This walk was part of the Federation walks in 2023. A great walk for any newcomers to the club!  Walk starts at Trentham Recreation Reserve playground in 26 Market Street (across the road from Trentham CFA fire station). From here we pass through some residential streets before joining the Wombat Trail. The trail takes us around what was the old Trentham racecourse before circling back to the Jim Dunn and Countess tracks and returning back to the start. The walk is mainly on a dirt track shaded by the trees of Wombat State Forest. There are only a few minor hills and, along the way, we will see the odd wallaby or two.  Boots and poles are recommended.  Refreshments at a cafe in Trentham.

We will meet outside the Grumbling Goose Cafe in the centre of Belgrave (1678 Burwood Hwy).

If arriving by train, proceed via the platform overpass towards the main street.

If travelling by car, one parking option is Alexanders Carpark.  Some spaces in this carpark (eg those on Reynolds Lane near Terrys Ave) have only a 1H 07:30-09:30 restriction.  (There is also a 600 space multistorey railway station carpark 'for commuters directly interchanging to trains or other public transport modes'.)

After walking north through Belgrave into the Nationl Park we will take the Hillclimb track up through beautiful wet eucalypt forest to Ferny Creek Reserve where we will stop for morning tea.  This is a steady climb of 300 m. From there we wil proceed to the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens.  We will walk down through these gardens to Sassafras Creek before following a section of the creek.  After leaving the creek we will continue to Grants Picnic Ground where we will have lunch.  After lunch we will return to Belgrave via Coles Ridge Track.  There are options in Belgrave for coffee after the walk.

It is likely there will be muddy and slippery sections, so consider wearing boots and bringing walking poles.

We will meet at Eltham Town Square for a 10:00 start.  From the railway station, cross Main Road and go through Midway Arcade.  We will meet at the 2 picnic tables just outside the Midway Arcade entrance.  There are cafes nearby for those who require pre-walk caffienation.  If driving to the walk there are a number of carparks on the edges of Eltham town centre with all day parking.  One such carpark is near the BMX bike track at the end of Pitt Street.

We will walk south through the parklands surrounding Diamond Creek and then quiet residential roads to the Yarra River.  We will then walk east (upstream) along the less-visited northern bank of the river as far as Garambi Baan.  This is a site of significance for both traditional owners and European settlers.  The return walk will be via quiet residential roads (with plenty of Grand Designs!) then a different route through the Diamond Creek parkland.  There are options for coffee in Eltham after the walk.  As expected around Eltham, this walk includes some undulating sections.  

Darley is a suburb of Bacchus Marsh, to the North of the Freeway. The Lerderderg River runs along the bottom of the valley, and there is hilly terrain on the north-western edge, heading towards the Lerderderg State Park. This loop walk has quite a bit of level walking along the river, but also a 200m climb/descent in the middle reaches to add a bit of cardio workout. Total distance 14 -15 km, generally good foot tracks and some suburban streets. Some very good lookouts at the top of the climb - after the aptly named "1000+ steps".

Meet at or before 9.30 am, in Fitzroy St, Darley, beside Darley Park. There's a long strip of angle parking there that should be free. There are also toilets in Darley Park.

Alternatively, car-pooling available from Airport West (west of Target) at 8.30am.

Coffee in Bacchus Marsh after the walk - if something's open?

Urban historical walk with a difference. The walk will be broken into 2 stages with a Pub lunch in the middle. We commence the walk from the carpark at The Punt Dock on Douglas Pde opposite the Spotswood Pumping Station. There are two carparks and the one at the Punt may be full so park at the other one which is just a bit further down. 

If you chose to come by train, make sure you get off at the Spotswood Railway Station then walk down Craig Street direct to The Punt Dock to meet us there at 9.30am.

IMPORTANT:  The Punt is $3.00 each way and we will be returning on the Punt so it will cost you $6.00. They only take EFTPOST - NO CASH so please ensure you have your Eftpos Card with you. 

The first part of the walk is around 10k's and will take in the Westgate Memorial, Stony Creek Resere, HMAS Yarra Memorials, The Gatehouse, walk across the Spit Reserve to Sandy Point Breakwater past the Warmies. One toilet here, then we meander back to Newport for a hearty Pub Lunch at The Junction Hotel, 15 Hall Street, Newport. (Wedneday is $25.00 Steak Day!)

After lunch we stroll back via some of the industrial area to the Punt Dock to catch the 2.30pm Punt over the Yarra. We walk under the Westgate Bridge and around Westgate Park to view the Freshwater Lake, the Saltwater Lake and minor Lakes. Each Lake has its own colour and environment. There are toilets here too. This part of the walk is around 4-5k's. Back over the Yarra on the Punt to our cars or train.

The walk is all flat and runner suitable but may be muddy in places if its been raining prior. 

LUNCH - If you are coming for lunch, please add that in the comment section when registering as I need to prior book our table.

After meeting at the Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park the walk starts on the  Forest Creek Trail. After a few kilometres the trail reaches Chinamans Point where we will then climb up a ridge and junction with the Goldfield's Leanganook Track and Garfield Track. Next is a short descent to the Garfield Wheel and other relics from the Mount Alexander Goldfield  followed by lunch at the stone hut ruins and walls of the Welsh Village. After lunch there is a small climb to the Expedition Pass Reservoir before  descending onto another section of the Forest Creek Trail and the return leg of the circuit.

A 14 km Easy/Medium walk.  Boots and walking poles are recommended.  Refreshments at a local cafe.

This walk is also on the BWV Try Bushwalking program to encourage members of the public to join a club.

Description:  We will get off the train at Macedon Station and walk northward into Macedon Regional Park.  Turning Left, we’ll pass under the railway line, then veer Right and walk through the pine forest and under the Calder freeway.  Turning Right again, we continue North – crossing back under the railway line on the outskirts of Woodend.  We then follow the railway line on a track/back street to a park near the river to the finish and a late lunch.  We’ll then do a short walk to Woodend station for the journey home.

Note: this walk may cover a small distance of the same territory as Mark's walk on 11 October.

If driving, I suggest parking at Woodend station and catching the train back to Macedon (one stop) in time to meet the group at 10:00am.

The walk starts with a steep climb up Antimony Mine track until we come to the intersection with Chapmans Rd and then we head along Chapmans Rd for some time. There are a few short sharp inclines and declines and one slow steep decline into the various gorges. We then follow some trail bike tracks and wander through some lovely gulleys, before a steady climb to the top of Mt Sugarloaf with views of the city and the You Yangs on the way up to the top. It is then a fairly straightforward walk after the initial decline from the top of Mt Sugarloaf along more bike tracks until we meet up with Chapmans Rd again and make our way back to the cars.

Starting from Rosanna Railway Station, the walk will head North through Rosanna Parklands to Macleod, then loop around through some very interesting residual bushlands including Gresswell Forest Wildlife Reserve, Gresswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve and Cherry St Grassland Reserve, returning to the Macleod area then back to Rosanna through the Parklands.

Good trails (including some streets between the reserves); total distance approx 14km.

We will meet at "Hunter Lane Cafe" (76 Turnham Ave, Rosanna), immediately to the East of Rosanna Station. Folk can travel to Rosanna Station on the train, or drive and park nearby. Walking will start at 10am,  so get to the cafe earlier (9.30?) if you want a coffee to start. We should have time for a coffee at the same cafe at the end of the walk.

To finish off the sightseeing tour of Lara, we walk around the area north west of the railway line, with the added bonus of a visit to the Serendip Sanctuary at the northern outskirts of Lara.

Meet at Southern Cross Station Vintage Clock by 8.15 am. ,in time to catch the 8.30 am. train to Geelong, arriving at Lara at 9.18 am. This train will pick up passengers at Footscray ( 8.38 am.), Sunshine ( 8.43 am.), Deer Park (8.48 am.), and Tarneit ( 8.57 am.)

Starting the walk at Lara Station, we will cross to the north side of the railway line and walk through the recreation and sporting areas before passing by the Primary School and Secondary College. We then head north to the Pirra Homestead and Serendip Sanctuary.

After a short break at the Sanctuary Car Park( toilets ), we will have a tour of the Sanctuary. There are four different walks in the Sanctuary , and we will cover all four. There are many bird hides to check out and various wetland areas to see.  The wetland areas are claimed to be full of water every 3-5 years, but unfortunately this year is not one of those years. The main Lake Serendip is dry at the moment of writing, but the wet areas along the north arm contain water, so have some bird life enjoying the conditions. We should wander around for about 1.5 - 2 hours and cover about 4.5 km. during the tour.

After lunch, probably in the car park at the Sanctuary, we will return to the Lara Station via a different route to see even more of what Lara has to offer. A stop for afternoon tea will be made before arriving at the Station for the journey back to Melbourne. 

Anyone preferring to drive to Lara, should aim to arrive at  Lara Station by 9.15 am., bearing in mind that the Station Car Park  tends to be fairly full midweek, so you may have to drive around away from the Station to find a park.

When registering for the walk, please indicate which station you will be catching the train at - or if you are driving to Lara.