GUIDE TO SHORT WALKS IN VICTORIA

NEW FEATURE ADDED APRIL 28 2008
Scrolling slideshow of a recent walk!

VISITORS' BOOK ADDED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008 Please look at the Visitors' Book - see what other people have said about this Guide - add your own comments! Click to view and add your own comments to the Visitors' Book!!

Welcome to the INTERNET GUIDE TO SHORT WALKS IN VICTORIA! Its author and creator is Bob Padula, OAM, of Mont Albert, in the east of Melbourne.   I am a Professional Engineer, providing technical consultancy services in the area of high-frequency broadcasting - I graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1967, and was employed by Telstra Corporation until 1998.    I have been actively involved in bushwalking since 1954, and regularly undertake short walks around Greater Melbourne and nearer country areas. I also have a passion for digital photography, 4WDing along unmade roads, and exploration of parks, reserves, sanctuaries, coasts and mountains!    This Guide contains details of walks I have completed in the period from March 2005, and most can be completed by anyone with a moderate level of fitness.  Some walks are suitable for persons with limited mobility.   Most walks described are located in the general area around Melbourne, but there are many further afield!   In publishing this free Guide, and sharing my knowledge and experiences through the Internet, it is with the hope that it will encourage readers to set aside some time to venture regularly into the Victorian countryside and enjoy the beauty and scenery which it offers, and at the same time support the development and maintainence of an appropriate level of fitness.      The starting points for all of the walks listed are easily reached by conventional cars, including some over good unsealed gravel roads. They range from relatively short hikes of about an hour or less, to more extensive half or full day adventures. Overnight walks are not included in this Guide.   Some walks are step-on, step-off shorter hikes, which are part of longer multi-day trips. They include the:   17 km Dandenong Ranges Tourist Track  24 km Beeripmo Walk (Mt Cole State Forest) 91 km Great Ocean Walk (Apollo Bay district) 16 km Dandenong Ranges Western Flanks Walk  6 km Emerald-Cockatoo Trail 15 km O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail (Warburton district) 35 km Rainbow Bird Trail (south of Ballarat) 35 km Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail 10 km  Mt. Evelyn Aqueduct Trail   I have also included accounts of many of the network of excellent walks constructed by the Great Dividing Trail Association, based in the Daylesford district. I am a member of the Association, and of Bushwalking Victoria.   Several walks are along the nearer Coast, including trips around Westernport Bay.   The Guide also covers many walks in the extensive Yarra River Parklands to the north east of Melbourne, and hikes in reserves and parklands in the outer east of Melbourne, including the large Dandenong Valley Parklands.

Destinations. Some of the hikes are to places which are not often visited, which have been discovered from careful research of Melway's and other maps, personal observation, perusal of the comprehensive Park and Track Notes issued by Parks Vic and DSE, examination of hard-to-get publications, and contacts with Shire Councils, Bushwalking Clubs and activity-based organizations. Site Navigation. Clicking on the desired link on the Navigation Bar at the left of this Front Page will take you to the selected Regional page, where you will find a listing of the walks in that Region. The Navigation Bar appears on each page, and the headings there are Rollover Links. Throughout the Guide, except the Navigation Bar, text which is underlined is a clickable link to a URL, either internal or external.   Each walk shows distance from Melbourne,  length, duration, features, date completed, general notes, a link to Track Notes (or Map) issued by Parks Victoria or other agencies, and a link to the Photo Album for that walk.   The Photo Albums have etailed information about the Walksto which they refer, and the images may be viewed as Slide Shows or individually.   Walks have been placed in the most appropriate Geographical Region, which include National,  State, or Local Parks. Several of the bigger Parks extend across the geographical regions adopted in the Guide - they include several tracks in the Dandenong Ranges, the Lysterfield Hills, and West Gippsland.   Sub-pages are provided for some Regions, where there are many walks.   All of the walks listed have been undertaken by myself in the period from March 2005..   A word of caution: some walks in the Dandenong Ranges National Park and the Kinglake National Park are steep and rocky, and care should be exercised if undertaking those tracks during or after wet weather.   I have also included details of the 37 km Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail, which I completed by bike in 2006 - there are many access points to this wonderful Trail, which is used by walkers, cyclists, horses, ponies, joggers, prams and dogs!   Support Features. There are links on the Navigation Bar to various features in  the Guide, which you are invited to explore!   Though created for Walking, the Guide may of course be used alternatively for selecting interesting destinations for non-walking activities, or sight-seeing! Visit Best Lookouts for a  selection of special viewpoints!   If you never never go, you'll never never know, and don't forget SLIP SLAP SLOP! I also invite you to join Hiking Victoria. I wish you good walking and I look forward to your feedback and comments.!

HIKING VICTORIA! Announcing a new message board!

HIKING VICTORIA is a unique Message Board for anyone interested in recreational or educational walking in Victoria.  Membership is free, and registration is required to view the contents of the Forums, or to post to them. It complements this Guide and is managed by Bob Padula. A membership base is being built up progresssively, and new members are joining and posting! HIKING VICTORIA also provides news to its members about new walks opened, closed walks, and new proposed walking trails.  A monthly newsletter titled "THE VICTORIAN HIKER" is distributed by Email, to all members, and may also be viewed at the Website by members. A program of SHORT WALKS around the hills near Melbourne is being considered, for members, their families, and friends! Learn more at Features of Hiking Victoria To join, please go to this URL: JOIN HIKING VICTORIA

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS GUIDE!

Compilation of this Guide has been done has consumed several hundred hours of spare-time effort as a labour-of-love Project. It is updated frequently, whenever I do a new walk, and featured content is also varied with new material. I would certainly like to hear from you about what you think about it! I would also be pleased to assist you if you are thinking about doing any of the walks and would like further details about them.   THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VISITS TO THE GUIDE EACH MONTH, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM READERS!  You can also contact me from this spam-free Email link BOB'S EMAIL Residential/Postal Bob Padula, 404 Mont Albert Rd, Mont Albert, Victoria 3127, Australia Telephone/FAX: (03) 9898 2906

LATEST WALKS ADDED TO THIS GUIDE Click the underlined link to go to the relevant page

Mt Disappointment State Forest - Summit Walk - 3 km - 60 km NE - July 2008   Mt Disappointment State Forest - Strath Creek Falls Walk - 60 km NE - July 2008