplies water via large underground pipelines to storage facilities nearer to the city.

The Park incorporates a beautiful and carefully maintained picnic ground, as well as several interesting walking tracks.

The Reservoir was built in the period 1928-1931, and some artifacts from the original construction have been preserved, including part of the former concrete aqueduct and the Stilling Basin.

The Stonyford Creek Nature Trail, which starts at the picnic ground, is a short, 1 km circuit walk through protected forest and fern gullies.

I visited the Park on February 24, 2009.

See the full set of Photos of my trip!

Comprehensive information about the history and development of the Reservoir may be found at
http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings2/vic/Silvan/SilvanReservoirandPark/18279

Mt Lofty Summit - Warrandyte State Park

On February 23, 2009, I completed a pleasant 3 km circuit walk in the Mt Lofty section of the Warrandyte State Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

My route started at the Park gate on Lower Homestead Rd, in the municipality of Wonga Park, just before the canoe launching ramp on the Yarra River.

This took me up Stephen Track, passing the information board near the Mt Lofty Summit, then a descent to the Yarra, at the Water Point.

There are picnic tables at the Summit and the Water Point.

From there, I followed the somewhat overgrown foot-track next to the Yarra to the canoe ramp, passing the lookout, along a boardwalk, and then back to Stephen Rd.

This walk is one of the best in the Park, with superb views in all directions from the Summit, looking across the Yarra gorges to the Yarra Ranges, the Dandenong Ranges, and the Kinglake Ranges.

New signposts have recently been built near the Summit.

Mt Lofty overlooks the adjacent large Heritage Golf and Country Club and the Wetlands.

See all of the Photos of my trip!

Gunnamatta Beach - scenic Coastal Walk

Gunnamatta Beach is a popular destination in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, about 80 km south of Melbourne.

I visited this magnificent ocean beach on February 22 2009, on a 4 km (return) coastal walk west to St Andrew's Beach.

The tide was out, exposing a vast array of rock pools.

The surf was up, with big waves!

The coastal vews were superb, with Cape Schank and the Lighthouse to the east, and the long sweeping beaches to Point Nepean to the west.

The Beach is at the end of Trueman's Rd, turn off from the Point Nepean Rd at Tootgarook.

An admission fee of $4.40 per car is charged for entry.

See the full set of Photos of my visit!

Exploring the Olinda Falls in mid-summer

The Olinda Falls are among the most popular attractions in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, 30 km from the Melbourne CBD.

There are actully three falls - the upper, middle and lower cascades, with viewing areas for each along the 1 km steep track which starts at the picnic ground on Falls Rd.

Visitors have enjoyed the Falls since the 1860s, well before motor cars made their appearance in Melbourne, when they travelled up Mt Dandenong by horse and buggy!

The Falls were originally known as the "Valinda Falls", the name of the district, which then became "Olinda".

Olinda settlement is perched on the rim of the ancient volcano crater, which last erupted 200 million years ago!

Please see my Photo Album of the trip, which shows the walking track, signposts to nearby trails, the falls, the picnic ground, the car park, and the viewing platforms. It includes two archival photographs, showing the Falls Walking Track, and what the Falls looked like around the year 1910.

I visited the Olinda Falls on February 20, 2009.

The Track to Lookout Rock, Olinda

One of the best walks in the Olinda Section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park is to the Lookout Rock.

I visited this interesting geographical feature on February 21, 2009. My 4.5 km return route was along gated Mathias Rd, starting at the junction with Falls Rd, then into Golf Course Track and to the Rock.

There are glorious views from Golf Course Track and Mathias Rd across the Upper Yarra Valley to the Yarra Ranges.

The Rock, adjacent to the Olinda Golf Course, has been a favourite destination for walkers since the early 1900s. In those years, there were good panoramas from the Rock, but these are now obscured by tall timber regrowth.

The Hamer Arboretum borders Mathias Rd.

See the Photos of my trip, which include two historical images of the Rock as it was in the year 1910!

Exploring the Shoreham Reefs, Westernport Coast

The vast Shoreham Reefs, Westernport Coast, are exposed at low tide, and extend from Shoreham Beach southerly to a point near the town of Flinders.

They are popular with beachwalkers!

Shorteham is a small community on Westernport Bay, about 80 km south of Melbourne, and is reached from the Westernport Highway, through Hastings, then on the Frankston-Flinders Rd.

I visited the Reefs on February 19, 2009, completing a 6 km (return) coastal walk.

See the full set of Photos of my trip

A Hike in the Sherbooke Forest to the Falls

This album shows the scenery, wildlife and features in the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

I visited this timeless beautiful forest on February 18, 2009, starting at the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground, on a 3 km circuit hike along the Sherbrooke and O'Donohue's Tracks, passing the Falls.

Sadly, the Falls were only a trickle, due to the extended drought.

The rosellas will always entertain you!

See my Photo Abum, of the trip, which includes an image of the Falls, as they looked around the year 1940.

Blue Tongue Bend - Warrandyte State Park

The Blue Tongue Bend walking track is in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

The 4 km (return) track starts at the Jumping Creek Picnic Ground, off Jumping Creek Rd, and follows the Yarra River, through the Gorge.

The track, stony and steep in sections, passes through bushland until it ends at a sign "Blue Tongue Bend", where there are rapids.

My visit was on February 17, 2009.

See the full set of Photos of my trip!

The Pinnacles - Woolamai Beach - Phillip Island

In-the-know surfers flock to stunning Woolamai Beach, located on the southern coastline of Phillip Island. The vast beach is virtually deserted most days and the cliffs and golden sands are a stunning backdrop to the challenging waves.

Cape Woolamai frames the eastern end of the beach – it is Phillip Island`s highest point and is criss-crossed with walking tracks that lead to viewing platforms and breathtaking views of The Pinnacles rock formations offshore. The long beach is patrolled by the Woolamai Surf Lifesaving Club during the summer months.

I visited Woolamai Beach on February 16, 2009, and did the 4 km (return) hike to the top of the Pinnacles, passing the Mutton Bird rookeries.

The coastal views from the clifftop were incredible!

The sandy Pinnacles Track starts at the main car park, ascending to the clifftop, then passing the start of the staircase down to the Magiclands beach.

The walk ended at the Pinnacles Lookout, where there is a seat and information board, about 90 metres above the ocean. The Track continues on several km as a loop circuit.

This Track is marked with green arrows on marker posts, to disinguish it from other tracks on the headland which are marked in different colors.

The return was down the Magiclands Staircase and back along the beach to the car park.

This is a walk which should not be missed!

Woolamai Beach Rd is off the Phillip Island Highway, about 5 km east of Cowes.

See the full set of Photos of my visit!

Hermon's Track - Olinda Forest

Hermon's Track is a popular 3 km walking/cycling/equestrian trail in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is reached from the Eagle Nest picnic ground, off Silvan Rd, and follows the Lyrebird Creek valley.

It passes through regrowth forest, fern gullies, and across the creek, with cockatoos screeching overhead!

My visit was on February 15, 2009.

See the full set of Photos, which include some images taken at the nearby Woolrich Lookout, looking east towards the ranges around Gembrook, where bushfires were still burning in the Bunyip State Park.

Exploring Pound Bend - Warrandyte State Park

Warrandyte, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD, is the site of Victoria's first gold discovery. The find at Anderson's Creek by Louis Michel, in 1851, marked the start of the Victorian gold rush and an influx of people into the area. The approximate location of the site is marked by a cairn on Fourth Hill in the Warrandyte State Park.

Another major location of gold in Warrandyte and Melbourne was the Yarra River. All through Warrandyte the river shows signs of being exploited, a classic example is the tunnel at Pound Bend.

The Pound Bend Tunnel was created in 1870 by a goldmining company in order to divert the course of the Yarra River, thereby enabling the exploitation of the old riverbed. It is now a popular swimming spot.

The river was partially dammed at Pound Bend near Norman's Reserve at its eastern entrance and near Bob's wetlands at its western exit. Miners then blasted a 300m long tunnel through solid rock. The river was then fully dammed at the entrance and exit to the tunnel and water was diverted through 300m and out the other side leaving an astonishing 3.85 km of riverbed around Pound Bend exposed to the sun and the miners picks.

The Pound Bend Reserve is popular in summer. There are grassy areas for picnicking, a walking track along the river which supplies access to koalas and a variety of flora, toilets (including disabled facilities), information boards, canoeing, swimming and horseriding opportunities and a nature walk.

I visited this interesting historical place on February 12, 2009. This included a 4 km return hike along the main Walking Track next to the river along the river bank.

See the full set of Photos

Gurdies Bushland Reserve and Lookout

The Gurdies, represents some of the largest remaining areas of native vegetation on the eastern shore of Western Port and covers an area of about 260 hectares.

In 1798, Western Port and Bass Strait were discovered by George Bass and a volunteer crew, who sailed and rowed from Port Jackson in an open whaleboat. Many features of the local area have been named after George Bass, such as the Bass Highway, the township of Bass, the Bass Ranges and the Bass River. During the 1800s Western Port was a very busy harbour and areas such as Corinella and Grantville were settled. Also during the 1800s, many of the grand eucalypts of the ranges such as Messmate and Bluegum (some 70 metres in height), were felled and used in the construction of wharves, railway bridges and railway lines.

In 1977, the Gurdies bushland area was recognised as significant in terms of its flora and fauna values and in 1992 the area was was proclaimed a Flora and Fauna Reserve.

The main entrance to the Reserve is at the car park, picnic area, and information kiosk, located on the Bass Highway, about 80 km SE of Melbourne, 12 km south-east of its intersection with the South Gippsland Highway.

The signposted walk starts here, initially passing through bushland, then joining a wide management track. This track is followed up a gentle gradient, through regrowth forest, eventually reaching the Lookout picnic area, adjacent to cleared private property at the end of Dunbabbar Rd.

There is a spectacular view across Westernport, and an information board describes the history of Westernport.

There is a rise in altitude from 41 m to 123 m.

The return descent to the car park is along the same route - a side trip can be made to the nearby quarry if desired.

There are several other tracks in the Reserve, offering alternative routes to and from the Bass Highway - these are well signposted with distances shown.

Nearby is the settlement of Grantville, and a visit to the jetty is worthwhile, just off the Bass Highway, with good views across Westernport to French Island and the mountains to the north.

My visit was on February 14, 2009 - walking distance was about 5 km total.

For further information, see the Track Notes/Map from Parks Victoria, at
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_2304.pdf

See the full set of Photos of my trip

Gold Heritage Trail - Warrandyte State Park

The 2 km Gold Heritage Trail is in the Warrandyte State park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It passes several historical features, with interpretative signs describing the gold rush mining activities of the 1850s.

It is a loop circuit, reached from the Gold Memorial Rd carpark/picnic area, crossing Anderson's Creek, then along gated Wildcat Gully Track, ascending the summit of Fourth Hill. It then continues along Johnson's Track, and descends back to the car park.

From the ridgeline, there are limited views through forest towards the Dandenong Ranges.

I explored this interesting Trail on February 6, 2009.

See the full set of Photos

Yarra River and Wetlands, Chirnside Park

The Yarra Wetlands at Chirnside Park is an scenic area within the Heritage Heritage Golf and Country Club, adjoining the Yarra River, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

A well-maintained Nature Trail, 2 km return, follows the River from the Lower Homestead Rd canoe launching ramp, past the Wetlands, through interesting bushland.

I explored this Trail on Saturday February 7, 2009, a day of record-breaking heat when the temperature reached 46.7 degrees in Melbourne. This was the highest temperature ever recorded in Melbourne. The shade temperature in the images was in excess of 48 degrees.

Sadly, this day has become known as Black Saturday, where catastrophic bushfires ravaged huge areas of Victoria with up to 200 people killed, and enormous losses of homes and infrastructure.

See the Photos of this trip.

Point Leo Coastal Walk

Point Leo is a small settlement on Westernport Bay, about 70 km south of Melbourne. It has an excellent surf beach, and extensive reefs are exposed at low tide.

I visited Pt Leo on Monday February 9, 2009, doing a 5 km (return) beachwalk from the car-park.

As it was a weekday, and temperature was down to about 19 degrees, there wasn't much activity there, apart from a school group trying out their cricketing skills on the beach!

I passed an echidna, a resident of the nearby bushland, on the access track to the beach on the sand dunes!

See the full set of Photos!

Ferres Walking Trail - Black Snake Range - Bunyip State Park

The Ferres Walking Trail is in the western section of the Black Snake Range, Bunyip State Park, about 60 km east of Melbourne.

It is reached from the Princes Highway, Tynong North Rd, Gembrook-Tonimbuk Rd, Link Rd, to a small car park at the eastern end of gated Silvertop Ridge Track. Follow this Track to a large Water Point - immediately opposite is the signed western access point to the Ferres Walking Trail.

This circuit is about 3 km, through regrowth forest, in an area formerly logged, and follows the Diamond Creek valley easterly back to the Silvertop Ridge Tk.

The Ferres Trail is rarely walked, and care is needed to avoid losing it, due to fallen bark, branches, trees, and leaf litter.

I did this circuit on February 4, 2009.

See the full set of Photos

A Hike in the Olinda Forest

On Tuesday February 3, 2009, I explored a seldom visited un-named track in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park.

This 2 km track starts at gated Road 13, just off the Olinda Creek rd, and winds its way through interesting forest, along the Olinda Creek valley, ending at Road 13 near the bridge.

This track is not shown on any maps, and is not signposted!

See the full set of Photos, which include some historical images of the forest taken in 1869 and 1910!

Bradley's Lane Walking Track - Warrandyte State Park

The Bradley's Lane Walking Track is in the Warrandyte State Park, 25 km from the Melbourne CBD.

It starts at the Norman Reserve carpark/picnic area, at the end of Bradley's Lane, reached from the Warrandyte to Research Rd.

The track follows the northern bank of the Yarra, passing through bushland, and eventually reaching a large exposed rock formation and rapids.

On the other bank, immediately opposite, are the old orchards, now part of Parks Victoria, an area of the Park in which walkers are not permitted.

I explored this interesting track on February 2, 2009, a journey of about 3 km return.

Sede the full set of Photos of my trip!

Merricks Beach - Westernport Bay

Merricks is a small settlement on Westernport Bay, about 70 south of Melbourne.

I visited Merricks on February 1, 2009, and did a 4 beachwalk north to Balnarring and back.

The tide was out, and the reef was exposed, with many water fowls waiting for fish!

Other beachwalkers, some with hounds, and a few swimmers, were enjoying themselves!

Please see the complete set of Photos of this trip, which includes an historical image taken around the year 1940, showing the beach, looking south to Merricks.

Spadoni's Nature Trail - Yering

Spadoni's Nature Reserve is in the semi-rural district of Yering, 35 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

Next to the Yarra River, it features a circuit walking track, a billabong, wetlands, footbridges, and views to the Christmas Hills. It is managed by the Yarra Ranges Shire, and is at the end of Victoria Rd, which starts at Maroondah Highway, Lilydale.

Adjacent to it is the flying area for radio controlled model aircraft. the Lilydale regional airport, and the Melbourne Gun Club.

I explored the 3 km circuit track on January 31, 2009, on a very hot day with the temperature around 37 degrees!

See the full set of Photos of my trip