Yarra Bend Studley Grounds Nature Walk

Yarra Bend Studley Grounds Nature Walk created by Let's Walk

Rate this walk

Summary

Yarra Bend Park is big, it's 260 hectares. The Yarra river flows for 12 km through it. There are many walking tracks to help you explore this vast and varied park.

Description

Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne's largest natural bushland park. Enjoy the leafy grounds and abundant wildlife while strolling or biking its many trails. Stop for a picnic, walk your dog or play a round of golf. Hire a canoe at historic Studley Park Boathouse, paddle upstream, and spot flying foxes.

Explore the wild river escarpments, open woodlands, formal parklands and sports fields that make up Yarra Bend Park.

Set out on the Dights Falls Walk and discover the site of a former asylum, the river red gum dominated landscape of Galatea Point, Deep Rock which was home to the Deep Rock Swimming Club and of course, the iconic Dights Falls.

Arguably the parks best known feature, the artificial weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the Ceres Flour Mill, one of the first in Victoria. The falls were later to become known as Dights Falls after the owners of the mill.
If it's going to be a very hot,dry or windy day, check for park closures and other weather related information. Go to www.parks.vic.gov.au or call 131963

Rate this walk

2056 Views

Points of Interest

1. Studley Grounds Cafe

A great place to meet for a cuppa before or after the walk.

2. Look out towards Willsmere.

Constructed between 1856 and 1872, Willsmere was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals built in Australia. Gardening and dairy farming were popular outdoor activities.

3. Eucalypt Diversity

The park presents visitors with fine examples of Yellow Gum, Yellow Box and River Red Gums , and some remnant Box Ironbark Forest.

4. Studley Park Boathouse

This historic boathouse was established in 1863 by the Burns family. It is the oldest public boathouse on the Yarra River. A good place to have a light meal or hire a canoe.

5. City views lookout

A spectacular view of Melbourne.

6. Collingwood Children's Farm

In 1979 a community committee leased a small pocket of land from the Abbotsford Convent to establish a farm where children living in an urban environment, could learn to care for animals and nature.

7. Eastern Water Dragon

Semi-aquatic reptiles who live along the east coast of Australia around our waterways. Half a metre long, they have rough scales and sharp spines, and find insects, yabbies and frogs delicious.

8. Geology

There is interesting geological diversity in the parks. North of the river you will find Basalt/Igneous rock and South of the river look for sandstone/sedimentary rock. Good luck!