Kurth Kiln Regional Park - Shepherd's Creek Hike

Pix taken on May 5 2012 on  a 3 km (return) hike in the Shepherd's Creek Gully, Kurth Kiln Regional Park, 80 km east of Melbourne.

The walk started at the junction of Shepherd's Creek Road and Shortcut Track.

The creek was flowing strongly, after recent heavy rains, and this section of the Park is very lush and green, with many tree ferns.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Sherbroooke Falls in early Autumn

On April 4, 2009, I did a 3 km circuit walk to the Sherbrooke Falls, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

My journey started at the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground car park, then along Sherbrooke Track, to the Falls viewing bridge, along Ridge Track and O'Donohue's Track, then along Link Track, and back to the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground.

Most of the walk was in the rain, through the mist - other walkers passed me, well rugged up and we exchanged pleasantries!

This section of the Forest is very pretty, at any time of the year, passing through tall timber and fern gullies.

New emergency signage has been placed at some of the track junctions, advising people in difficulties to ring OOO and quote the designated emergency number.

These signs are very prominent, white on blue background.

See the full set of Photos of this visit!

East Warburton River Trail

The Yarra River is adjacent to the small settlement of East Warburton, about 70 km east of Melbourne.

There is a pleasant walking track of about 1 km from a car park on the Wood's Point Rd, at the Riverside Drive junction.

The large cleared space opposite the car park, now used for grazing cattle, was once part of the Warburton Steam Railway, which hauled logs from Big Pat's Creek in the early 1900s to the Warburton rail head.

My visit was on March 16, 2009.

See the Photos of my visit

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!

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.

The scenic Silvertop Ridge Track, Bunyip State Park

The Silvertop Ridge Track is in the southern section of the Bunyip State Park, 60 km east of Melbourne, past the town of Gembrook.

It is reached from the Mortimer Picnic Ground just off the Gembrook-Tonimbuk Rd, along gated Triangle Track.

It starts at the signposted junction of Windy Point and Link Tracks, about 1 km from the Picnic Ground.

It is a primarily a management track used for fire control purposes, but walkers, horses and cyclists are allowed on it.

It follows a ridge line, then descends steeply along a spur to the south of the Park, reaching Dyer's Picnic Ground.

It passes a large Water Point, through interesting bushland, mostly regrowth in a former logging area.

There are views across the valleys, somewhat obscured by tall timber.

Large granite outcrops and ferns are passed.

I did this 4 km (return) walk on January 15, 2009.

See a New Map of the locality from Australian Digital Maps

Look at the complete set of Photos

Morley's Walking Track - Fernshaw Sector

The well-known "Morley's Track", starts at the Fernshaw picnic ground, on the Maroondah Highway, 80 km east of Melbourne, past the town of Healesville.

It is a walking route 9 km up to the Dom Dom Saddle, and then onwards to Mt. Donna Buang.

In the 1850s, Fernshaw, was the main stopping point for stage coaches travelling from Melbourne to the gold mining and timber cutting areas in the mountains further to the east.

The town was abandoned in the late 1890s, after the collapse of the gold mining and timber cutting boom.

All that remains are very tall non-native trees, planted by the first settlers, after the Aboriginal tribes were forced out of the area.

The picnic ground was actually the site of the main street in the 1860s, which boasted several hotels, a school, houses, and shops.

Fernshaw is now a stopping point on the Maroondah Highway which runs over the Black's Spur, to Alexandria, and linking with the main road to Marysville.

The highway was formerly known as the Fernshawe Rd.

I walked about 2.5 km (5 km return) of Morley's Track on December 7 2008, reaching a turnaround point about 1 km after the bridge over the Morley Creek.

The picnic ground and car park have been extensively upgraded, with gravel paths and new picnic tables, seats and barbecues. Interpretative signs and repoductions of old photos have been placed as near as possible to the sites of the historical buildings and other features they describe.

This section of Morley's Track follows the Watt's River gully, passing over Morley's Creek and through Morley's Flat. At one time, there was a hut on the Flat, long gone. This area was once extensively loogged - old stumps of sawmilling operations are in evidence.

The Track is becoming overgrown in places, due to encroachment of ferns, fallen trees, branches, bracken, bark and other vegetation.

I have included some old images, thanks to Picture Australia, which show Fernshaw town and Morley's Track in the late 1800s.

The area is part of the restricted-access Melbourne Water catchment area, within the Yarra Ranges National Park

See the full set of Photos of my trip, which include some archival images of the 1880s.

Exploring the KC Track, Olinda Forest

The strangely named "KC Track" is deep in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It links Rifle Range Gully Track and Allambie Way.

I explored this interesting track on November 24, 2008, on a 3 km clockwise circuit starting at the large Valley Picnic Ground, on to Allambie Way, then KC Track, and along Rifle Range Gully Track, then reaching the start.

The final section of the walk was along kangaroo tracks across open bushland adjacent to the picnic Ground, which was once a farm up to the 1970s.

The Picnic Ground is reached from Silvan Rd, then along gated Boundary Rd. The gates are locked at 6pm daily during summer!

Hidden Lagoon - Warrandyte State Park

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At the northern end of the Warrandyte State Park is a seldom visited, remote area, on the Yarra River, opposite the Bend of Islands Environmental Living Zone.

There is an interesting water body nearby, which I have named "The Hidden Lagoon", not easily seen from the rough access track!

The track is adjacent to a fence line, marking a section of the Park which has been set aside for revegetation by Parks Victoria and local community Landcare groups.

Access to the River and Lagoon is via a 5 km (return) route, starting at the Clifford Scout Activity Centre at Clifford Drive in Wonga Park, from the closed gate next to the Warrandyte State Park sign.

There is a change of altitude from 135m to 59m.

This is the former Market Garden Track, dating back to the time when this section of the Park was still privately owned farmland, part of the Yarra Brae property. The Track follows the ridge line, passing a high point, with good views across the surrounding farms and across to the Ranges.

The track continues steeply downhill, reaching the Hidden Lagoon side track. This is followed past a fenced "no access" revegetation area, with the Lagoon off to the left. This rough track continues downhill to the Yarra, and ends in bushland. Directly opposite the river is the Bend of Islands Living Zone, with a few houses visible.

The revegetation area is adjacent to the river, but appears to have been neglected, most of it overgrown with weeds, scrubby trees, prickly bushes and long grass. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are nearby.

It is not known why this area was selected for revegetation, as it is in one of the remotest sections of the Park. At this point, the Yarra runs in a narrow gorge, almost in a straight line, in a north-south direction.

My visit was on November 25, 2008, on a hot day. This section of the Park is always much hotter and drier than the surrounding areas, and the going is tough in hot weather.

Market Garden Track continues downhill to the Bend of Isles Peninsula, where there is a large flat cleared open area, which was originally the market garden and orchard, part of the Yarra Brae farm. It continues westerly as a circuit known as the Lucerne Paddock Track, with good views of the river.

Market Garden and Lucern Paddock Tracks are signed as the "Bridle Track", and are popular with horseriders.

See the full set of Photos of my expedition!

O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail - Dee Bridge Section

Now part of the Yarra Ranges National Park, the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail is a long, step-on, step-off 27 km walking/cycling/horse route starting at Don Rd, Launching Place, and ending at the O'Shannassy Reservoir, about 80 km east of Melbourne, near the town of Warburton.

The Aqueduct was constructed between 1911 and 1915, and decommissioned in 1997. The maintenance track, known as Road 18, has been opened up progressively for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists, following transfer of land ownership from Melbourne Water to Parks Victoria.

The Trail passes through magnificent Mountain Ash forest, past fern gullies, with excellent views across the Yarra Valley towards Mt Little Joe and the mountains near Big Pats Creek. It winds its way around the base of Mt Donna Buang, Mt Victoria and Ben Cairn, passing many aqueduct engineering works, bridges, syphons, huts, distance marker posts and old maintenance sheds.

New access gates for management vehicles, walkers, cyclists and horse-riders, with maps and interpretative boards, have been built at various locations along the route.

Sadly, there has been massive encroachment of vegetation, fallen trees, branches, and weeds in sections of the Aqueduct.

On November 23, 2008 I did a review exploration of about 4 km (return) of the section of the Trail, starting at the Dee Rd access point, adjacent to the fast flowing Dee River.

A car park, information board, and picnic tables have been constructed at this point, with splendid views across Warburton, the Yarra Valley, and beyond. Nice new gates have been installed, and some of the track surface has been upgraded with fine screenings.

East of the Dee Rd junction is the Dee Slip Bridge. This has been restored during 2008, and is the only timber trestle bridge on the system. It was built in 1947 following the collapse of the aqueduct. The force of the flow created a large hole in the side of the embankment beneath the aqueduct, and two separate trestle bridges now support the maintenance track and the aqueduct at this point. A section of the aqueduct immediately adjacent to the bridge collapsed again in 1991, the repairs to the channel are visible.

A series of concrete steps from the western end leads down to the base of the bridge, past the old maintenance shed.

Some of the management Roads in the area are prohibited to walkers, as they are located in the Melbourne Water catchment area - these are prominently signed, with gates. Walkers are advised not to venture along these tracks.

I was surprised at the increased popularity of this Track, with many walkers, cyclists and hounds enjoying the forest environment! I have completed 23 km of the full Trail - 46 km return, in several trips!

I consider this Trail to be one of the best near to Melbourne - it has everything! Full credit is extended to Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, and other authorities for the excellent work be in done with the upgrading of this beautiful trail.

A comprehensive set of Trail Notes, and detailed maps, may be downloaded from the Parks Victoria Web site:
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_1751.pdf

The history and development of the aqueduct may be viewed at
http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/vic/Warburton/OShannassyWeirAqueductandAssociatedFeatures/17556

Photo Articles of my walks along the other sections of the Trail may be viewed at
http://www.worldisround.com/home/bobpadula/index.html

The Old Goldmines of Warrandyte

On November 1, 2008, I visited the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

From a starting point at the car park on the Whipstick Gully Rd, I completed the 2 km Bruce Bence Track circuit, which passes through the historical goldmine region.

There are many old shafts and the remains of diggings along the Track.

Near the car park, there are interpretative signs and an audio presentation describing early mining activity in the region.

The Yarra River is nearby, with ducks and dogs!

See the full set of Photos of my trip

Jumping Creek Hike, Warrandyte SP

There are some good walking tracks starting at the Jumping Creek Picnic Ground, Warrandyte State park, 20 km east of the Melhourne CBD, following the winding Yarra River.

An interesting shorter walk of about 2 km follows the Pound Bend Track, then on to the Nature Trail, and back along the gated management road.

This offers good views of the Yarra from the clifftop, and passes through regrowth bushland.

The Picnic Ground has barbecue facilities, toilets, and an information board. A map in a plastic cover of the Pound Bend Track can be borrowed from the box at the start of the track. The Map should be returned!

There are numbered markers along the track, with the features described on the map.

My trip was on October 30, 2008.

See the full set of Photos of my journey

Canoes and Rapids at Warrandyte State Park

On October 22, 2008, I visited the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

I did a 3 km return walk from Norman's Reserve, opposite the Pound Bend Tunnel, following the Yarra River to the rapids, through bushland.

Kookaburras watched me!

Young people waved to me from their brightly colored canoes, as they paddled upstream as far as the rapids!

Opposite the rapids is the site of the former orchards, now part of Parks Victoria, and off-limits to walkers.

Seer the full set of Photos of my trip

Kalorama Park in spring

The Kalorama Nature Trail is a 3 km circuit in the Kalorama Park, 35 km east of Melbourne.

The Trail has recently (2008) been upgraded and extended, and passes through native forest, historical fruit orchards and exotic plantings.

Boasting spectacular views over the Silvan Reservoir and the south-eastern face of the Dandenong Ranges, Kalorama Park is perfect for picnics, barbecues or simply relaxing whilst enjoying the magnificent surrounds. Kalorama Park is bordered by lush temperate forest on the eastern side and the Dandenong Ranges National Park to the north and south.

The first Europeans to settle in the Kalorama valley area were Isaac Jeeves, Mathew Child and Jabez Richardson, with their families. The three families built their homes along what was then called 'Running Creek', now known as Olinda Creek. In 1870, Jeeves sold part of his allotment to Thomas Hand, who was a surveyor with the Upper Yarra Road Board. This allowed Jeeves to purchase land in the 'Gap' which was named Jeeves Saddle, and is now known as 'Five Ways'.

The Jeeves family, through son Ellis and grandsons Hubert and Walter, retained ownership of part of the original title of land for nearly 100 years. During this time the entire open section of the park was cleared of its natural vegetation, for logging and grazing purposes. In 1963, the State Government purchased 13 hectares from the Jeeves family, followed by another nine hectares of adjoining land later on.

The 'Save the Dandenong's League' was instrumental in the purchase of this land to conserve it from further development and raised half the cost through subscriptions and a public appeal.

Relics that still remain are the old farm shed, thought to be built by the Jeeves family in the 1940s, and the barbecue pavilion built by the Forest Commission to commemorate the site where Ellis Jeeves built a house.

The forest supports a diversity of wildlife. Mistletoe Birds, Yellow Robins, Eastern Whipbirds, Crimson Rosellas and Golden and Rufous Whistlers are just some of the more commonly seen birds in the park.

Nocturnal animals include Common Ringtail and Brushtail Possums, Sugar Gliders, Black Wallabies, wombats and echidnas.

Remnant Mountain Ash forest covers the eastern section of the park. This type of forest was prominent throughout the Dandenong Ranges before European settlement and the resulting widespread clearing.

Mountain Ash trees can reach heights of up to 150 metres and may live for 400 years - due to a number of fires the oldest are around 150 years in age.

There are three distinct layers of vegetation below the canopy of Mountain Ash trees. Ferns and grass species make up the ground cover, with the mid-storey comprising Hazel Pomaderris, Blanket Leaf, Soft and Rough Tree Ferns, Musk Daisy Bush and Blackwood Wattles.

Kalorama Park features around 80 orchard trees planted by the Jeeves family over 100 years ago. The orchard area consists of plum, apple, peach and walnut trees that are scattered through open cleared grasslands.

Other historically significant trees of Kalorama Park include two Elm trees above the five ways carpark, which were planted by the Jeeves family to mark the gateway to the original property.

Remnants of the original formal garden beds still remain today and have been restored with recent plantings of azaleas, rhododendrons, native ferns and grasses.

I visited this beautiful Park on October 15, 2008, including the hike along the Nature Trail circuit.

A marker just off the track, designated "11", is at the site of the original homestead, now hidden in thick regrowth.

The spring wildflowers and blooms were magnificent.

See the full set of Photos

Rock Track, Olinda, Dandenong Ranges NP

Rock Track is in the Olinda Section of the Dandenong Ranges NP, 35 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It links Mathias Rd with Golf Course Track, and offers wonderful views to the distant Yarra Ranges and the Silvan Reservoir.

On October 10, 2008, I did a 4 km return walk, starting at the small car park at the junction of Falls Rd and gated Mathias Rd, then along Mathias Rd, and on to Rock Track.

My route passed through tall forest, next to the Olinda Golf Course, and along the perimeter of the beauthful National Rhododendrum Gardens.

This part of the forest is a habitat for lyrebirds, but none were seen on this trip!

See the full set of Photos

Olinda Forest Explorer

On October 8 2008 I visited the Olinda Forest, part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

Starting at the junction of Silvan Creek Rd and Road 13, I followed gated Georges Rd, then into Barges Rd, then along Bartlett Rd, and returning on to the Silvan Creek Rd. I then went along an interesting unsigned partly overgrown track leading off Silvan Creek Rd, which joined Georges Rd, and back to my starting point.

This was a 3 km hike through bushland, with early spring wildflowers in bloom.

See the full set of Photos

Silver Creek Hike, Kinglake National Park

On October 5, 2008, I visited the Silver Creek Buffer, in the Kinglake National Park,about 50 km north of Melbourne.

This is part of the very large 9965 ha Wallaby Creek Water Supply Catchment Area, located in the NE section of the Park, managed jointly by Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water.

The Wallaby Creek area was added to the Park in 1995, and is adjacent to the Mt Disappointment State Forest.

The Wallaby Creek Management Plan provides for the construction of marked walking trails in the Silver Creek Buffer Zone (2100 ha), which is mainly eucalyptus forest, covering steep gullies and narrow ridges.

The first stage of the Trail construction program has been completed recently, with four trails starting at the gate at the Silver Creek Buffer car park, on Silver Creek Rd. This is reached from a turn-off on the Kinglake-Yea Rd, about 10 km south of the settlement of Flowerdale.

These trails are color coded red, blue, yellow, and orange, mostly along management tracks.

I completed the 4 km Red Track circuit, which winds its way around and up a mountain, then along a ridge, past a view point over the Silver Creek Valley, and back to the car park. There were nice views through tall timber across rugged densely forested valleys. There is a change in altitude of about 100 m, to the high point of about 500 m.

The information board at the car park shows details about the distances and features along each track.

Red Track is the shortest - the others are:

Yellow Track 5.2 km
Orange Track 4.8 km

Blue Track 12 km

The Red, Yellow and Orange tracks can be undertaken as a complete circuit, requiring about 5 hrs for completion. Blue Track is long, and runs to the north.

If undertaking any of these tracks, it is vital that the color-coded markers are followed, and access to other management tracks is not permitted.

This is remote and rugged country, with no nearby habitation - a map is advisable, but not mandatory. Good spatial and environmental awareness, and navigation skills, are important.

The catchment area was devastated by major bushfires in 1851, 1898, 1926, 1939 and 1982.

Stands of Mountain Ash exist, dating from the year 1730 and earlier, with some mature stands from the 1851 fires.

The Wallaby Creek Management Plan can be downloaded from

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources07/07_0190.pdf

See my Photos of this trip!

Exploring Mt Lofty, Warrandyte State Park

On October 2, 2008, I visited the Mt Lofty Section of the Warrandyte State Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

My starting point for a 3 km circuit walk was the canoe launching ramp at the end of Reserve Rd, opposite the Croydon Golf Course and Country Club.

I climbed to the summit of Mt Lofty, offering marvellous views over the Yarra River across the Park to the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Ranges.

The Summit is 114m above sea level.

I returned via the River Walk. The park was ablaze with spring wildflowers!

Full set of Photos

Exploring the Warrandyte Common Bushland Reserve

The Warrandyte Common is a large bushland nature reserve in the southern section of the Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora, and mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos inhabit the cleared private land adjacent to the western perimeter.

Several well-signposted walking tracks pass through the Reserve, once a logging region.

Horseriding is popular on designated trails.

The Reserve is reached from the Ringwood-Warrandyte Rd, then along Johanson's Rd, then into Haslop's Lane. A small car park off Haslop's Lane is a starting point for the gated walking tracks.

I visited the Reserve on September 29, 2008, on a 4 km hike, following the Central Track, the Bridle Track, the Firebreak Track, South Track, North Track, and Haslop's Link Track.

See the full set of Photos, which show the scenery, environment, fauna and flora encountered on my excursion.

Exploring the Warrandyte Common Bushland Reserve

The Warrandyte Common is a large bushland nature reserve in the southern section of the Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora, and mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos inhabit the cleared private land adjacent to the western perimeter.

Several well-signposted walking tracks pass through the Reserve, once a logging region.

Horseriding is popular on designated trails.

The Reserve is reached from the Ringwood-Warrandyte Rd, then along Johanson's Rd, then into Haslop's Lane. A small car park off Haslop's Lane is a starting point for the gated walking tracks.

I visited the Reserve on September 29, 2008, on a 4 km hike, following the Central Track, the Bridle Track, the Firebreak Track, South Track, North Track, and Haslop's Link Track.

See the full set of Photos, which show the scenery, environment, fauna and flora encountered on my excursion.