Cafe to the Weir, Brimbank Park Accessible Walk

Cafe to the Weir, Brimbank Park Accessible Walk created by Victoria Walks

Rate this walk

Summary

Brimbank Park has wide green spaces beside the Maribyrnong River in a deep gorge. You will walk or roll to the river next to giant River Red Gums.

Description

Find out more

Is this walk accessible for me?
This walk has accessible paths for everyone on foot, by wheelchair or with other mobility aids. It has flatter paths around the café and accessible playground. The walk or roll to the river has slopes.

What can I see?
Over thousands of years Maribyrnong River has cut into the rock to form a gorge. It has become Brimbank Park. The river has a weir. Native animals and birds live here. There are large trees and green spaces.

Brimbank Park is also part of Parks Victoria's Autism Friendly Visits initiative. Click to learn more.

How accessible is the path?
Paths are sealed, wide and smooth. They allow for side by side travel and turning. Paths to the river have mild to moderate slopes before flattening along the river. The path beside historic Dodd Cottage has a moderate slope - best for going downhill. You can return using the milder slopes opposite. Note: direction signs are not present at all intersections.

Choose paths around the cafe and All Abilities playscape if slopes are difficult.

Cyclists may share some paths.

Rest areas
The cafe sells refreshments. It is the best place to sit. Seats along paths are often across grass or bare earth. The path does not have shade in some sections.

Drinking fountains are not easy to access. Carry water.

Toilets
The cafe has an accessible toilet (see photos).

Dogs
Dogs must be on leash.

Parking
Park Drive extends beyond the public car park as a service road. At the end are three accessible spaces with side protection onto flat, smooth, sealed bitumen near the cafe. There is no through traffic.

There is also accessible car parking with side protection at the ramped entrance to the playscape by the main public car park. These spaces are on a minor slope.

Road crossings are not required. These are the only car parks with access to the walk. Mobile coverage is good.

Public Transport
There is no public transport into Brimbank Park.

The following photos and descriptions provide more information regarding accessibility. Conditions may change. If you notice any variations, please let us know.

We would like to know what people with disability and carers think of this accessible Walking Map. Please tell us by completing this 5 minute survey. Your feedback will help us to create local walks information of high quality for carers and people with disability.

“Walking and rolling together: accessible walking trails for people with disability” is a partnership between Victoria Walks and Scope.

Other accessible walks
Westerfolds Park
State Rose Garden

Banner image provided by Parks Victoria.

Victoria Walks acknowledges the support of Access for All Abilities, an initiative of the Victorian Government.

Rate this walk

2449 Views

Points of Interest

1. Accessible car parking (Car Park A)

There are 5 dedicated accessible car parks in Car Park A. These have direct, ramped access into the all abilities playscape. All have protected side spaces. This path also goes through to the cafe.

2. Accessible playscape

A purpose built all abilities playscape has Braille and Auslan signage, tactile paths and sculptures, accessible play equipment and wide paths for wheelchairs. Photo from Parks Victoria.

3. Accessible car parking (cafe)

Continue to follow Park Drive beyond Car Park A to 3 dedicated accessible parks by the cafe. The spaces are sealed, smooth and flat. Side spaces are protected. There is no through traffic.

4. The cafe

The cafe provides for indoor and outdoor refreshment. There is a mild slope to the building. Wheelchairs can enter the building through dual 940mm doorways. Dogs on a leash are welcome outside.

5. Accessible toilet

There is an accessible toilet with external access in the cafe building. The door is 820mm in width.

6. Trailhead sign and picnic tables

A directional trailhead sign beside the cafe points the way to the river. Picnic tables can be found here too. They are off the path over a rolled kerb and set on a surface of grass and bare earth.

7. Above the river

The paths above Dodd Homestead offer milder slopes than those below. They offer pretty views across the parklands and to the magnificent Rive Red Gums scattered throughout the park.

8. Dodd Homestead.

The Dodd family farmed Brimbank Park from this homestead between 1860 and 1974. Informative signage on site tells more of the story.

9. The path to the river

A moderately sloping path beside Dodd Homestead connects you to the Brimbank River Walk to the weir. By taking this side of the loop downhill you get to travel milder slopes back up the other side.

10. Brimbank River Walk

The path along the river gently undulates until it flattens closer to the weir. Muddy edges may be present. This part of the walk is quite exposed to the weather, so being Sun Smart is worthwhile.

11. Walking and rolling drinking water access

Carry your own water. There are few water fountains and, like this old fashioned bubble fountain set off the path, not all water fountains are easy to access along the walking paths.

12. The weir

A weir backs up the river to a pretty expanse of water below a canopy of eucalyptus. You can easily view the weir from the path. Heading down to the waterside is done on a steep ramp of loose gravel.

13. Seating

There is a variety of seating along the pathways. Not all have arm rests. Most are located beyond the sealed pathways across grass or bare earth.

14. The return loop

The return loop takes you back up to the cafe along milder slopes amongst shading trees.

15. Low flying aricraft

Brimbank Park is a great place for plane watching. Aircraft on the Tullamarine Airport flight path fly quite low overhead. This does create intermittent engine noise.