Little Yarra Riverside Walk and Museum, Yarra Junction

These pix were taken on Tuesday August 30 2011.

They show the scenery, features, fauna, and environment on a 4 km hike at the town of Yarra Junction, 60 km east of Melbourne.

My route started at the junction of Corduroy Rd and the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail, along the Trail to the Upper Yarra Museum Precinct, then on to the signed Little Yarra Riverside Walk to its end. My return was via the same route.

The Museum is the former Yarra Junction railway station, on the old Warburton line, which closed down in 1965.

The Museum is open on Wednesdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, and a small admission charge is made.

It contains a vast collection of relics, memoriabilia, artefacts, photos, paintings about the history and development of the region.

The external exhibits show rolling stock, transport, machinery, tools, engines and lots more! Much of this is related to the logging era.

In the early 20th century, the Yarra Junction area was the biggest source of timber in Victoria.

There were sidings at the station, some retained.

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WIldflower Hike in Fidler Guilly, Warrandyte State Park

These pix were taken on Monday August 29 2001, in the Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the fauna and environment in the historical gold mining area of Fidler Gully.

Spring doesn't officially begin until September 1, but the wildflowers couldn't wait, and were out in full color bloom, mainly golden wattle.

My 3 km circuit hike started at the gate on the Fidler Gully Track, then down into the gully, then on to Webb St, and back to the car.These pix were taken on Monday August 29 2001, in the Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the fauna and environment in the historical gold mining area of Fidler Gully.

Spring doesn't officially begin until September 1, but the wildflowers couldn't wait, and were out in full color bloom, mainly golden wattle.

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Late winter hike in the Silvan Forest

These pix were taken on Sunday August 28, 2011, in the Silvan Forest, 45 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the scenery and fauna on a 3 km circuit hike, starting at the overflow carpark opposite the main entrance to the Silvan Reservoir.

My route took me along the Olinda Creek Walking Track, the Messmate Track, and the Circuit Track.

There has been amazing regeneration and regrowth of ground and tree ferns since the fuel reduction burns of some months ago.

New orange markers have been pinned to trees along the tracks in this nice forest.

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HIking in the Doongalla Forest - Dandenong Ranges NP

These pix were taken on August 23 2011 in the Doongalla Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the scenery and flora along the gated Stables' Track, from a starting point at the Doongalla Stables Picnic Ground.

Unfortunately, parts of the track were thick black mud, due to recent run-off from the surrounding mountain!

A large fallen tree had blocked a large section of the track.

Track integrity has been disturbed by the movement of horseriders recently.

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A Hike to the Lyrebird Creek Gully - Olinda Forest

These pix were taken on Sunday August 20, 2011, in the Olinda Forest, 40 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the scenery and end environment on a 4 km hike into the beautiful Lyrebird Creek Gully.

This Gully is between Georges Track and Prices Track, and is reached by following gated Prices Track off Silvan Rd, then turning into and descending Bridge Track.

At its lowest point, the track crosses the Lyrebird Creek at a small, rustic footbridge!

I've also included some pix taken from the nearby Woolrich Lookout, showing the amazing panoramas across the Yarra Valley towards the Victorian Alps and Ranges.

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Tulum Beach Hiker - Balnarring

Saturday August 20, 2011 was an unusually warm day for late winter, so I headed down to Balnarring Beach, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

From the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I followed the Coastal Heath Trail, past the Yacht Club, then on to Bayview Trail, reaching the Tulum Beach.

Tulum Beach is the eastern section of the Balnarring Beach, adjacent to the Merricks Estuary Bushland/Heathland and the Coolart Historical Homestead Reserve.

I followed the beach to Somers Beach. My return was along the beach, with a short detour to the Suspension Beach over the Merricks Creek. This was about 4 km in total.

There was plenty of color and action along the beach!

Unfortunately, huge piles of seaweed have now appeared on this usually pretty beach, spoiling its charm and character.

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Olinda Forest hike in late winter

These pix were taken on August 16 2011 in the Olinda Forest, 40 km east of central Melbourne.

My 3km hike started at the junction of Olinda Creek Rd and gated Management Rd 13, over the old bridge crssing the Olinda Creek, then up the hill past the Flower Farm viewpoint.

Then, a short sidetrip along Road 18 and back to car.

There has been extensive firebreak and fuel reduction activity along Road 13, with large sections of the forest affected.

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Mt Lofty ascent in late-winter

These photos were taken on August 3, 2011, on Mt Lofty, which is at the extreme eastern end of the Warrandyte State Park, 40 km east of central Melbourne.

My hike started at the access gate on Lower Homestead Rd, then an ascent to the summit along Stephen Track.

My return was the same route, about 3 km total.

The day was sunny and warm, in fact it was the warmest winter day on record for Melbourne!

The views were marvellous, across the Yarra Valley to the Yarra Ranges and Dandenong Ranges, with the vast Country Club Golf Resort nestled at the base of the hill.

Some nice views of the Yarra!

Prior to amalgamation into the State Park, the Mt Lofty area was a large farming property.

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