Black Flat Trail - Warrandyte State Park

Black Flat Trail links the Jumping Creek Picnic Ground with the historical gold mining area of Black Flat.

It is in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

The Trail, 4 km return, follows the Yarra River Gorge for much of the way, passing through bushland and crossing Jumping Creek.

Some parts are steep and stony, and there are excellent views of the Yarra from the clifftop section.

This was my autumn visit, on Friday April 17, 2009.

See the complete set of Photos of my visit!

Exploring Warneet, Westernport Coast

Warneet is a village about 50km southeast of Melbourne. on the north of Westernport Bay.

With a population of around 460, Warneet is one of the smaller towns in Australia, and is at an altitude of about 9m above sea level.

It's popular for fishing and boating, and is located on the Rutherford Inlet. On the opposite bank is the village of Cannon's Creek.

Several interesting walking tracks start at the South Jetty, around the inlet and through extensive mangrove wetlands.

I visited Warneet on April 5, 2009, and explored the Main Walking Track (from South Jetty to North Jetty), and the interesting Mangroves Walking Track, a total distance of about 4 km.

See the full set of Photos of my visit

Pound Bend Walk - Warrandyte State Park

On Sunday March 29 I visited the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km from the Melbourne CBD.

Leaving my car at the Pound Bend picnic ground, I walked through the forest along the main Pound Bend Track, reaching the large open field managed by Parks Victoria.

Then, back to the car.

Several other people were on the Track, enjoying the beautiful views of the Yarra, and looking out for koalas!

This was a 4 km return walk - sadly, no koalas were seen.

See the full set of Photos of this excursion!

Fainter Falls Walking Track - Bogong

The Fainter Falls Walking Track was opened to the public in January 2009.

It's located just off the Bogong High Plains touring road between Mt Beauty and Falls Creek.

The start is well signposted, opposite a large car-park 2km south of Bogong Village (near the "orange bridge").

It's a 700 metre (one way) walk on a Class 2 track (easy) and suitable for most abilities. It contours above the course of the Pretty Valley branch of the East Kiewa River with two lookouts along the route. The lookouts have great views of the river and Fainter Falls.

For the more adventurous, a further 200 m stepped track goes to the base of the falls.

Our visit was on March 7, 2009.

A walk not to be missed!

See the full set of Photos of our visit!

Exploring Yarra Brae - Warrandyte State Park

On Wednesday March 4, 2009, I visited the remote Yarra Brae Section of the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD. I completed a 7 km return hike along the gated Market Garden and Lucerne Paddock Tracks, both being fire management tracks, starting and finishing at the Clifford Activity Centre, reached from Clifford Drive, off Jumping Creek Rd.

The State government purchased the Stane Brae and Yarra Brae river frontages in 1982 and both parcels of land were incorporated into the park in 1987.

This is one of the best long walks in the Park, with excellent views easterly over the Yarra Gorge towards the Yarra Ranges and the Mt Lofty section of the Park.

Market Garden Track starts at the Clifford Activity Centre. Just north of signed Scout Track is a short side-track leading up to a large cleared space on a hilltop - there are good views from here to the Kinglake Ranges and hills around Kangaroo Ground, and across neighbouring farms, grazing properties, and equestrian centres.

Market Garden Track then descends to a large clearing next to the Yarra River, believed to be the site of an early farm. This is a Water Point for fire management puerposes. Immediately opposite this point is the small municipality "Bend of Islands", an Environmental Living Zone.
From this spot, a gate marks the start of unsigned Lucerne Paddock Track, which follows the river, until another large cleared area is reached. This is another Water Point for fire protection purposes.

From here, it is a 3 km trudge back to the start, mindful that there is an increase in altitude fromn 50 m to 130 m!

Market Garden and Lucerne Paddock Tks form the "Bridle Trail", popular with horseriders.

Yarra Brae was one of the original grazing properties, acquired by the Hon. L. Clifford in 1940. After being a war-time army training area, Clifford made it available for Australia's first Pan Pacific Scout Jamboree in 1948.

Clifford Park, now owned and managed by Scouting Victoria, also hosted jamborees during the 1950s and is available for conferences, meetings, conventions, school groups, education and activity-based camps.

In 1972 Yarra Brae was the site of a proposed lower Yarra River reservoir, but residents of Bend of Isles persuaded the Victorian Government to abandon the proposal. The allied Sugarloaf Reservoir at Christmas Hills went ahead.

The Tracks are shared with walkers and horseriders, and are steep and rocky in parts. During summer, it can be fiercely hot and dry, and caution is advised.

I have also included a photo taken in 1942 which showed "Yarra Brae Homestead" and outbuildings as they existed at the time. The Homestead is still there, located on the top of the hill, originally reached from a sealed access road, now closed off, which can be seen leading off from Market Garden Track.

See the full set of Photos of this trip!

Yarra Wetlands Trail - Chirnside Park

The Yarra Wetlands Trail is an interesting 4 km (return) public gravel-surface walking track intersecting the Heritage Golf and Country Club grounds, Chirnside Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is reached from a stile and gate at the Lower Homestead Rd canoe launching ramp, and follows the Yarra River through bushland, passing the large Wetlands Lake, the habitat of many water birds.

There is a birdhide on the edge of the Lake.

The Lake is one of several which were constructed to reduce the effects of seasonal flooding by the Yarra on the golf courses and its surrounds.

The section of the Club, known as the Henley Golf Course, north of the river, is in the Nullumbik Shire. The southern section includes a practice range and the St John Golf Course, and is in the Yarra Ranges Shire.

A waste water treatment facility is located at the southern boundary of the Club grounds.

The vast extent of the Club grounds can best be appreciated by climbing nearby Mt Lofty, in the Warrandyte State Park.

I visited the Wetlands Trail on March 2, 2009.

See the complete set of Photos of my trip.

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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!

Wittons Reserve and River Trail, Warrandyte State Park

Witton's Reserve and car park is at the end of Reserve Rd, Wonga Park, in the Warrandyte State Park, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is situated on the banks of the Yarra River, at the canoe launching ramp.

Nice beaches are excellent for swimming and paddling, and when the level is low, rocks and rapids are exposed.

A walking trail follows the river to the north, crossing Brushy Creek and continuing to Mt Lofty.

There are beautiful views of the river from this trail, and picnic tables and seats are in a delightful shady setting about 1 km from the start.

There is a nice beach near the picnic area, suitable for swimming, paddling, and exploring the exposed river rocks.

I hiked this trail as far as the picnic area on January 29, 2009. This was a frightfully hot day, with temperature on the trail hovering around 48 degrees!

There were many visitors, and their dogs, enjoying the coolness of the river.

If you are so inclined, hire or take a canoe or kayak on the river, a pleasant experience.

See the full set of Photos of this very hot excursion!

Mt Lofty and Yarra River - Warrandyte State Park

On January 26, 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 canoe launching ramp on the Yarra River, on Lower Homestead Rd, in the municipality of Wonga Park.

From there, I followed the somewhat overgrown foot-track next to the Yarra, along a boardwalk, passing the lookout, and then back to to the Yarra, at Water Point.

I then did the steep climb to the Summit, along Stephen Track, passing the information board, then a descent to Lower Homstead Rd and back to the car park.

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

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 the full set of Photos, which show the river, the scenery, canoeists, the surrounding terrain, and views to the Ranges.

Black Flat Hike - Warrandyte State Park

The Black Flat Walking Track is in the Warrandyte State Park, 20 km east of the Melbourne CBD, and links the Jumping Creek and Black Flat Reserves.

It is about 4 km (return) and winds it way alongside the Yarra River gorge.

There are some steep and rocky sections on the cliff top, with great views of the Yarra.

New footbridges have been constructed over Jumping Creek, and side tracks lead down to the river bank.

I walked this track on December 31, 2008, starting at the Jumping Creek Reserve.

See the full set of Photos

Exploring Sweeney's Flats - Eltham South

Sweeneys Flats is a relatively large preserved woodland park, on the north bank of the Yarra River, Eltham, about 30 km NE of Melbourne.

It is reached from Mt Pleasant Rd (Eltham), then into Sweeney's Lane. A car park is at the end of this road.

Members of the Wurundjeri tribe of Aboriginals originally inhabited the area. The area remains significant to descendants of the Wurundjeri. During the 1840s, the land around Sweeneys Flats was purchased by Thomas Sweeney, a former convict who established an extensive property built by hard work and initiative. The Hawthorn hedge that remains is still a small part of what was once a system of many hedgerows separating the paddocks of the property from one another.

Directly opposite, on the south bank of the river, is the Tikalara Park, Candlebark Park, and Main Yarra Trail.

The pictures were taken on December 22, 2008, showing the views, river scenes, and fauna along the interesting 4 km (return) walking trail. A nice Blue Tongued Lizard was enjoying a suntan on the track!

The river has several sections and exposed rock formations which are popular for swimming, paddling, and fishing.

See the full set of Photos

The Pound Bend Peninsula, Warrandyte State Park

Some of the best views of the Yarra are to be found along the walking track which starts at the Pound Bend picnic ground/car park, Warrandyte State Park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

The 4 km (return) track passes through bushland, over a series of footbridges, finally reaching a large grassed paddock, managed by Parks Victoria.

This is the eastern end of the Pound Bend Peninsula.

Another track continues across the paddock, crossing the Pound Bend Road, and returning to the picnic ground via Tank Track.

There are many vantage points along the river bank, with rapids and views to the cliffs on the northern side.

Families of ducks live on and near the river! Koalas may occasionally be seen - snakes are prevslent in the hotter months.

I did this interesting hike on December 8, 2008.

See the full set of Photos

Mt Lofty Circuit Walk - Warrandyte State Park

On December 5, 2008, 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 Water Point No. 1.

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 Track.

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 the full set of Photos of my trip!

Yarra River and Lookout Walks at Warburton

The River Walk at Warburton follows the Yarra River, about 7 km return, and may be undertaken as a loop, along both sides of the river.

Warburton is about 80 km east of Melbourne.

The Walk extends from the bridge at the eastern end of the town, to the junction of Scotchman's Creek Rd and the Warburton Highway, at the western end.

There are several access points from the Warburton Highway.

The Nature Walk to the scenic Yarra Lookout is about 1 km (return) which is reached from the River Walk, not far from the eastern end.

I did the eastern section of the River Walk and the Nature Walk on December 1, 2008, about 5 km overall.

The resident ducks will entertain you!

See the full set of Photos

Exploring Longridge Farm, Warrandyte

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Longridge Farm is a very large bushland area 25 km NE of Melbourne, on the Yarra River, in Warrandyte. It includes the Longridge Camp.

The site was taken over by the former Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works in 1977 from the Cameron family. It was utilised for grazing beef cattle. The Cameron family may have named the property after the long ridge running down to the picturesque campsite beside the Yarra River.

Until 1993, the property continued to be used for cattle grazing, rotating stock from the Werribee Treatment Complex. However, since conservation works (including treeplanting) around Longridge Farm have increased, the cattle have been removed.

The site is now owned and managed by Parks Victoria.

In 1994, the site was divided, and the eastern section, known as Longridge Camp, opened to the public as an overnight camping site and is not accessible to casual visitors - permits are required for entry.

The Camp area is on the east of Alexander Rd, reached from the Heideleberg-Warrandyte Rd. The large wooded/open area on the west is the remainder of the Farm, with remains of an old homestead and orchard. Mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos were nearby!

The gated part of Alexander Rd ends at a large cleared area at the Yarra Viewpoint, and walkers are permitted.

Directly opposite the Viewpoint on the northern side of the river is Eltham, with a few houses tucked away in the bushland.

The southern boundary is private farmland.

I explored the Farm surroundings on November 22, 2008, a very cold, rainy and windy day, but the gated Camp area was locked. This was a 2.5 km circuit walk, following the management track, downhill to the river, along an old foot-track (used also be kangaroos!), then reaching the river viewpoint.

The area is rarely visited by walkers.

See the full set of Photos