Plenty River Trail
Encyclopedia
The Plenty River Trail is a shared use path for cyclists
and pedestrian
s, which follows the Plenty River
through the suburbs of Greensborough
and Lower Plenty
in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
.
The last major gap in the trail was eliminated by the completion of a footbridge
across the river, south of the Heidelberg Golf Club, in March 2007. The trail now runs all the way from the Yarra River to the Greensborough Bypass and to points further north.
The trail is badly signed but provides for a pleasant environment.
Not far down the path is a bus stop, which surprisingly can be found in this heavily treed area. Further along, past a pipe bridge and 1.6 km later, the Greensborough Bypass bridge spans the valley. On the east side of the road a path goes up to a goat track, that can be used to access the Western Ring Road Trail
. The Western Ring Road Trail
passes across the bridge on the bridge's north side.
Leaving the bridge behind, the path gradually improves and arrives 1 km later at a footbridge. Paths run off in all directions both sides of the footbridge. Just continue across the footbridge and continue straight ahead across Kalparrin Ave and along the north side of the Whatmough Park oval.
On the far side of the oval is a suspension footbridge. There are no signs here. The rule in this case, is to always do a very sharp right turn, immediately after crossing the bridge, regardless from what direction one arrives. Do not go straight ahead.
The path goes under Main Street and 800 m later arrives at an apparent dead end at the end of a small street - Bicton Street. Turn right (west) and head along Bicton Street. The path resumes at its far end.
Continuing leads to an athletics
track, complete with the characteristic red brick colored track. Skirt round the east side of the track and cross a small footbridge on its south side. 2 km later another footbridge appears (near Allima Court). There are no signs here and its possible to lose the trail; maintain a NE - SW direction.
Past a stand of large Monkey Puzzle
trees and further on to the old Lower Plenty Road iron bridge, built on bluestone supports. Cross the bridge, turn right and go past the Heidelberg golf course and over the final and newest footbridge.
The trail moves into a more open area above the Plenty river, where horses are kept. The trail goes up and up, past the large transmitter
antenna
, past the old grain silos
in the distance and affords excellent views of the immediate area and overlooks the ancient floodplain
surrounding the confluence
of the Plenty and Yarra Rivers.
Finally the trail drops about 30 m, down to the floor of the Yarra valley, to meet with the Yarra River Trail.
in the north and Yarra River Trail in the south.
North end at 37.682318°S 145.112187°E.
South end at 37.750189°S 145.092719°E.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
and pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
s, which follows the Plenty River
Plenty River
The Plenty River is a tributary of the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. Originating in the forested slopes of Mount Disappointment, the Plenty River is the source of Melbourne's first major water supply in the form of the Yan Yean Reservoir....
through the suburbs of Greensborough
Greensborough, Victoria
Greensborough is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Greensborough had a population of 20,214....
and Lower Plenty
Lower Plenty, Victoria
Lower Plenty is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The last major gap in the trail was eliminated by the completion of a footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
across the river, south of the Heidelberg Golf Club, in March 2007. The trail now runs all the way from the Yarra River to the Greensborough Bypass and to points further north.
The trail is badly signed but provides for a pleasant environment.
Following the path
The exact starting point of the path in the north, is unclear. It starts vaguely as a track, just off an easement, at the most northerly bend of Plenty River Drive, 120 m from Acworth Circuit. When the path reaches the northern end of the nearby Punkerri Circuit, the path is well defined but somewhat rough, narrow and overgrown.Not far down the path is a bus stop, which surprisingly can be found in this heavily treed area. Further along, past a pipe bridge and 1.6 km later, the Greensborough Bypass bridge spans the valley. On the east side of the road a path goes up to a goat track, that can be used to access the Western Ring Road Trail
Western Ring Road Trail
The Western Ring Road Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians that bridges the northern suburbs and follows the Western Ring Road...
. The Western Ring Road Trail
Western Ring Road Trail
The Western Ring Road Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians that bridges the northern suburbs and follows the Western Ring Road...
passes across the bridge on the bridge's north side.
Leaving the bridge behind, the path gradually improves and arrives 1 km later at a footbridge. Paths run off in all directions both sides of the footbridge. Just continue across the footbridge and continue straight ahead across Kalparrin Ave and along the north side of the Whatmough Park oval.
On the far side of the oval is a suspension footbridge. There are no signs here. The rule in this case, is to always do a very sharp right turn, immediately after crossing the bridge, regardless from what direction one arrives. Do not go straight ahead.
The path goes under Main Street and 800 m later arrives at an apparent dead end at the end of a small street - Bicton Street. Turn right (west) and head along Bicton Street. The path resumes at its far end.
Continuing leads to an athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
track, complete with the characteristic red brick colored track. Skirt round the east side of the track and cross a small footbridge on its south side. 2 km later another footbridge appears (near Allima Court). There are no signs here and its possible to lose the trail; maintain a NE - SW direction.
Past a stand of large Monkey Puzzle
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana is an evergreen tree growing to tall with a trunk diameter. The tree is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina and south Brazil. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria...
trees and further on to the old Lower Plenty Road iron bridge, built on bluestone supports. Cross the bridge, turn right and go past the Heidelberg golf course and over the final and newest footbridge.
The trail moves into a more open area above the Plenty river, where horses are kept. The trail goes up and up, past the large transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
, past the old grain silos
Storage silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or fermented feed known as silage. Silos are more commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. Three types of silos are in widespread use...
in the distance and affords excellent views of the immediate area and overlooks the ancient floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
surrounding the confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of the Plenty and Yarra Rivers.
Finally the trail drops about 30 m, down to the floor of the Yarra valley, to meet with the Yarra River Trail.
Connections
Western Ring Road TrailWestern Ring Road Trail
The Western Ring Road Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians that bridges the northern suburbs and follows the Western Ring Road...
in the north and Yarra River Trail in the south.
North end at 37.682318°S 145.112187°E.
South end at 37.750189°S 145.092719°E.