| Outer Circle Trail looking north toward Mont Albert Road Bridge | |
| Anniversary Outer Circle Trail | |
| Length | Approx 13.7 km |
| Difficulty | Easy to medium |
| Hills | Various hills at Willsmere park and near Ashburton Station otherwise fairly flat |
| Hazards | Crossing High Street and Toorak Roads- Use crossing |
| Path | Concrete or bitumen |
| Connecting Transport | |
| Train | Alamein line (any station), or East Camberwell Station |
The Outer Circle Trail, also known as the Anniversary Trail, Anniversary Outer Circle Trail, or even the Outer Circle Anniversary Trail, is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which partly follows the Alamein Line through the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1][2][3][4]
The trail follows the right-of-way of the old steam era Outer Circle Line. It runs from the Yarra River Trail near the Eastern Freeway at Fairfield, down to Gardiners Creek Trail in the south. The Outer Circle train line opened in 1891. Parts of the trail were opened 100 years later in 1991, hence the Anniversary.
It is heavily used by local residents and recreational cyclists, due to its proximity to other paths, many suburbs, and connecting transport. The path was upgraded in Dec 2006 and is now fully sealed and divided. Signs are still lacking. The path, in some stages, follows the direct line of the old railway, in others it weaves through parks, and follows the side of the Alamein Line, continuing beyond Alamein Station underneath the still standing pylons for the overhead wiring to the Gardiners Creek Trail in Malvern East.
Leaving the Yarra River Trail head south on the Chandler Highway and the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail can be found 0.6km later, just across the bridge that crosses the Eastern Freeway. A safer alternative is to continue along the Yarra River Trail from the Chandler Highway to Willsmere Park - 1.5km. You can cross under the Eastern Freeway at Willsmere Park and traverse to the Anniversary Outer Circle Trail via Hyde Park.
Despite numerous upgrades to the path, it can still be hard to follow in some sections:
Coming from the north the trail arrives at the junction of Harp Road, High Street and Valerie Street. Located in the junction is a tram stop and some vegetated median strips. Just circumvent all this as best as possible, while maintaining a direct line and the path will be refound on either side of High Street.
340 m past the Canterbury Road underpass, there is scouthall on the right (south east). Continue straight down the hill, rather than taking the path to the right at this point, which leads to East Camberwell Station.
The path swings to the right (south) at Myrtle Road and continues under the railbridge. The path parallels the southwest side of Myrtle Road. A short detour at this point (900 m), to the east along Warbuton Road, leads to the Maling Road coffee strip.
At Prospect Hill Road, 500 m south of the train line underpass, the path appears to terminate again. Cross Prospect Hill Road and turn right, continuing along 30 m and take a left into Spencer Road. Ride along Spencer Road until Riversdale Park is seen on the left (east). Ride across the park to the pedestrian crossing on the far side of the park at Riversdale Road.
Cross Riversdale Road and proceed left (east) towards Fordham Avenue, then turn right down Fordham Avenue (south). Follow the designated path, and turn right just before the scout hall. From here, the path is clear cut until its finish at the Solway Street footbridge.
Between Burwood and Ashburton stations you pass by a small park with a playground (Summerhill Park). The Ferndale Park Trail starts here and acts as an alternative route to the Gardiners Creek Trail.
At the very southern end of the trail you can access the Gardiners Creek Trail. Access is provided via the small footbridge at the south end of Solway St. Due to flood damage the bridge was closed from April 2006 to June 2007. After being open for 3.5 years the bridge was washed away by flood waters very early in the morning of the 5th February, 2011, after heavy rain resulting from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, rendering the bridge impassable. It is due to be replaced in the 2011-2012 financial year.[5][6]
Once on the Gardiners Creek Trail, the Scotchmans Creek Trail can be reached by riding along the path that goes through the Malvern Valley Public Golf Course. Then up and over the footbridge that crosses the Monash Freeway and on past East Malvern Station. Chadstone Shopping Centre and Homesglen Institute of TAFE are nearby.
The path is fully sealed, either bitumen or concrete, and busy road crossings are serviced by pedestrian traffic lights. At various locations along the path, there are barbecues (at the park adjacent to Whitehorse Road crossing and Frog Hollow Reserve). Many parks are dotted along the path, such as ovals, playgrounds, tennis courts and cricket pitches.
North end at . South end at .
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