Brimbank Park Nature Trail
Park Dr, Keilor East VIC 3033, Australia
By
ParkWalks
This walk is part of the Heart Foundations 'Green Walks in the Park' Program. Follow the link above for more information.
Facilities
The park has a Parks Victoria office, cafe and toilets.
There are several BBQ and picnic areas dotted around the park. Bring along a picnic to enjoy after your walk.
Access
By Car
The park is 15km north-west of Melbourne. Follow the Calder Freeway to Keilor Park Drive exit. After 500m turn right into the park. The gates open at 8:30am daily and close at 5pm (or 8pm during daylight savings).
By Bus
The nearest bus stop is at the corner of the Old Calder Freeway and Flora St. Bus route 476. It's a 1.2km walk from here to the start of the walk.
By Bike
The walk can be reached via the Maribyrnong River Trail which follows the river for 25km from Keilor to Footscray Road.
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.
Description
Brimbank Park sits approximately 55 metres below the surrounding western plains. It was first settled by Europeans in the 1830s. The name is thought to have originated from the farmers moving their sheep and cattle 'around the brim of the bank' of the Maribyrnong River.
This is a loop walk that starts and ends at the Parks Victoria Office/Leaping Lizard Cafe. The route uses a combination of sealed and well maintained gravel paths.
There is one short, but fairly steep climb on the walk, at this point there is the option to take an alternative route back to the cafe.
From the entrance to the Parks Office, there is a path to your left. Turn right onto this path to start your walk. The path winds around and down to the riverside. Keep your eyes and ears open to all the activity along the river banks.
Head straight through the first junction you meet and keep on this path as it follows the river around a bend.
At the next junction you meet, turn right towards the river. As the path crosses the river you are treated to wonderful river views before a short climb that brings you to a small bridge across the creek. In the early evening you might spot a water rat hunting for its dinner.
Follow the path past an electricity pylon and down to the creek. Common Reed and Cumbungi are in abundance. Turn right at the next junction.
At the next junction the walk turns left and climbs up to the edge of the park, if you would rather avoid a climb, you can keep right here and return to the caf.
The path now dips back down, following the opposite side of the river. You cross another large ford, with more opportunities to spot some of the park's abundant birdlife, before finally returning back to the caf.
Heart Foundation Walking is funded nationally by the Medibank Community Fund and the Australian Government. It is also funded by the QLD Government to get more Queenslanders active and the ACT Government through ACT Health. The Green Walks in the Park program is an initiative of the Heart Foundation with funding from Parks Victoria and support from Victoria Walks.