Wildcat Gully, Warrandyte State Park, in Winter

I was in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of Melbourne town, on Tuesday June 22, 2010.

My aim was to explore the bushland in the Wildcat Gully, a former gold mining region in the years 1851 to 1905.

From the car park on Gold Memorial Rd, near the Gold Memorial, I followed Wildcat Gully Track, then on to Wildcat Gully Link Track.

I then scrub-bashed up the hill, meeting Wildcat Gully Link Track again, and continued to the junction with Dead End Track, at the gate at Webb Street.

That was my turnabout point - I returned along Wildcat Gully Link Track, then onto an un-named rocky steep track, which took me down the hillside, to Wildcat Guilly track, then back to the car.

There were many colorful winter fungi!

This hike was about 3 km in total.

See all of my Photos of this trip!

Warburton River Walk in Winter!

On Saturday June 26, 2010, I ventured out to Warburton, some 65 km east of Melbourne.

It was a bitterly cold and rainy day!

My hike started at the main bridge over the Yarra at the eastern end of the town, and I followed the Warburton River Walk to the west.

This took me along the south bank, then across the Redwood Bridge, along the north bank, and across the Brisbane Bridge.

I returned along the south bank, past the football ground (Warburton was 12 goals in front), then back to the car, a total distance of about 4 km.

The Yarra was a raging torrent, due to sustained heavy rain in the catchment region, and was very close to bursting its banks.

Please see all of the Photos of my visit!

Hamer Olinda Arboretum in Winter

Poplar Track

Manna Gums Track

Poplar Track

One of my favourite places is the R.J. Hamer Arboretum, Olinda, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is surrounded by the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with plantations dating back to the 1975.

Many walking tracks pass through the Arboretum, some of them named after the plantation species.

I visited the Arboretum on Thursday afernoon June 24, 2010.

My 3 km circuit hike started at the small car park at the junction of Silvan Rd and gated Mathias Track. My route followed the Manna Gum Track, then along Poplar Track, on to Mathias Track, then on a 4WD track through Birch plantations, back to Mathias Track and then to the car.

Many of the trees were sleeping for the winter!

There were good views north to the Yarra Ranges and Mt St Leonard, from Mathias Track and the Chalet Lookout.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

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Winter Fungus Discovery hike in the Olinda Forest

On Monday June 21 2010 I went on a "Fungus Discovery" hike deep in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of Melbourne town.

I parked at the entrance to Price's Track, off Silvan Rd, and proceeded to the junction with unsigned Bridge Track.

Descending this narrow track, I reached the ancient footbridge, which spans the Lyrebird Creek.

I returned the same way, through magnificent forest and fern gullies, a total distance of about 3 km on a very cold winter's afternoon.

There were myriads of beautiful fungi along the tracks, of all colors, shapes and sizes, along the tracks.

I am not a field naturalist, but the diversity of these winter fungi is truly amazing!

See all of the Photos of my trip!

Foden Track hike, Sherbrooke Forest

On June 19 2010 I went out to the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of Melbourne town.

My 3 km hike started and finished at the small car park off Grantulla Rd, in the Kallista district, at the junction of Foden Track. I followed this track to its end through beautiful ferns and tall timber, reaching Neumann's Track.

From there, I continued past Brendon's Corner forest, then into Wallaby Paddock, my turnaround point.

This is a lyrbebird habitat, and one was seen scratching in the bushland.

Wallaby Paddock was formerly a potato farm many years ago, dating to the 1940s, prior to its acquisition by Parks Victoria. Furrows still exist in the paddock!

See all of the Photos of my visit.

Exploring Monument Track, Sherbrooke Forest

On Wednesday June 16 2010 I ventured over to the Sherbrooke Forest, 30 km east of Melbourne town.

This was a horribly cold and bleak day, and from the small car park at the junction of Sherbooke Rd and the Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, I followed Hackett Track.

This took me to Monument Track, and then on to Lloyd's Track and back to the car.

This was about 3 km total, through beautiful fern gullies and forest, with two crossings of the Sherbrook Creek.

Many colorful winter fungi had appeared!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Winter ascent to Mt Lofty, Warrandyte State Park

On Monday June 13, 2010, the Queen's Birthday Public Holiday, I went over to the Mt Lofty Section of the Warrandyte State Park, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

From the car park at the canoe launching ramp at the end of Lower Homestead Rd, I followed the Mt Lofty River Trail alongside the Yarra River.

This took me past the Observation Platform, then through bushland to a small beach at the Water Point and a picnic table.

From there it was a hike up the jeep track to the Summit of Mt Lofty.

The views crom the Summite are very spectacular, across the Park, the Yarra Valley, the Yarra Ranges and the Dandenong Ranges.

From there I followed the management road down to Lower Homestead Rd and back to the car park, about 3 km in all.

Mt Lofty overlooks the huge Heritage Country Club and its golf courses, and is the eastern perimeter of the Park.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Koala Bears, Kangaroos and Fungi, Pound Bend, Warrandyte State Park

On Sunday June 13, 2010, I visited the Pound Bend Section of the Warrandyte State park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

From the main Picnic Ground at the end of Everard Drive, I followed the Pound Bend Walking Track alongside the Yarra River, reaching the large cleared Kangarro Paddock.

This Paddock was formerly an orchard, prior to its acquisition by Parks Victoria in 1984.

Many Eastern Grey Kangaroos were grazing in their Paddock, with at least one Joey!

Colorful winter Fungi had appeared along the Track.

One Koala Bear was sighted, high up in a gum tree, adjacent to the Track.

The hiking distance was about 3 km return, which included a walk around the Kanga Paddock!

In the early 1900s, the area now known as Pound Bend was set aside as a Koala Sanctuary.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Ferny Creek Bushland Reserve

Main Track

Red Fungi on Tan Track

Main Track

Entrance to Tan Track

The Ferny Creek Bushland Reserve, is a large area of preserved forest and cleared land, part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, within the Sassafras and Sherbrooke districts, 40 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It adjoins the Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve.

It is locally known as "The Paddocks", a relatively unknown destination for hikers, and abuts the Burnham Beeches Historical Estate, and is used for horse magistment.

A gravelled walking track passes through the Reserve, accessed from the gate next to Burnham Beeches, off the Sherbrooke Rd.

This track ascends the Hill, and passes the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Oenamental Garden Reserve,

It then descends to the Tan Track, at the west, which is then followed back to the start.

The Ferny Creek Horticultural Society was established in 1932. The three Hectare Ferny Creek Ornamental Garden Reserve is developed and maintained by the Society.

At the time of my visit, the Tan Track was under rehabilitation, as part of the continuing implementation of the Dandenong Ranges National Park Management Plan.

The land was transferred to Parks Victoria in 1997, which has advised that horse grazing will no longer be permitted.

However, horse riding will be allowed in the area, and on the Tan Track, which loops up through the mountain ash paddocks, but they would not be allowed to graze in the paddock because it was national park.

Since 1997, horses have continued to use the paddocks without any agreement from Parks Victoria as the land manager.

Parks has advised that horses grazing could have significant impact on native vegetation and biodiversity but says that are no plans to actively undertake any revegetation works in the paddock, with fire risk being managed via the fire operations plan.

Visitors currently walking dogs, riding horses and cycling on Lloyds Track, directly opposite, now classified as a conservation zone, will be directed to use the re-established Tan Track, but Lloyds Track will remain open to walkers.

I visited the Reserve on June 9, 2010, a bitterly cold and overcast day!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Main Track

An article about the Reserve and the horse agistment issue, was published in the Maroondah/Yarra Ranges Journal, November 17, 2009, which may be viewed at

http://www.maroondahjournal.com.au/news/local/news/general/horse-ban-a-fire-risk/1678761.aspx?order=0

Badger Weir Park

The Weir

Badger Creek

Badger Creek

The Badger Weir Picnic Reserve is in the Yarra Ranges National Park, 7 km east of the town of Healesville, about 60 km from Melbourne.

Named Coranderrk after the local Aboriginal reserve, the Weir and pipeline system were officially opened in January 1909, and supplies water via the Corandeerk Aqueduct to the Silvan Reservoir.

Walking tracks pass through the forest, on both sides of the Badger Creek, reaching the Weir.

The original Weir was replaced by the current facility in 1929, upstream. Its remains may be inspected, just off the Lyrebird Track, partly covered by vegetation and detritus.

I visited the Reserve on Tuesday afternoon June 8, 2010, on a 3 km circuit hike which took me along the Lyrebird Track and Coranderrk Aqueduct Track.

Access to the Weir has recently been reopened to walkers, following a period of several months when it was closed to allow pipeline works to be completed.

In the picnic area, hordes of brightly colored parrots and cockatoos congregate, waiting for seeds!

The name "Badger" was introduced by the early settlers. One version is that they thought that the wombats were like English badgers. Another version suggests that the name was that of a horse, which had become bogged!

See all of my Photos of the visit!

The Weir and its surrounds are listed in the Australian Heritage Database - comprehensive information about its history, construction and evolution is at

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=102623

Jumping Creek Hill,Warrandyte State Park

Yarra rapids

Yarra from Jumping Creek Hill summit

Summit of Jumping Creek Hill

Jumping Creek Hill is in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of Melbourne CBD.

It is reached from the Jumping Creek Reserve, following the Black Flat river track to a high point, then up a relatively unknown footpad to a cleared area at the summit.

The summit is at the top of the ridge.

There are good views of the Yarra and Park from the summit.

My exploration was on Monday afternoon June 7, 2010, anbout 4 km return.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Winter Fungi in the Olinda Forest

Colorful fungi emerge from their beds each winter in the hills around Melbourne!

On June 5, 2010, I went over to the Olinda Forest in the Dandenong Ranges National Park and found an enormous range of beautiful fungi on a 2 km hike around the Olinda Creek.

My exploration started at the Olinda Creek Rd, then along the gated Management Track 13 to the Creek, then along the Creek Track and return.

Creek Track runs parallel to the Creek, opposite the commercial Flower Farm, and is being closed off by Parks Victoria and is now only accessible as a dead-end track from Track 13.

See all of the Photos of my visit, including some historical images from the 1860s!

Lyrebird Walk in early winter, Sherbrooke Forest

The Lyrebird Walk is in the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park.

It's abour 3 km total, and runs from Grant's Picnic Ground on Monbulk Rd, to Cook's Corner on the Kallista-Emerald Rd.

I hiked this trail on Wednesday afternoon June 2, 2010, starting at Grant's, passing through beautiful lush fern forests, with the sounds of the lyrebirds nearby!

On reaching Cook's Corner, I followed the main road back to Grant's, where the usual multitudes of cockatoos, galahs, and parrots were waiting for their seeds!

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Nature Trail in early winter, Warrandyte State Park

The Nature Trail, Warrandyte State Park, is reached from the Jumping Creek picnic ground.

It's lower entry point is about 1 km from the picnic ground,  accessed by following Freeland Track.

The Trail passes through remnant bushland to the summit of the hill, then continues to its end point further along Freeland Track, where there is a direction sign.

There are track markers along the Track at points of interest.

There are interesting views from the summit across the Park.

The return is along Freeland Track.

The total walking distance is about 3 km.

I explored this track on Thursday afternoon June 3, 2010, a bleak overcast day!

See all of the Photos of my visit.

Warrandyte North, Yarra River Walk

These photos were taken on June 1, 2010, along the north bank of the Yarra, Warrandyte North, Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of Melbourne town.

The unsigned and un-named foot-track extends for about 2 km from the junction of Koornong Crescent to Osborne Rd.

It follows the Yarra through bushland, passing farms, rapids, and ducks, and is managed by a Landcare group in conjunction with the Nillumbik Shire.

The track is steep and stony in places, with nice river views to the opposite bank, and across to the Jumping Creek Reserve.

Rustic wooden seats have been placed at several observation points.

A footbridge is crossed near the start.

See all of the Photos of my visit, whjich inclide some archival images of around 1900-1910 of the former Warrandyte Bridge, which was built in 1875 and replaced in 1955. The old bridge was about 500m downstream from the present structure.