Plenty River Trail

__NOTOC__MelbourneBikePath


DESCRIPTION=No image available yet
NAME=Plenty River Trail
LENGTH=12.3km
DIFFICULTY=Medium
HILLS=Large hill between Yarra River Trail and the Plenty River
HAZARDS=
WATER=
PATH=Gravel, concrete and bitumen
BUS=Route 563 Bus
TRAIN=Greensborough station
TRAM=None

The Plenty River Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the Plenty River through the suburbs of Greensborough and Lower Plenty in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. [ [http://maps.vicroads.vic.gov.au/website/bikes2b/viewer.htm VicRoads - Bicycle Facilities Map] ] [ [http://www.bigyak.net.au/gmaps/vicbiketrailsgmap.html?slct2=35 Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps] ] [ [http://www.bigyak.net.au/bike/bike.html#melgel Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth] ]

The last major gap in the trail was eliminated by the completion of a footbridge across the river, south of the Heidelberg Golf Club, in March 2007. The trail now runs all the way from the Yarra River to the Greensborough Bypass and to points further north.

The trail is badly signed but provides for a pleasant environment.

Following the Path

The exact starting point of the path in the north, is unclear. It starts vaguely as a track, just off an easement, at the most northerly bend of Plenty River Drv, 120m from Acworth Crt. When the path reaches the northern end of the nearby Punkerri Cct, the path is well defined but somewhat rough, narrow and overgrown.

Not far down the path is a bus stop, which surprisingly can be found in this heavily treed area. Further along, past a pipe bridge and 1.6km later, the Greensborough Bypass bridge spans the valley. On the east side of the road a path goes up to a goat track, that can be used to access the Western Ring Road Trail. The Western Ring Road Trail passes across the bridge on the bridge's north side.

Leaving the bridge behind, the path gradually improves and arrives 1km later at a footbridge. Paths run off in all directions both sides of the footbridge. Just continue across the footbridge and continue straight ahead across Kalparrin Ave and along the north side of the Whatmough Park oval.

On the far side of the oval is a suspension footbridge. There are no signs here. The rule in this case, is to always do a very sharp right turn, immediately after crossing the bridge, regardless from what direction one arrives. Do not go straight ahead.

The path goes under Main St and 800m later arrives at an apparent dead end at the end of a small street - Bicton St. Turn right (west) and head along Bicton St. The path resumes at its far end.

Continuing leads to an athletics track, complete with the characteristic red brick colored track. Skirt round the east side of the track and cross a small footbridge on its south side. 2km later another footbridge appears (near Allima Crt). There are no signs here and its possible to lose the trail; maintain a NE - SW direction.

Past a stand of large Monkey Puzzle trees and further on to the old Lower Plenty Road iron bridge, built on bluestone supports. Cross the bridge, go past the Heidelberg golf course and over the final and newest footbridge.

The trail moves into a more open area above the Plenty river, where horses are kept. The trail goes up and up, past the large transmitter antenna, past the old grain silos in the distance and affords excellent views of the immediate area and overlooks the ancient floodplain surrounding the confluence of the Plenty and Yarra Rivers.

Finally the trail drops about 30m, down to the floor of the Yarra valley, to meet with the Yarra River Trail.

Connections

Western Ring Road Trail in the north and Yarra River Trail in the south.

North end at coord|37.682318|S|145.112187|E.South end at coord|37.750189|S|145.092719|E.

References

* "Bike Paths Victoria" sixth edition, 2004. Edited and published by Sabey & Associates Pty Ltd. pp128. ISBN 0957959117
* "Bike rides around Melbourne" 2nd edition, 2006, Julia Blunden, Open Spaces Publishing, ISBN 0-9752333-2-7