Essendon Bushwalking Club

This is a suburban walk. Also it is my first walk as a leader.

We will meet at Altona Sport Center car park (Melway 208K1). Go through part of the wetland track and then the Skeleton Creek track loop.

All the tracks are well formed. You are encouraged to bring walk poles.

A very pleasant circuit walk of 13km, stitching together parts of several marked walking tracks in Toolangi State Forest. Tall tree ferns, extremely tall mountain ash, and Myrtle beeches in the gullies - prime lyrebird habitat. We also include a short side-trip up Mount Saint Leonard for superb views over the Yarra Valley.

The walk starts with a steady climb (100m) initially, then undulates, rising slowly. The extra climb to Mount Saint Leonard may sound daunting, but we're nearly there after our morning tea stop - just an extra 60m up. From there, it's all downhill - I promise!

Tracks are in good condition, a few fallen trees, but generally OK.

As well as lyrebirds, it's also prime leech habitat - be prepared.

The meeting point and start of the walk is the car-park for "Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk". It's off Sylvia Creek Rd, a bit East of Toolangi. (Google Maps is happy with Myrtle Gully Walk, as well as Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk - both will get you to the same spot.) There is a toilet there. Walk to start at 9.30am

Car-pooling from Airport West if needed, meet at 7.50am.

Coffee after the walk will hopefully be at the "Singing Gardens of CJ Dennis and Tearooms" in nearby Toolangi - sounds interesting.

A city walk, starting at a cafe next to Hughsdale Station ("Dose One" cafe, 1 Willesden Rd Hughsdale) and finishing at a cafe just South of East Malvern Station ("Jake and the Beans Talk" cafe, 510 Waverley Rd, Malvern East.)

The walk heads north from Hughsdale and loops around, beyond Ashburton, before circling back to East Malvern. Good walking tracks, nearly all in parkland - Outer Circle Linear Park, Urban Forest Reserve, part of Scotchman Creek Trail and Anniversary Trail, Ferndale Trail, along Gardiners Creek trail on the return to east Malvern. Total distance 14 km, flat.

Walking will start at 9.45am from the Dose One cafe, get there at 9.30 or thereabouts if you want a pre-walk coffee.

Hughsdale and East Malvern are on different rail lines - all the way on public transport is easest, but if you drive to Hughsdale instead, you need to walk an extra 1km to Murrumbeena Station to get back on the right line.

Benjamin Chaffey was born in Canada in 1877 and arrived in Australia in 1886. He married Cowra Crozier and the title for Woodlands Homestead was purchased in Cowra's name in September 1917. After moving into Woodlands, Chaffey made many alterations to the house and gardens, installing an extensive underground watering system.

This walk looks at at Chaffey's watering system, besides walking along Murrup Gurrong Yan, also known as Spiritual Creek Walk, taking us on a pleasant stroll through Woodlands Historic Park,passing the Parks Victoria Offices and work area, taking us to visit the Twin Dams Area. Returning to the Homestead via The Plantation, we check out the final part of Chaffey's Water Trail before walking back up the Driveway to the finish.

Refreshments and toilets will be available at the Homestead.

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

This will be a short walk of approx 5km commencing at Woodlands Park.

We'll be taking in some local history and enjoying the many architectural styles, and gardens of homes in the Essendon area. 

It's mostly on paved footpaths through the picturesque residential streets, and a few parkland areas. 

Please note that this is a separate event to the Christmas lunch and walkers must register to join this walk. 

The walk concludes back at Woodlands Park in ample time to enjoy some social time prior to the lunch. 

Members are invited to get together at Woodlands Park Essendon to enjoy a Christmas Get Together starting at 12pm which will include a delicious lunch.

A delicious meal will be provided which will include continental sausages, a homemade Black Angus beef burger patty, slow cooked chicken skewers, several salads, grilled BBQ sauce and mustard and artisan bread rolls and butter. If you have special dietary requirements please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You are welcome to bring your own drinks and bring a chair and a table too if you wish.
Partners are most welcome.

When registering for this event payment of $26.00 per person may be made  by 1st November to:

: Essendon Bushwalking Club

BSB: 083 437

Account: 177923003

(Please enter your NAME as reference)

Monday - option to camp in Nelson at Kywong Caravan Park, North Nelson Road.

Tuesday - Leave a car at the caravan park.  Drive to Moleside Picnic Area. Walk to Battersbys Camp, 19km Easy-Medium

Wednesday - Walk from Battersbys to Patterson Camp - 13.5km, Easy.

Thursday - Patterson's Camp  to Nelson 20.9km, Easy.  Suggestion to stay at Dartmoor Hotel/Motel and have a pub meal, or free camping nearby at nearby Fort O'Hare (no showers!)

Friday - Drive home.

This is optionally a public transport walk.
The walk will travel up Ballarat's Sturt Street stopping to inspect the numerous historic statues erected over the years since the gold rush. We will lunch at Ballarat Botanic Gardens before returning around Lake Wendouree to Ballarat Station via Webster Street. 
Meeting point is Ballarat Railway Station at 10am. 
Train leaves Souhern Cross at 8.36am. Those coming by car can park in Scott Parade free of charge, but will need to be there by 9.45am to walk to the station  I will meet them there. The Scott Parade car park is 100 metres west of Peel Street on the north side of the railway embankment  

Return train would be at 3.24pm arriving Southern Cross at 4.51pm  

Please make it clear where you will meet me- Scott Parade or Ballarat Station. 

A dinner in Alex for those staying in the area on the Cathedral Walk. Others welcome!