Summary

The Royal Botanic Gardens site in Cranbourne offers outstanding opportunities for awesome bushwalking in suburban Melbourne. Manna Walk is a short, but delightful example. Try it and you'll want more.

Description

Combine a visit to the magnificent Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne with a delightful on site bushwalk. You won't be disappointed and will want to come back for more. This short bushwalk loop samples the great offerings of a large and extraordinary natural place in the heart of suburbia.

As a short walk with only a gentle rise this is a good walk to take the whole family on. Highlights include native vegetation in its natural state, with minimal weedy intrusions and a healthy population of appreciative wildlife and birds. Expect to see locally indigenous reptiles, marsupials and birds - small and large.

The path is a meandering dirt track through healthy bush bursting with native flora. A boardwalk traverses wetter areas. There are plenty of directional signs to follow. Interpretive signs describe many interesting features of the area.

Amenities include an information shelter, BBQ, picnic and toilet facilities.

There is no public transport to Stringybark parking area, but walking to and from the shuttle / bus stop at the formal garden gates is definitely an option.

Pets and bicycles are not permitted.

Note: gates close 5pm.

392 Views

Points of Interest

1. Parking

Stringbark car park provides direct access to the walking track. Accessible parking is available. Some people who use mobility aids may find this walk is worth a try, but it is not accessible to all.

2. The track

The track begins as a wide compacted granitic sand track in the picnic areas. It is suitable for mobility aids here. It is narrower and has some unevenness as you go up the gentle slope.

3. Information shelter

The information shelter with bench seating and interpretive signs is a good place to discover what to look for as you follow the track.

4. BBQs and picnic tables

Prettily situated BBQs and picnic tables are dispersed throughout the picnic area at the base of the track.

5. A ti-tree corridor

Ti-tree surrounds you at the start of the walk before you enter the more open woodland.

6. Directional signs

Intersections with other tracks are clearly signed.

7. A boardwalk

The more sensitive wetter areas of the walk are protected by an above ground boardwalk.

8. No bikes (or pets)

Note the sign, walkers only, no bikes.

Features

Picnic spot

Drinking water available

Seating available

Public toilets

Pram friendly

Nature trail