Koonung Creek Trail
Koonung Creek Trail west of Blackburn Rd
Length 13.5km; Trail difficulty: Easy; Concrete and bitumen; Some minor hilly sections
The Koonung Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Koonung Creek in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1][2][3][4] The trail also follows the course of the Eastern Freeway as it too, follows the course of the Koonung Creek, and has good connections to on-road paths.
The path is easy to follow as it travels parallel to the Eastern Freeway. 600 m west of Middleborough Road the trail is located on the south side of the freeway. East of that point it runs along the north side of the freeway.
Near the Bushy Creek Trail turnoff is a small wetland area with purple swamphens and the occasional little pied cormorant. Koonung Creek Reserve also contains a small wetland which contains some native wildlife.
Yarra River Trail in the west. Intersects the Bushy Creek Trail in the middle. Since the completion of the EastLink project (2008), the trail links to the Mullum Mullum Creek Trail in the east, just 80 m west of Beckett Rd.
Leaving the trail at Middleborough Rd and travelling north 1.9 km by road, leads to the Ruffey Creek Trail near George St. Leaving the trail at Middleborough Rd and travelling south 1.4 km by road, leads to the Bushy Creek Trail via Springfield Rd.
The west end is at 37.781635°S 145.062340°E, and the east end is at 37.804200°S 145.204411°E.
References:
- VicRoads - Bicycle Facilities Map Archived February 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps
- Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth
- Travel Smart Map for Boroondara Archived 2009-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
- Bike rides around Melbourne 3rd edition, 2009, Julia Blunden, Open Spaces Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9752333-4-4
- Geographic data related to Koonung Creek Trail at OpenStreetMap
Wikipedia Nov2019
A river flat lies along the Nunawading side of Koonung Creek, and it is along here the extension to the Eastern Freeway will run, but on the East Doncaster side the freeway will only cross the creek in a few places. On this side, a walking track runs through the sloping land between the creek and the back yards of East Doncaster houses.
Forty years ago, rows of fruit trees spread up to the top of the slope from the valley of Koonung Creek.
In 1853, the creek was the southern boundary of William Burnley's estate. Burnley subdivided his land calling it the Township of Doncaster. When the Post Office was opened, the name Doncaster became the official name for the whole area.
The walking track runs between Leeds Street and Springvale Road. On the other side of Leeds Street, the freeway will frequently cut across Koonung Creek, blocking the space for this walking track. Coming from Springvale Road, a bush track winds through a group of gum trees, remnants of the original bush and across the creek there is a row of pines that were planted as a wind break when orchards covered this land. Now the row marks the boundary of a recently cultivated paddock of a pony club grounds. Along here, a branch of Koonung Creek comes from the corner of Springvale and Junctions Roads. The main creek rises the other side of Springvale Road.
The walking track can be entered at the end of Tunstall Road. It continues on to Blackburn Road, a bush track through thick grass muddy in wet weather. At places, running below trees, gums, acacias and pines that have spread from past wind breaks, the ground is steeper with the back of houses hidden behind the slope. In the valley, the creek twists and turns sunk in a deep ditch a result of run off from house roofs that has increased the flow of the water during heavy rain causing the creek to cut deeper into the earth.
From Blackburn Road to Leeds Street, a made walking track again winds through trees, running up and down slopes, giving attractive views of the creek valley. Approaching Leeds Street another track joins it, entering from Boronia Grove, it continues over the path and crosses the creek on a foot bridge. Here is the "Boronia Grove" sports ground with its fine pavilion and at the corner, the Scout Hall, that was built over twenty years ago.
When the freeway is built, tracks will be constructed on both sides of it. From Springvale Road to Wetherby Road, there will be a gravel walking track on the Nunawading side and on the East Doncaster side a sealed commuter path for walking and bicycles. From Wetherby Road to Doncaster Road these will be reversed. The commuter path is expected to be used for people riding to work in Melbourne or inner suburbs. Where Koonung Creek is away from the freeway, it will be left open but will run through a barrel drain in the places where the freeway crosses it.
At present the walking track provides a peaceful, natural, path partly shaded by the branches of trees. In hot weather, it is a cool pleasant place to walk. As far as possible the present trees will be left and there will be extensive planting along the freeway sides.
1994 09 DTHS Newsletter
The Koonung Creek Walking Track
A river flat lies along the Nunawading side of Koonung Creek, and it is along here the extension to the Eastern Freeway will run, but on the East Doncaster side the freeway will only cross the creek in a few places. On this side, a walking track runs through the sloping land between the creek and the back yards of East Doncaster houses.Forty years ago, rows of fruit trees spread up to the top of the slope from the valley of Koonung Creek.
In 1853, the creek was the southern boundary of William Burnley's estate. Burnley subdivided his land calling it the Township of Doncaster. When the Post Office was opened, the name Doncaster became the official name for the whole area.
The walking track runs between Leeds Street and Springvale Road. On the other side of Leeds Street, the freeway will frequently cut across Koonung Creek, blocking the space for this walking track. Coming from Springvale Road, a bush track winds through a group of gum trees, remnants of the original bush and across the creek there is a row of pines that were planted as a wind break when orchards covered this land. Now the row marks the boundary of a recently cultivated paddock of a pony club grounds. Along here, a branch of Koonung Creek comes from the corner of Springvale and Junctions Roads. The main creek rises the other side of Springvale Road.
The walking track can be entered at the end of Tunstall Road. It continues on to Blackburn Road, a bush track through thick grass muddy in wet weather. At places, running below trees, gums, acacias and pines that have spread from past wind breaks, the ground is steeper with the back of houses hidden behind the slope. In the valley, the creek twists and turns sunk in a deep ditch a result of run off from house roofs that has increased the flow of the water during heavy rain causing the creek to cut deeper into the earth.
From Blackburn Road to Leeds Street, a made walking track again winds through trees, running up and down slopes, giving attractive views of the creek valley. Approaching Leeds Street another track joins it, entering from Boronia Grove, it continues over the path and crosses the creek on a foot bridge. Here is the "Boronia Grove" sports ground with its fine pavilion and at the corner, the Scout Hall, that was built over twenty years ago.
When the freeway is built, tracks will be constructed on both sides of it. From Springvale Road to Wetherby Road, there will be a gravel walking track on the Nunawading side and on the East Doncaster side a sealed commuter path for walking and bicycles. From Wetherby Road to Doncaster Road these will be reversed. The commuter path is expected to be used for people riding to work in Melbourne or inner suburbs. Where Koonung Creek is away from the freeway, it will be left open but will run through a barrel drain in the places where the freeway crosses it.
At present the walking track provides a peaceful, natural, path partly shaded by the branches of trees. In hot weather, it is a cool pleasant place to walk. As far as possible the present trees will be left and there will be extensive planting along the freeway sides.
1994 09 DTHS Newsletter
Koonung Trail
The Koonung Creek Linear Park follows the course of the Koonung Creek (and the Eastern Freeway) which forms the boundary of Manningham, Whitehorse and some of Boroondara.
The Linear Park is a significant recreation corridor offering opportunities for walking, cycling and dog walking.
The landscape character of the Linear Park offers a mix of natural settings, indigenous bushland and open parkland.
The Linear Park contains the Koonung Trail, a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians which has good connections to on-road paths, and links directly to the Main Yarra Trail and the EastLink Trail.
The Koonung Creek Linear Park is approximately 10 kilometres in length from Thompsons Road, Bulleen to Springvale Road, Donvale.
The Koonung Trail is the main commuter trail between Springvale Road and Burke Road where it joins the Main Yarra Trail.
The Koonung Trail crosses to the south side of the Eastern Freeway at Church Road, Doncaster.
West of Church Road there is the secondary bicycle route on the north side of freeway. Trail markers clearly identify the different routes.
The landscape character of the Linear Park offers a mix of natural settings, indigenous bushland and open parkland.
The Linear Park contains the Koonung Trail, a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians which has good connections to on-road paths, and links directly to the Main Yarra Trail and the EastLink Trail.
The Koonung Creek Linear Park is approximately 10 kilometres in length from Thompsons Road, Bulleen to Springvale Road, Donvale.
The Koonung Trail is the main commuter trail between Springvale Road and Burke Road where it joins the Main Yarra Trail.
The Koonung Trail crosses to the south side of the Eastern Freeway at Church Road, Doncaster.
West of Church Road there is the secondary bicycle route on the north side of freeway. Trail markers clearly identify the different routes.
Major Reserves along the Linear Park
Suggested Activities along the Koonung Trail
Playgrounds
Suggested Activities along the Koonung Trail
Playgrounds
- Katrina Gully Playspace, Doncaster
- Darvall St, Donvale. Melway ref 48 E5
- Windella Playspace, Windella Quadrant, Doncaster. Melway ref 47 F3
- Wilsons Reserve, Doncaster (100m from trail)
- Kingsnorth Reserve, Doncaster (150m from trail)
- Marshall Reserve, Doncaster (350m from trail)
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