Skeleton Creek Trail

__NOTOC__MelbourneBikePath


DESCRIPTION=No image available yet
NAME=Skeleton Creek Trail
LENGTH=About 7.5km
DIFFICULTY=Easy
HILLS=None
HAZARDS=Not making use of the only bridge when required
WATER=
PATH=
BUS=
TRAIN=Aircraft station
TRAM=None

The Skeleton Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Skeleton Creek in the outer western suburb of Point Cook 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=40 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 northern end of the path comes within 800 metres of the Federation Trail. However, the intervening Princes Highway currently (2007) eliminates any possibilty of traversing between these two points.

There is also a ford at the southern end of Skeleton creek near the intersection of the path and the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail. Use of this ford would allow access to the path on the west bank of the creek and also to the Point Cook Coastal park and homestead maintained by Parks Victoria. However, the ford is inaccessible to the cyclist and pedestrian.

Following the Path

Upper section

The upper section starts just north of Sayers Rd. Further south is a bridge across the creek leading to the [http://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/leisure/arts/public/outdoor/mayor/flag "Flagmans Welcome".] Stay on the west side. About 3 km from Sayers Rd the path meets the Federation Trail.

Lower section

The lower section starts about 700 m south of the Federation Trail but does not connect to the Federation Trail. A path runs both sides of the river but the creek only has one bridge, half way along the trail. South of the bridge, use the path on the east side of the creek as it has access to Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail. North of the bridge use the path on the west side of the creek. It is longer than the north east side and allows access to the Federation Trail by road. Large amount of wetland area and associated birdlife makes for a good day out.

Connections

Upper section: Dead end near Sayers Rd. Connects to the Federation Trail at the southern end.

Lower section: Dead end in the north at McIntyre St, with access to Federation Trail via road: Dunnings Rd, Hacketts Rd then Sneydes Rd/Hoppers Lne. Sneydes Rd/Hoppers Lne has an overpass over Princes Highway. The road is busy and requires caution. The trail connects to the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail in the south.

Lower: West end at coord|37.880010|S|144.727161|E. East end at coord|37.896534|S|144.781834|E.

References

External links

* [http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Files/CoastalTrail.pdf Hobsons Bay council - map]
* [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=174 Parks Victoria - Point Cook Coastal Park]
* [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=92 Parks Victoria - Cheetham Wetlands]