Healesville, Part 1 - Saturday 24th, March

Clouds hung low on the hills that surround Healesville,

 
as we arrived at our meeting place for the start of the day's walk.

After a quick cup of coffee and purchasing delicious lunches from the local bakery,
 we headed off down the road for our wander around Healseville.

We followed the Grace Burn, that flows through the township,

 past the Olympic Swimming Pool,

 the local cricket ground where finals were in full swing.

 The terrain was easy going over the soccer field,

 but we soon came across our first hill of the day
as we entered the local cemetery.

 Cemeteries can provide a unique perspective on local history. We noted the dates on many of the headstones which suggested that early settlers to the area experienced many difficulties in their struggle to establish a thriving community in such a rugged location. 

We continued through the cemetery and walked through Queens Park,

 past some wonderful sculptures that were made from bare tree trunks.

 Each trunk has been carved to represent leaves of different local indigenous trees.

We continued through the park, past the many busy people setting their stalls
and stages for the Healesville Music Festival that was due to be held that afternoon.

After walking briskly through town,
we were soon looking across lush green farmland

toward the hills of the Yarra Ranges.

We crossed over some bridges,

walked along the banks of the Grace Burn,

and enjoyed the views of the country side.

Our path took us past the wares of a local gardener.

A few of us even found some room in our packs for some tomatoes and peppers!

We wandered along our path,

and soon arrived back in town in the midst of another festival!

 It was time for lunch and it started rain but instead of getting wet,
one bright spark had a great idea!

We quickly bought tickets and climbed on board the local tourist train

 and enjoyed lunch in fabulous style!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our Healesville wanderings.
It's all about Badgers Weir!

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A

Walk Notice - Healesville - Saturday 24th, March

The Walk:

The Journey is easy to very social, this trip is open to all with many options. You can meet us at the Beechworth Bakery and at the farmers market and Badger’s Weir for a late lunch and bbq or come with us on a beautiful tour of the Healesville hills stopping at all locations and a walk at Badgers Weir after the walk. The distances are Healesville 4.5 k Badgers Weir 2.5k.

Grade:

Easy Walking, about 7 km in length.

  

 What's a pile of rocks got to do with walking in Healesville? And where is this pile of rocks?  

For answers these questions, why not join us for the wandering tour of Healesville.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A

Patterson River - Sunday, 4th March

After record breaking rainfalls throughout much of Victoria during the last few days, the expectation of rain showers in the morning, did not put off 7 Walkabouters from meeting at Bicentennial Park in Chelsea for a 14 kilometer meander along Patterson River and it's surrounds.

Following the path leading south from Bicentennial Park, we walked in the shade of large pine trees and She-oaks that lined border of the local country club and golf course. 

The landscape became more open as we walked through the Wannarkladdin Wetlands, nearer the banks of the Patterson River.

Patterson River was originally a swamp. 

In the 1870's the government decided to drain the Carrum Carrum Swamp, which lay between Mordialloc Creek and Keats Park in Seaford, and turn it into useful farmland. 

The creek known as Carrum Creek, was widened and deepened, allowing the swamp to flow into Port Philip Bay. This 10 meter wide, man-made gash was known as 'Patterson's Cut'. 

The path leads us along the banks of the river,

which was swollen due to heavy rainfall from the previous few days.

The few canoeists braving the conditions,

weren't game enough to challenge the Patterson Rapids.

The extra water in the river did not prove a challenge

for the local birdlife!

The weather provided some very dramatic looking clouds,
that fortunately did not bring any precipitation.

The blustery winds parted the clouds, revealing bright blue skies and sunshine

as we continued on our walk.

 We took in the views of the man-made marina, expensive houses,
boats and barbed wire fences,

and wondered about who they were trying to keep in!

We left the artificial lakes behind us for the more subdued looking

but intriguingly named, Eel Race Creek.

There were plenty of ducks but no eels in sight.

No, this is not a giant eel trap, it is a trap for rubbish that flows down the creek.

These traps are placed in many of Victoria's waterways to prevent rubbish from entering Port Phillip Bay.

We walked down the road that follows the course of Eel Race Creek

to where it flows into Kananook Creek.   

We crossed over Nepean Highway and walked, past the rather surreal looking 

Carrum Bowling Club with it's architecturally designed clubhouse.  

After walking through Keats Park,

we sat on the beach and ate our lunch.

Port Phillip Bay was really choppy and the few boats that were braving the conditions appeared to be struggling.

It wasn't long before we came upon the mouth of Patterson River. 

We stood for a while watching boats leave the quiet waters of the River and get tossed around on the Bay as they struggled to negotiate the rough conditions. One boat returned without getting more the 500 meters away from the river.

We followed the path back along Patterson River,

past the golf course and the wetlands,

and back to Bicentennial Park 

and the Mr Whippy van serving deliciously, refreshing gellati!

This is not Mr Whippy, it is a Marshalite rotary traffic light.

These traffic signals were all the go, or stop, in the 1930's around Victoria. They were also popular in Germany in the 1950's. This set of signals were last in use along Nepean Highway in the 1970's before they were dismantled for a more efficient system. These signals sit at either end of the crossing to the playground in Bicentennial Park.

A very curious attraction at the end of a great walk!

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A

Walk Notice - Patterson River - Sunday 4 March

The Walk:

We will explore the trails and bike paths in the Edithvale area, as we walk a loop which will take in the banks of Patterson River, Eel Race Creek and the beach.

Grade:

Easy flat walking, about 14 kms in length.

Daly River in the Northern Territory is not the place to go swimming as there are far too many crocodiles!

Fortunately, Patterson River is free of crocodiles, so it's just right for a swim, 

well at least a walk anyway.

Looking forward to seeing you along the banks of Patterson River.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A