Walk Description

From the Eltham Environs Walking Group, walk 36E

Commence at the Norris Bank Reserve car park in McLeans Road, near the corner of McLeans Road and Lauder Drive, Bundoora. The walk described is about 7km in length.

Enter Norris Bank Reserve from the Lauder Drive end of the car park, turn left onto the gravel path, and continue for 150 metres, at which point you will commence a section of the Darebin Creek Trail. Turn left (North) when you reach this, and continue along the Trail heading under McLeans Road. The Trail continues for about 1.1km alongside Darebin Creek, with the path passing under a foot/bike bridge, and then under the Metropolitan Ring Road. The Trail turns left, and at the top of a rise, merges with the Ring Road foot/bike path. Continue straight ahead on this wide Trail/bike path as it runs parallel to the Ring Road. On reaching a high sound wall on the left separating the Trail and bike path from the Ring Road, the Darebin Creek Trail turns right. Cross a small foot bridge onto a sandy path, and almost immediately pass a lookout over the creek. As noted on the information board, the area around the creek is a habitat of the Growling Grass Frog. Continue along this path till you see a gate on your right (opposite Lira Court, Thomastown). Walk into and through this Nature Reserve to a second gate, which will take you back onto the Darebin Creek Trail. Pass Thomastown East Reserve (football oval, cricket training nets, soccer field and tennis courts) on your left, and a little further on pass a large water pipe bridge on the right. Darebin Creek returns to view on your right. Pass through the vehicle gate across the path and continue to a point where there is a slight rise to McKimmies Road. Pause here, and, when suitably rested, about turn to go back to the cars. Note that after rejoining the Ring Road foot/bike path, care is needed at the point where the path and Darebin Creek Trail merge. Take the left branch (actually the continuation of the Trail) which trends down, and turns right to go under the Metropolitan Ring Road. Continue back to Macleans Road, turn right off the Trail, and the cars are 150 metres further on.