Yarra Bend River Circuit
Wurundjeri Country

2 h 45 min to 4 h 30 min

9.6 km
circuit

↑ 205 m
↓ -205 m

Easy track
Starting from Fairfield Park Drive Carpark, Fairfield, this circuit walk gives you a tour of the Yarra Bend Park, visiting Galatea Point and (potentially) Dights Falls along the way. The artificial weir forming said falls is one of the park's most popular attractions. It was built to supply water to the Ceres Flour Mill in the 1840s. The Yarra Bend Park --Melbourne's largest natural bushland park-- offers much more than that though. Playing golf, picnic spots, and canoeing opportunities are some of the things you can do here. Escape the city's busyness without the need to get outside its borders. The diverse wildlife is another reason to make this a regular trip. Flying foxes (megabats), kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, magpies, ducks, ringtail possums, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, and red-rumped parrots are some of the species you can come across here. Enjoy the serene journey as you make your way through the river red gums. Dogs are allowed on leash. Check the forecast and try to avoid doing this walk after rain as it gets muddy. Let us begin by acknowledging the Wurundjeri people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-37.784922,145.0109559)
Mode Bus Car
DirectionsFrom Alexandra Parade
  • Turn on to Wellington Street then drive for 360 m
  • At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Wellington Street and drive for another 170 m
  • Turn right onto Queens Parade and drive for another 2.3 km
  • Make a U-turn onto Heidelberg Road and drive for another 220 m
  • Turn left onto Fairfield Park Drive and drive for another 40 m
  • Turn right and drive for another 60 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the marked crosswalk on Fairfield Park Drive Carpark, head along the narrow paved path marked by the white & red bollard/wheelchair assist. Follow the said path as it veers left, then pass by the toilets (to your left), coming to another identical bollard. Pass through this bollard, turn right and head along Fairfield Park Drive to continue along Yarra Bend River Circuit (counterclockwise).....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After 55 m pass the "Public Toilets" (10 m on your left).
Then pass the water tap (8 m on your left).
Continue straight.
After another 6 m turn right.
After another 6 m continue straight.
After another 50 m pass the water tap (10 m on your left).
Continue straight.
After another 120 m turn sharp left.
After another 45 m turn right.
Then head down the steps (about 30 m long)
Turn right.
After another 135 m pass a seat (6 m on your left).
After another 285 m pass a seat (10 m on your left).
After another 45 m continue straight, to head along River Circuit Trail.
After another 80 m continue straight, to head along River Circuit Trail.
After another 65 m continue straight, to head along River Circuit Trail.
After another 245 m pass the car park (15 m on your right).
Continue straight, to head along River Circuit Trail.
After another 190 m pass the toilet (30 m on your right).
After another 170 m continue straight.
After another 100 m continue straight.
After another 8 m continue straight.
After another 10 m continue straight.
After another 460 m continue straight.
After another 55 m continue straight.
After another 160 m continue straight.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip taking you to a viewpoint where you can get a good view of Dights Falls. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 240 m turn left, to head along Main Yarra Trail.
After another 15 m continue straight, to head along Main Yarra Trail.
After another 55 m continue straight, to head along Main Yarra Trail.
After another 4 m continue straight, to head along Main Yarra Trail.
After another 95 m continue straight.
After another 35 m continue straight.
Keep right.
After another 75 m pass a seat (5 m on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 115 m continue straight.
After another 35 m pass the "Deep Rock Swimming & Life Saving Club" (on your right).
Then pass the picnic table (9 m on your right).
After another 45 m veer left.
After another 75 m continue straight.
After another 75 m continue straight.
After another 65 m pass a seat (8 m on your right)., has a backrest.
After another 215 m pass a seat (10 m on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 200 m turn sharp right.
After another 95 m come to the "Galatea Point Lookout" (about 15 m ahead).
Turn sharp left.
After another 45 m pass a seat (10 m on your right).
After another 55 m pass a seat (6 m on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 145 m continue straight.
After another 130 m pass the "Galatea Point" (35 m on your right).
After another 45 m pass a seat (on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 10 m pass the picnic table (15 m on your left).
After another 60 m continue straight.
After another 25 m pass a seat (on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 25 m pass the picnic table (15 m on your left).
After another 205 m continue straight.
Keep right.
After another 60 m pass the "Public Toilets" (30 m on your left).
After another 3 m continue straight.
After another 40 m turn right, to head along Kane's Bridge.
Then cross the bridge (about 75 m long)
After another 25 m come to the viewpoint (15 m on your right).
After another 50 m pass the "Studley Park Picnic Area" (on your right).
Then pass the "Public Toilets" (45 m on your right).
Turn left, to head along Burnet Trail.
After another 30 m continue straight, to head along Burnet Trail.
After another 25 m continue straight, to head along Burnet Trail.
After another 65 m veer left.
After another 45 m turn left.
After another 295 m continue straight.
After another 125 m turn left.
After another 50 m head through/around the gate.
After another 470 m continue straight.
After another 410 m veer left.
After another 70 m continue straight.
Keep left.
After another 70 m veer left, to head along River Retreat.
After another 100 m turn left.
After another 25 m head down the steps (about 70 m long)
After another 420 m pass the "Public Toilets" (45 m on your right).
After another 15 m turn right.
After another 4 m turn left.
After another 30 m turn left, to head along Bellbird Road.
After another 30 m turn left.
After another 50 m come to the viewpoint (on your right).
Continue straight.
After another 300 m continue straight.
After another 250 m continue straight.
After another 95 m continue straight.
After another 640 m veer left.
After another 65 m continue straight.
After another 145 m continue straight.
After another 30 m continue straight.
After another 550 m turn right.
After another 25 m veer right.
After another 20 m turn left.
Then cross the bridge (about 215 m long)
After another 9 m continue straight.
After another 120 m continue straight.
After another 30 m continue straight.
After another 6 m turn left.
After another 6 m continue straight.
After another 55 m come to the end.

An optional side trip taking you to a viewpoint where you can get a good view of Dights Falls.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 7 m cross the bridge (about 30 m long)
After another 6 m turn left.
After another 50 m turn right.
After another 30 m turn left.
After another 15 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
Then head down the concrete steps (about 15 m long)
Turn left.
After another 4 m veer right.
Then come to "Dights Falls".
About 35 m past the end is "Dights Falls".
W:parkweb.vic.gov.au
Continue another 0 m to find Dights Falls at the end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 170 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Yarra Bend River Circuit


Grading
Class 2/6
Easy track
Length 9.6 km
Time 2 h 45 min to 4 h 30 min
Quality of track Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required No experience required (2/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route
Toilet: There are 5 on route, on average they are 1.6 km apart with the largest gap of 3.1 km.

Seat: There are 9 on route, on average they are 960 m apart with the largest gap of 5.4 km.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Toilet
55 mPublic Toilets
Seat
430 m[seat]
Seat
720 m[seat]
Toilet
1.3 km[toilet]
Seat
2.8 km[seat]
Seat
3.2 km[seat]
Seat
3.4 km[seat]
Seat
3.7 km[seat]
Seat
3.8 km[seat]
Seat
4.1 km[seat]
Seat
4.2 km[seat]
Toilet
4.5 kmPublic Toilets
Toilet
4.6 kmPublic Toilets
Toilet
6.9 kmPublic Toilets
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| Yarra Bend Park
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