Back to the bike path page... /city| _-@ _-@ |country\ | --\ --' --\ --' | .. .. .. _____|__________(*)'_(*)__________(*)'_(*)_________|_____ .. .. .. ..Andrew Watkins and Pandora Hope ... Click here to mail us!
The Merri Creek Trail travelling south from Rushall meanders along the edge of the.. yes, you guessed it, the Merri Creek! Its slowly being revitalised by the Merri Creek Management Committee and the Friends of Merri Creek. Most of the ride you are right on the edge of the creek, and although the creek itself can be quite filthy with drain runoff, it is actually very pleasant. Theres lots of willows in places, and small flowing sections of mini-rapids(!). Plenty of birdlife too - white faced herons can often be seen surveying the creek. There are also a number of small bridges to cross as the track changes sides often. Watch out if it has been raining recently, as the bridges could be extremely dangerous if there is water flowing over them. In fact, DO NOT do the trail if you hear the creeks in flood!! In fact.. click here to check.., or look at the daily river heights for Victoria . If the Yarra is in flood at the Chandler hwy or Johnston Street.. forget it! (Sorry about being so paranoid!)
The trail passes under St Georges Rd and Johnston St bridges, and is relatively flat: there is only the occasional short (50metre) push up a rise. (ok.. ok.. so i walk one of these sometimes!!) Close to where the Merri Creek meets the Yarra (near Fairfield Park - though you dont actually visit Fairfield Park..) there is a large bridge that crosses the Creek: you cant miss it- you are _very_ high above the creek on grassy banks opposite a cricket/footy oval, maybe 3-4km from Rushall. (Refill the water bottle here too, if you so desire!) Ok, DO NOT cross the bridge!! Continue along the path straight ahead. You may have to negotiate some steps (but they have the bike pushing lane next to them), but it wont kill you. Then follow the signs to Dights Falls - about 5-800m from the big bridge. The Falls are mostly artificial, and are where many paddlers (such as Pandora) practice their rapids and canoe polo. Its a nice place for a stop. Check out the "fish ladder" on the bike side of the falls. This is to allow native migratory fish to climb the falls, and continue up the Yarra to spawn.. oh, yeah, did I mention that this is the Yarra now?? Well, it is, and you are about 12-13km from the city, by bike path.
Follow the Yarra south. The water is wider now, being the great "river that flows up-side down", and has much birdlife. Check out the numerous ducks, some (possibly stray) geese, pelicans, herons.. and watch for those people coming the other way! The trail follows close by the Yarra down to Burnley, where it joins the Boulevard (well, a path next to the Boulevard). This continues down and under the Swan St bridge, past all the cricket and footy ovals and playgrounds (check out the bumpy slide!!). You're now really close to the South Eastern Arterial!! Breathe in that smog! :-) Where you join the Yarra again is close to "THE NEW BRIDGE"! THE NEW BRIDGE is a bike/pedestrian bridge suspended underneath the S.E Arterial, just near (St Kevins... but stoopid Andrew originally wrote....and for his grandfather would rather like to keep in..) Wesley College (for Andrew's poor departed, and some may say demented, public school grandfather... "Wesley wowsers wet their trousers on the way to school.. kindly Scotch wiped it up before they made a pool..") - yup.. hanging underneath! It was only opened in early November 1995. Its about 700metres long, has lights and a nice red "tennis court" like surface! Ride along it if you like, but THE NEW BRIDGE is not where you want to go! Continue following the Yarra downstream (thats west, if you cant tell from the water!).
You cross onto the south side of the river at MacRobertsons Bridge - signs say you should walk your bike over here, as the footpath is narrow, and we wouldnt wont to bowl over a pedestrian into the oncoming car hordes! At the end of the bridge is a little hairpin turn for bikes.. this is where the trail continues. It is signposted, but it could be possible to miss it. You're now scooting along the south bank of the Yarra!! Check out.. oh, whats its bloody name.. the island in the middle of the Yarra anyway. Looks great, and is tempting to take a boat over to.. Also check out the BBQ's (salivate at the snag smells..) as you tootle along. Oh, and Andrews advice is.. dont fall in the river!! It is close to the path! Theres a little diversion past a few of the rowing clubs, but the rowers are fun to watch too. Oh, and dont watch them as you fall in the river!! :-) And I forgot.. our most hated sight... the fake, concrete covered rock face/cutting, about a km before Melb High, not long after MacRob bridge.. we HATE it!! :-| Anyway, follow your nose to Southbank.. but again, take it easy and dont bowl over any pedestrians: theres billions of them at the Bank..
Lock up the bikes, stroll inside, order a Mexicana wedges (in edible container!), and muse over an enjoyable day. Flinders Street station is just across the river, or tootle straight back up Swanston St and through the cemetary (check out Walter Lindrums grave.. billiard table..!! Cool.. Or, hey, the _ E L V I S _ memorial...) back to Princes Park.
Then go home for a nice cuppa.. ahhhhh...
Back to the bike path page... /city| _-@ _-@ |country\ | --\ --' --\ --' | .. .. .. _____|__________(*)'_(*)__________(*)'_(*)_________|_____ .. .. .. ..Andrew Watkins and Pandora Hope ... Click here to mail us!