Darebin Creek Trail

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Darebin Creek Trail
Length About 25km
Difficulty Medium
Hills Some
Hazards Gaps in the trail
Connecting Transport
Train Epping, Darebin stations

The Darebin Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians which follows Darebin Creek in the inner and outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1][2][3]

The path consists of a 8km section north of the Western Ring Road and a 17km section south of the Western Ring Road. The two sections are separated by a 0.85km section of path along the Western Ring Road Trail. The southern section is incomplete, resulting in some gaps that need to be negotiated.

Bicycle Victoria is campaigning for a connection between the Yarra River Trail and the southern end of the Darebin Creek Trail. The path would have to be extended by about 2km and a footbridge over the Yarra River installed. The final location of the bridge is still being discussed and local residents are in opposition to the suggested path. The planning process has been in progress since at least 1996.[4]

There is also a section of trail missing south of Settlement Rd.

[edit] Following the Path

The northern section starts on the very edge of Melbourne surburbia next to open countryside. Travelling south through remnant vegation and 2.2km later, one arrives at Hendersons Rd. Epping station is 500m to the west along Hendersons Rd and the station is soon followed by Epping Plaza.

The path arrives at Childs Rd, 1.3 km further along, having crossed a small footbridge earlier. Cross the Childs Rd bridge to the east. The Hendersons Road Drain Trail is on the left (north) and the Darebin Creek Trail continues on the right (south), on the other side of Childs Rd.

900m later the path forks to the left and right. Take the path towards the footbridge but don't cross it - continue straight ahead. After 2km, McKimmies Rd is approached. The path does not proceed under the road, which would be helpful. Go across the McKimmies Rd bridge and also cross McKimmies Rd itself. Take care. After another 1.5km the path intersects the Western Ring Road Trail. A small wetland nearby sponsors the Growling Grass Frog.

Travel 850m east along the Western Ring Road Trail to where the Darebin Creek Trail continues to the south on its west bank. The creek name is signed for road users but not for trail users.

Leaving the Western Ring Road Trail the southern section starts by descending to the creek and tracking along the west bank of the creek. After crossing McCleans Rd, the path splits in two, as it enters a Norris Bank Reserve. Either path can be taken as they rejoin at the far end of the reserve at Settlement Rd.

At Settlement Rd there is gap in the trail that can be traversed. It is definitely not recommended after rain. Cross the Settlement Rd bridge and the road itself. Watch the traffic. A small path leads to Latrobe Ave on the east side of the creek. At this point the path descends into a goat track that follows the creek next to Bundoora Park Public Golf Course. About 2.4 km from Settlement Rd there is a ford across the creek, not far from St Vigeons Rd and Merino St on the opposite side. Cross the ford to where the trail resumes as a good quality concrete path.

The path soon comes to an end at Rothcown Rd by the sheep. Continue down Rothcown Rd and turn left into Chenies St. The path resumes 200m on the right by following the creek again. At Dunne St and Plenty Rd, change sides of the creek. An unsigned path looms up on the left, that leads to the Bundoora campus of La Trobe University and is surveyed by a lone park bench.

800m later cross the footbridge to the east bank of the creek. The trail continues south past another footbridge on the right (west) that leads to Northland Shopping Centre. Do not cross the bridge, just continue onwards.

One km later the bitumen trail meets a crossing with a concrete trail. Turn right (west) onto the concrete trail and head downhill. Going straight ahead on the bitumen trail leads to the Austin Hopital helipad (Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital) near Bell St.

Three km later the trail meets the north end of Ford Gve. Continue to the south end of Ford Grv where the trail continues. After another 500m the trail forks at a wooden boardwalk section: To the left (east) it crosses a footbridge. Take the right path and continue straight ahead towards Smith St. Soon enough, another dead end is revealed under the large and high steel bridge that carries the Hurstbridge railway line, Melbourne.

[edit] Connections

Dead end in the north at Porsche Crt. Intersects the Hendersons Road Drain Trail in Mill Park at Childs Rd and the Western Ring Road Trail in Bundoora. Currently (2007) a dead end in the south near Darebin station. Using a highly convoluted and hilly path, with some road sections, one can access the Yarra River Trail via the Darebin station from this point.

North end at 37.635830° S 145.034885° E. South end at 37.777068° S 145.034873° E.

[edit] References

  1. ^ VicRoads - Bicycle Facilities Map
  2. ^ Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps
  3. ^ Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth
  4. ^ Boroondara Planning Permit No.BOR/96/1030
  • Bike Paths Victoria sixth edition, 2004. Edited and published by Sabey & Associates Pty Ltd. pp114. ISBN 0957959117
  • Bike rides around Melbourne 2nd edition, 2006, Julia Blunden, Open Spaces Publishing, ISBN 0-9752333-2-7

[edit] External links


Melbourne's Off-Road Bicycle Network

Anniversary | Bayside | Belgrave | Blind Creek | Broadmeadows Valley | Bushy Creek | Capital City | Craigieburn Bypass | Dandenong Creek | Darebin Creek | Diamond Creek | East Malvern Station to Centre Rd | Edgars Creek | Federation | Ferndale Park | Ferny Creek | Gardiners Creek | Gawler Chain | Greengully | Hallam Bypass | Hallam Main Drain | Hendersons Road Drain | Hobsons Bay Coastal | Koonung Creek | Kororoit Creek | Laverton Creek | Maribyrnong River | Maroondah Aqueduct | Merri Creek | Moonee Ponds Creek | Mullum Mullum Creek | Plenty River | River Gum Walk | Ruffey Creek | Sandridge | Scotchmans Creek | Skeleton Creek | St Georges Rd | Steele Creek | Syndal Heatherdale Pipe Reserve | Tarralla Creek | Taylors Creek | Toolern Creek | Upfield Bike Path | Waverley | Werribee River | Western Ring Road | Western Port Bay | Wurundjeri Walk | Yarra River

Cycling in Melbourne and Victoria

Segregated cycle facilities
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