Main Yarra Trail - Saturday, 8th October

Today we met at Finns Reserve in Lower Templestowe for the start of our day's walk.

Our plan was to walk along the Main Yarra Trail that follows the Yarra River on its meandering journey through the north eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

 

The Yarra River flows from its sources in the Yarra Ranges, 242 kms east of Melbourne. It flows through the Yarra Valley before winding its way through expansive plains which is now home to the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne before emptying into Hobsons Bay at the northern end of Port Phillip Bay.

Did you know that the local Indigenous people, the Wurundjeri called the Yarra Birrarung. The name Yarra, was taken from a mistranslation of another Wurundjeri term in the Boonwurrung language, Yarro-yarro. which means 'everflowing'.

 Following the Main Yarra Trail, we walked through Westerfold Park,

A Rapid view!

 over several bridges,

 past many stands of gum trees,

 all the while taking in views of the ever flowing Yarra River.

 We walked past Petty's Orchard.

Old apples trees nearly stretch their branches laden with blossom
 over the banks of the Yarra.

 Thomas Petty arrived in in Australia from England in 1853 and gained a selection of land in the Templestowe and Doncaster surrounds. It was his grandson Thomas Henry who developed the Homestead Property into a thriving orchard that remained in the family until 1981. At this time the Parks Victoria purchased the Homestead and the Heritage Fruit Society manages and maintains the remnant heritage fruit collection of Petty's Orchid.

We enjoyed our lunch at the confluence of the Yarra
and Mullum Mullum Creek, in Tikalara Park.

On our return walk, we were treated with a splendid surprise! 

Whilst peaking over a bridge we spotted something swimming in the river!

It's not a log! It's a Platypus!

 Is it a log? No. Is it a fish? No. Is it a duck? No. It's a Platypus!! 

There was not one but two of them, frolicking and foraging in the current of the Yarra River!

It's just child's play!

And then we were back!

Thank-you to our leader for another great walk!

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A