Walk and Picnic at Devilbend Natural Features Reserve - Grade 3 (Easy)

The Peninsula Bushwalking Club invites you to join them on a Walk and Picnic at Devilbend Natural Features Reserve. 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. 

Devilbend Natural Features Reserve is the largest inland water body on the Mornington Peninsula. Lowland forest, grassy woodland and shoreline provide valuable waterbird habitat; there are expansive views as the track circumnavigates two reservoirs. Swans and kayakers may be seen enjoying the lakes, which house 1% of the state’s population of blue-billed ducks.

DISTANCE:  14km. Loop walk that will take 4 hrs including morning tea.

WHO IS THIS WALK FOR?  A great day out for most walkers, families and friends! Beginners wanting to try something different without getting lost, experienced bushwalkers looking for a pleasant day’s walk and picnic. This walk is ideal if one member of a family wants to do a walk and others prefer to hang out at the picnic area and meet the walkers around 1pm for a picnic together.

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 (Easy): Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Grade 3 tracks may have short steep sections, a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km. In this case there are negligible steps but the walk is quite long for an Easy walk.  AWT Grade information. 

PACE: Steady       

TOTAL ASCENT: 76m - this is a fairly level walk.

WALK DESCRIPTION: 

From the car park, we walk through pine forest and woodlands meeting the Devilbend Reservoir from time to time. Morning tea at Bittern Reservoir picnic area. Then circumnavigate Bittern Reservoir and return to the picnic area and toilets at the start via Catch Drain Trail.

MEETING POINT: Car park beside picnic area at Devilbend Natural Features Reserve, Graydens Rd, Tuerong. Leader will have Peninsula Bushwalking Club badge and stand in a visible spot near the toilets at the end of the car park.

DIRECTIONS: Allow an hour from Melbourne (longer from northern or western suburbs). From Melbourne, follow the M1 (Citilink/Monash Freeway) to the M3 (Eastlink) tollway until you get to M11 (Peninsula Link). Exit Peninsula Link at Exit 19, Balnarring. Turn left onto route C784 then left again onto Tuerong Rd. Follow Tuerong Rd for 2.4km, turn right into Derril Rd and immediately left into Graydens Rd. After 500m the Reserve entrance is on your right. GOOGLE MAPS: Devilbend Natural Features Reserve - Google Maps 159 Graydens Rd, Tuerong.

CARPOOLING/PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Train from the city or any stations on the Frankston line to Frankston, then Bus 785 (Mornington) to corner of Martha’s Ridge/Racecourse Rd. From there book a ride service. Alternatively, a few days before the event, contact Peninsula Bushwalking Club regarding a member picking you up here and taking you to the walk start.

PHONE SIGNAL: Available at the picnic ground but may be out of range for some of the walk.

TOILETS: This is a loop walk with toilets at the start and finish

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
• Backpack
• Rain jacket 
• Hiking shoes/boots
• Personal first aid kit (your health is your responsibility)
  
• Sun hat/sunscreen
• Morning tea

Recommended:

• Lunch (with nibble to share)

LEADER: Bronwyn Street text 0414 329 798

EXTRA INFORMATION: Please contact the leader directly if you have any queries.  

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

ABOUT OUR CLUB: The Peninsula Bushwalking Club is based on the Mornington Peninsula. We have around 100 members and offer a variety of walks on weekends as well as mid-week, both on the Mornington Peninsula and further afield, generally within a 90-minute drive from Mornington. Walks are often followed by a cafe visit, where one is available nearby. We also offer bike rides, including e bikes, as well as multi-day base camps and back packs from time to time, catering for more experienced hikers, as well as those newer to hiking. We are a friendly group of walkers, welcoming new walkers of all abilities and experience levels to join us.  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.