Happy Valley Track, Smiths Gully - Grade 3 (medium)

Koonung Bushwalking Club invites you to join them on a Happy Valley, Smiths Gully walk.  This walk is part of the Try Bushwalking Month, celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Bushwalking Victoria, the peak body representing 60+ bushwalking clubs across Victoria. 

Lovely bush walk in Warrandyte/Kinglake Nature Conservation Reserve on narrow foot tracks, forest management tracks and bike tracks.  Great views towards the CBD in one direction and Kinglake in the other.  A favourite area for bird watchers and local mountain bike riders.

DISTANCE:  12 km loop.

WHO IS THIS WALK FOR? Walkers with some experience who want to get a feel for walking in a group.

CHILDREN AND PETS:  This walk is for adults 18 years and over, and due to the nature of the walk, we ask you to leave dogs and other pets at home.  Please contact the club directly to inquire about service animals, and any family or pet friendly walks.  

AWT GRADE 3 (Medium): Suitable for most ages and fitness levels.  A reasonable level of fitness is required as there are a few steep ascents and descents which can be slippery and muddy if it has been raining. Also, there are some single file sections which may be overgrown and rough underfoot. A couple of ford crossings should not be a problem provided it hasn’t been raining.  AWT Grade information. 

PACE: The walk will be at a steady pace so people can settle into their stride.  However, we will be mindful that some may be a bit slower than others when we are walking on the steep sections and will ensure they remain part of the group.       

TOTAL ASCENT: Lots of hills throughout the walk.

WALK DESCRIPTION: 

We start with a steep climb of 2 km up Beardsell Track. The climb becomes a bit more gradual for the next 1.5 kms to the edge of the Reserve where we have a short walk along One Tree Hill road to our morning tea spot. Then a 1 km, steep, single file bush section down to Happy Valley Track. We head back up again on a 2.5 km zig zag track where we meet up with the top of the Rob Roy hill climb. A great place to have lunch before we head back downhill to the cars.  The route will depend on how people are feeling and whether we want to shorten the walk.

MEETING POINT:  9.15am for 9.30am at the Eltham Little Theatre, 1603 Main Rd Research (MEL22H1).  There is plenty of parking behind the theatre.  I will be waiting there next to gold Mazda CX30 (CQF 637) 

We meet here as there are limited parking spots at the start of the walk and the road in is very easy to miss.  

I will arrange car-pooling ($2 donation each passenger to drivers for petrol) so we can travel the remaining 14 kms to the start of the walk.

DIRECTIONS:  Drivers will be given directions to the start of the walk when we meet up at Eltham Little Theatre.

Google map:  https://www.google.com/maps/pl...

CARPOOLING/PUBLIC TRANSPORT: There will be carpooling from the meeting spot. Refer meeting point above.  Public Transport - Eltham Train Station is 4 km from our meeting point, there are buses from the station to the Eltham Little Theatre

PHONE SIGNAL:  We should have phone cover for most of the walk however it is requested that phone calls are not made while we are walking. There will be plenty of time at morning tea and lunch to make calls.

TOILETS:  There are no toilets on the walk.  The nearest ones to our meeting spot are located next to the shops in Research.

WHAT TO BRING

Mandatory:

• Emergency contact form with medical info.  Download this form here, or get one from the leader on the day.
• 1.5L water (there is no drinking water on the walk)
• Backpack
• Rain jacket
• Personal first aid kit (your health is your responsibility)
  
• Sun hat/sunscreen

Recommended:

• Morning tea & lunch
• Hiking poles
• Bug spray

LEADER:   Anne Fyffe 0401 146 942

EXTRA INFORMATION: I will be doing a recce of the walk just prior to 9th of November so will be better informed of the state of the track before we start.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK:  When registering for this event, we ask that you view and agree to our Acknowledgement of Risk.

ABOUT OUR CLUB:  Koonung Bushwalking Club has a motto of “The Friendly Club”, and is a club for all ages from Doncaster, Templestowe and surrounding suburbs. Together, members enjoy walking as an energetic social activity which enhances general health and well-being.  Visit our Website.

PRIVACY:  

Your privacy is important to us. Bushwalking Victoria and its member clubs are committed to safeguarding your personal information and ensuring that your privacy is protected. The personal data we collect from you is used solely for the purpose of facilitating your participation and communicating important details about the event. 

Please note that your contact information will be shared with Activity Leaders for the purpose of organising activities. Your information will not be shared with any external parties without your consent, except where required by law, but may be used for follow-up contact regarding your participation in this event.

You can view the BWV Privacy Policy on our website.

Inclusion in Photographs

We encourage participants to take photographs during activities, which may be shared publicly through various channels such as newspapers, magazines, websites and social media.  If you do not wish to be included in any photographs, it is your responsibility to inform the photographer and take reasonable steps to avoid being captured in the images.