Ruffey Creek Trail

__NOTOC__MelbourneBikePath


DESCRIPTION=No image available yet
NAME=Ruffey Creek Trail
LENGTH=About 4.9km
DIFFICULTY=Medium
HILLS=Some hilly sections
HAZARDS=
WATER=At Ruffey Park
PATH=
BUS=
TRAIN=None
TRAM=None

The Ruffey Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Ruffey Creek in the inner eastern suburbs of Templestowe and Doncaster 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=37 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] ]

Platypus are known to live in the creek. [ [http://www.platypus.asn.au/RIPPLES27.html Platypus at Ruffey Creek] ]

Following the Path

Leaving the Yarra River Trail at Odyssey House, cross the narrow suspension bridge to the south side of the Yarra River. The Ruffey Creek Trail is not signed at this point. Once over the river go immediately to the left (east) of the carpark and cross a very small wooden footbridge that crosses Ruffey Creek.

At the junture of Swilk St and Parker St, 0.8km from the Yarra, a small street section is encountered. Head east along Parker St, not Swilk St, south down McLachlan St and cross Foote St where the path resumes.

At Eumeralla Ave continue south down the street to Montpellier Park. At this point there are two options:

* Head across the park, in line with Eumeralla Ave (south) and then follow a road section east along Montpellier Cres. The later ends at a main road, Williamsons Rd, turn left (north) and rejoin the path at the Williamsons Rd underpass.
* Follow a goat track, directly on the left (east), that follows the edge of the park parallel to a line of trees, heading down a steep hill in the park itself. This leads to the Williamsons Rd underpass where the path restarts.

While steepish, the goat track is easier to navigate than the road route. Pass through the Williamsons Rd underpass and the underpass at King St to Ruffey Lake Park. At the lake the path forks to either side of lake. The right fork (south side) is not as steep as the north side. Continue along either path to Victoria St.

At the end of the trail, not far from Ruffey Lake Park is Schramm cottage built by the original German settlers.

Connections

Yarra River Trail in the north. Dead end in the south about 90m from the corner of Victoria and George St by Ruffey Lake Park. Travelling 2km to the north east by road leads to the Greengully Trail. Traveling south by 1.9km on Middleborough Rd leads to the Koonung Creek Trail.

North end at coord|37.752449|S|145.117391|E.South end at coord|37.779455|S|145.145040|E.

References

External links

* [http://www.platypus.asn.au/platypus_in_urban_areas.html Platypus]