Up the Creek on the Darebin Creek Trail - Grade 3 (Medium)

The CAEX Bushwalking Club invites you to join them on their walk, Up the Creek on the DAREBIN CREEK TRAIL Grade 3 (Medium). 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.

A Bushwalk does not have to be in “the bush”.  On this walk it is possible to see natural habitats, remnant bushland, our historic impacts on the landscape and modern life living close to nature. This walk mostly follows the Darebin Creek but also takes in various pockets of natural space within the suburb of Macleod and the surrounds of LaTrobe University.

The walk begins at Macleod PTV Station, ending at Alphington PTV station. Walkers will then travel by train back to Macleod to collect their vehicles.

DISTANCE: 10.7 km We should finish before 2.30 pm with lunch and breaks along the way.

WHO IS THIS WALK FOR? This walk will suit both experienced bushwalkers and inexperienced newcomers who have reasonable fitness.  Our club is keen to connect with bushwalkers of any experience who are interested in joining a club, especially people thinking about retirement including singles and couples.

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: This is graded Level 3 in the AWTGS grading system – ‘Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Tracks may have short steep sections, a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km.’  The walk is relatively flat with a few gentle uphill's, we will be walking on formed trails all the way. Relatively well sign posted, though we are joining a few walking routes together, so some urban and road walking will be required.  We have graded it as Grade 3 purely because of it being greater than 10 kms. AWT Grade information. 

PACE: We like to set a steady pace, but always set our pace to suit the group, we will not leave anyone behind. We will re-group at regular intervals as needed and have scheduled stops for morning tea and lunch as well as our signature cakes (pronounced CAEX) at the end of the walk.

TOTAL ASCENT: The walk climbs gently up from Macleod station to Latrobe University.  From there we will be mostly alongside the Darebin Creek as it gently finds it’s way down to Alphington.  There are some short up and down sections in the areas where the trail crosses the creek or passes under road bridges.

WALK DESCRIPTION: This walk departs Macleod station and takes us up the Cherry Street Grassland Reserve and Avenue of Honour before meeting up with the surrounds of Latrobe University. We then pick our way through the University grounds before taking to the Darebin Creek Trail.  The trail follows Darebin Creek past Northland shopping centre all the way to Darebin Parklands. There will be stops for morning tea and lunch at suitable locations.  The club’s traditional “Leader’s Cake” will be provided at the end of the walk in Alphington.

MEETING POINT: Macleod Village Green (adjacent to Macleod PTV station) 

Directions: Travel to the start of the walk by car or public transport.

Google Maps:Search for Macleod station or if you like a shortcut, click here Macleod Village Green

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Highly encouraged.  Both Macleod and Alphington stations are on the Hurstbridge line.

PHONE SIGNAL: Good phone coverage on all networks is available throughout this walk

TOILETS: Toilets are available at our start point at Macleod, and again at Northland Shopping Centre (close to lunch stop).  There are also toilets near the end of our walk at Darebin Parklands.

WHAT TO BRING

Mandatory:

• MYKI
• Emergency contact form with medical info (from welcome pack) 
• Backpack 
• Rain jacket 
• Hiking shoes/boots or at least comfortable walking shoes
• Sun hat and sunscreen 
• 1-1.5 litre water
• Lunch and Snacks

Recommended:

• Personal first aid kit 
• Sunglasses

LEADER: Anne Taylor and Geoff Faulder  – email  enquiries@caexbushwalkingclub.org.au.  Leaders will be in touch in the week before the event with their contact details and any extra event information.

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

ABOUT OUR CLUB: 

The CAEX club motto is “bushwalking for pleasure” so we see ourselves as both a bushwalking and social club.  We started as a club by running bushwalking courses through the CAE (Council of Adult Education) in the 1980s and learning and adventure is part of our approach.  The leader’s cake is a popular tradition at the end of each walk where we enjoy a cake and a thermos of tea or coffee.  Our walks are across Melbourne and surrounds and usually within one hour’s drive. 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.