Morang Wetlands, Plenty Gorge Park Walk

Morang Wetlands, Plenty Gorge Park Walk created by Victoria Walks

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Summary

The Morang Wetlands are a remarkable part of the Parks Victoria Plenty Gorge Parklands. The walking is simply a pleasure. The waterways nestled in their tree lined settings are breathtaking.

Description

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This enticing Park Walk double loop is full of eye-catching natural features to be explored at leisure. There are no distractions, just picturesque landscapes, waterways, vegetation and wildlife that make you want to keep looking.

While the surrounding area is becoming increasingly suburban, Plenty Gorge Parklands have been protected for natural and heritage conservation since the 1980s. The area is significant to the Wurundjeri people. Scar trees and cultural artefacts confirm occupation prior to European settlement. Pastoralists took the land during the 1830s for grazing.

Morang Wetland is an eBird hotspot with 152 recorded species. There is a diverse population of mammals, reptiles, frogs and insects including large mobs of eastern-grey kangaroos (and rabbits).

The paths lend themselves to easy walking for people of all ages. They are generally mildly undulating, firm and wide. However, there are steeper slopes including one steep slant across the path that might make it challenging for those less mobile. There are also thick grassy mown paths. These aspects may exclude users of aids such as walking frames and narrow wheeled or manual wheelchairs.

However, if you are steady on your feet, walk stably with a stick or have an appropriately powered and geared fat tyre wheelchair you might choose to give it a go. Mobile phone coverage is good. There is room to manoeuvre. Note: there are no options for alternative pick up sites. See the more detailed accessibility descriptions that follow.

There are occasional bench seats. Mature trees provide some shade, but much of the path is exposed to the weather.

Red Gum picnic area and car park are situated in an area of open grassland. There is a non accessible playground, some non roll under remote picnic tables and a bluestone toilet block. There is an uneven gravel path at the rear to the accessible toilet. There are no other connecting paths between these facilities, other seats or built shade.

Cary your own food and water. There are no bins. Take your rubbish home.

Public transport
Bus 382 stops at the Gordons / Plenty Rd intersection 100 meters from the car park. Trains to South Morang run on the Mernda line.

Parking
2 accessible spaces with a protected side zone between them are available beside the gravel path to the toilet block To access the walk requires walking or rolling through the car park or cutting across grass.

Pets are not permitted.

Opening hours
Winter: 8:30AM to 5:00PM
Summer: 8:30AM to 7:00PM

Book a Parks Victoria volunteer led Park Walk here.

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Points of Interest

1. Red Gum car park

2 marked accessible spaces have a protected side zone between them. They have direct access to a 1.5 meter gravel path to the toilet block. The bollard gap is 1.2 meters.

2. Toilet block with accessible toilet

The public toilets are at the front of the block, the accessible toilet is to the rear where the path is bumpier. The rear door is 0.76 meters wide. The floor area is 1.75x2.6 meters.

3. Tank Track

Tank Track begins at the car park as a gated 6 meter wide asphalt service road. It narrows to 3 meters of smooth, firm gravel. Follow it to the Wetlands path from which this group is returning.

4. Directional signs

There are a lot of tracks criss crossing the parklands. There are directional signs. This one is on Landfill Track. However, signs further along may be confusing. Carry a paper map as well.

5. Vent

Landfill Track encircles an old rubbish dump. This vent and a fenced off contaminated water site are consequent outcomes.

6. View to Le Page homestead

From the escarpment you can see into the gorge above the river where the Le Page family settled to farm in the 1850s.

7. Reed beds

Often rowdy with the sound of frogs, these reed bass are excellent habitat for many creatures.

8. Who is watching who?

The large population of resident kangaroos will often watch you as you pass, alert but generally unbothered.

9. Follow Landfill Track until .....

The path continues as a smooth, firm and wide compacted gravel surface. At this sign turn left onto the Morang Wetlands Centre Track.

10. A steep bit

The drop into the gully and out here is quite steep. There is also a steep slope from left to right across the track at the top. Take care.

11. Waterholes

Much of the time this area by the creek is a series of pretty waterholes.

12. Morang Wetlands West Track

Take Morang Wetlands West Track to begin the second loop of the walk.

13. Grassy tracks

The tracks continue to be undulating, smooth and wide. However, rolling resistance in thick mown grass makes them unsuitable for narrow wheeled and manual wheelchairs or walking frames.