Good walks

1. Wilton Vale wetlands - great for ducks and grebes and - in season - Reed-warblers, crakes and snipe. The inlet creek at #1a can provide a surprising variety of species in the reeds, flowering gums and grassy verges.

2. The grassed area towards #2, and the unmown area over the cable fence, host Red-rumped Parrots, Yellow-tailed Thornbills, Goldfinches, and - in season - Flame Robins.

3. Along the river you may find ducks, thornbills, honeyeaters, parrots and - on the long reach towards #3a - darters and Great Cormorants.

4. Plenty Falls

5. The long line of planted trees along Wilton Vale Track at #5 - many of them non-indigenous - often support noisy flocks of lorikeets: Rainbow and Musk most common, but also Little and Purple-crowned at times.

6. Here the track passes along the edge of the escarpment - you are standing on the easternmost extent of the lava flows, while on the other side are the old sedimentaries with their box/ironbark forest. Sit and listen - you'll hear many smaller bush birds such as honeyeaters (White-eared, New Holland, Yellow-faced especially; there's one of the few remaining small colonies of Bell Miners), whistlers (Golden and - in season - Rufous), White-throated Treecreepers, Weebills, both pardalote species and so on. Cockatoos and parrots are prolific, and Sacred Kingfishers nest here in summer.

7. The North-east Wetland - moderate depth, dries out occasionally.  Ducks (both teal, Pacific Black, Hardheads, Blue-bills), cormorants, lapwings, Coots, grebes. Snipe are a good chance in summer. The swans often have a nest going.

8. A deeper lake, and so good for grebes, Blue-billed Ducks, cormorants and Darters.

9. The North-west Wetland - very shallow, so favouring the dabblers and waders. Dries out most summers. Both teal, Pacific Black Duck and Shovelers are common; crakes a good chance, and from time to time ibis, herons, spoonbills and egrets. In summer Reed-warblers nest along the margins, and some years Dusky Woodswallows nest in the River Red Gums; mixed flocks of swallows and both martin species are sometimes found.

10. Another deeper lake, as #8.

11. This deepset pond is a good place to watch Australasian Grebes, ducks and coots going about their business. The thicker scrub bordering this side of the NW wetland is home to fairy-wrens, Grey Fantails, honeyeaters, Red-browed Finches and scrubwrens.

12. Along the northern shore of this wetland are some good spots to sit and watch numerous waterbird species feeding. Nankeen Night-herons sometimes roost in the Melaleucas.

1. Park entrance

2. Weed paddock: thickly infested with artichoke thistles, which at times are large enough to prevent easy walking, so pick your route carefully. This is a prime spot for Flame Robins in winter; when the artichoke thistles are seeding in late summer, large flocks of parrots, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and so on are attracted.

3. Pass through the hole in the fence

4. An outlook here gives a clear view over the shallow end of the main lake. The large dead tree is a favourite perch for cormorants (Great, Little Pied and Little Black), Darters, Red-rumped Parrots, Galahs and so on. On the lake you may find a variety of ducks, notably Blue-bills, which are resident and breed here. Check the margins of the lake for Swamphens, there will be many Coots, and grebes are common. The various stumps and fallen trees provide good perches for ducks and cormorants; turtles like to sun themselves there too.

5. The reed-beds here are good for Reed-warblers in summer, and you can check the deeper end of the lake for diving species (Blue-billed Ducks, Hardheads, cormorants, Australasian Grebes).

6. This shallow corner is a likely spot for crakes - Baillons, Spotted and Spotless have been recorded, along with Black-fronted Dotterels, especially when there is some mud exposed. Otherwise the swans like to nest here, and various waterbirds dabble and rest amongst the reed tussocks.

7. The dam wall is another possibility for Flame Robins. The eucalypts below are often full of lorikeets and pardalotes. Look across the river for cockatoos, and keep an eye out for raptors - Brown Goshawks, Collared Sparrowhawks, Peregrine Falcons and Wedge-tailed Eagles are all possible.

8. This shallower dam is a favoured spot for ducks; in the reeds are Little Grassbirds and fairy-wrens, with Reed-warblers in summer. Head east through the gap in the fence.

9. This scrubby area can be good for White-browed Scrubwrens and Brown Thornbills. The trees often support Spotted Pardalotes and Grey Fantails.

10. The grit pile at the point of the ridge looks directly into the treetops and is good for spotting honeyeaters, pardalotes and thornbills. You may hear Grey Shrike-thrushes and Yellow Robins below; in summer you may hear Sacred Kingfishers.

11. If you are able to take the very steep tracks (don't attempt if you're not confident!) on either side of the point, you can descend to the river flat. The thicker scrub here is excellent for small birds: fairy-wrens, Red-browed Finches, honeyeaters, thornbills, treecreepers and so on.

12. Along the escarpment here, White-eared Honeyeaters can be heard and sometimes seen. The dead trees are popular perches for Dusky Woodswallows (summer), Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Grey Butcherbirds, cockatoos and parrots.

13. Another good viewpoint, looking across to Yellowgum Park. Striated Pardalotes love the big dead tree, especially in the warmer months. An easier route down to the river here.

14. Another river flat - see #11.

15. The grassy flat area here can be good for robins, as is the open area of the pumping station, where they like to perch on the railings and scout for insects. The path leading northwards along the flat escarpment can be followed for some distance up the gorge, zig-zagging around the frequent gullies.

16. This area of planted scrub can be good for small bush birds.

17. Here at the junction of the fences there are holes for passing through the fence to re-enter the lakes area. The roadway leads to Kurrajong View, another access point.

18. Beside the shallow lake here you have an excellent view of the reed-beds. It's a good spot for waiting for Grassbirds and Reed-warblers to pop out.

19. This pond has often been used by Australasian Grebes and Dusky Moorhens for nesting. Listen for Little and Red Wattlebirds. The Acacias and Callistemons around the pond attract rosellas, honeyeaters, thornbills and so on, especially when flowering.

20. The top pond, where stormwater enters the complex - you'll notice it has more litter and suspended silt than lakes later in the sequence. A quiet spot for ducks and crakes. Check also the lower pond on your left.

21. Exit through a low hole in the fence and walk southwards along the easement to regain Jubilee Crescent. Check the big old River Red Gum at the corner of the fenced area for pardalotes, fantails, parrots, kookaburras - and maybe even a Tawny Frogmouth!

1. Park here at the end of Ashley Rd.

2. Walk northwards down the wide grassy ride. On your left is a very nice patch of box (mainly Red Box) and Red Ironbark woodland, great for small birds which often feed in flocks: Weebills, Brown Thornbills, Silvereyes, various honeyeaters, whistlers, Grey Fantails, and so on. Listen for and follow the calls. Check the farm dam on the right for Wood Ducks, ibis, Willie Wagtails, and the paddocks for Eastern Rosellas, Red-rumped Parrots.

3. This small valley is a favourite for small birds - robins in season, thornbills, honeyeaters, pardalotes.

4. Make your way towards the river until you reach the mountain bike trail. There's a good view here down to the river and across to the big gums on the other side - a favourite perch for cockatoos.

5. Turn left and follow the trail. The boxes here can be full of small foliage-feeders - Weebills, pardalotes, thornbills. About 200m along take the right fork leading down to the river flat. Here you're looking up at the escarpment forming the edge of the Recent Volcanics lava flows (800,000 years ago) - over the top is the NE lake in Morang Wetlands (#6a).  You're standing on eroded, much older Silurian sedimentary rocks, about 420 million years old. Listen for the Bell Miners which live on the steep slope; this is a good spot for honeyeaters (White-eared, New Holland, Yellow-faced, White-naped). Sacred Kingfishers nest here in summer. The tall, smooth-barked gums lining the river are Manna Gums.

6. Take the path leading uphill to the left (there used to be a bridge further down the valley, but it was washed away in floods). An ancient fruit tree here possibly marks the site of an early European settler's hut. As you climb up, look out into the treetops for lorikeets, treecreepers, cockatoos and honeyeaters.

7. Follow the trail along the hillside, through the gully and emerge onto a viewpoint here - a lovely view along the river, with a nice spot to sit under the old eucalypt and enjoy the peace of this spot. There are many clumps of mistletoe in the gums here - watch for Mistletoebirds, as well as Spinebills and other honeyeaters, Silvereyes, thornbills and pardalotes. Keep on the high path (alternatively, there is a new bikepath leading down to the right which will take you down to river level and back up the fire trail).

8. This rather dry patch of woodland can be good for White-throated Treecreepers, Kookaburras, honeyeaters. In summer watch for the tall pink Hyacinth Orchids. Cross the Ashley Rd firetrail and continue along the path.

9. Be very careful here, it's a steep cliff and the trail is rough. Good views into the treetops and down to the river. Below you is the Opuntia bridge, accessible from a lower trail.

10. This open area is another early settler's site - look for the small level rectangle, with the remains of a stone fireplace, on your left. The dead trees high above you on the opposite bank are often occupied by perching birds. Thick scrub along the river supports fairy-wrens, scrubwrens, Red-browed Finches.

11. Another little viewpoint, looking eastwards up the gully. Listen for birds below. Brown Goshawks live in this area; common species include Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Grey Fantails, Sacred Kingfishers (in summer), pardalotes, thornbills.

12. Follow the clear grassy area up to the firetrail and return to Ashley Rd.

1. Park on the corner - plenty of room. Enter the reserve and follow the track downhill. Watch for honeyeaters, thornbills (especially Buff-rumped), Scarlet Robins and pardalotes in these trees. Good for wildflowers in spring.

2. Reaching the floor of the valley, turn right and follow it up. It's moister down here, with thicker scrub, so expect fairy-wrens, thornbills, honeyeaters (White-eared, White-naped, Brown-headed), Red-browed Finches, fantails and so on.

3. The valley narrows to a more defined bike track (built during Covid but rarely used these days). Bear left and pick up the track heading to the left of the valley - it wanders in a more-or-less easterly direction as it starts to climb.

4. After a few hundred metres the track begins to seriously zig-zag up the valley, with the trailmakers getting as much distance in as they can. It's good though - a gentle gradient and a thorough look through this thicker patch of scrub. Weebills, scrubwrens, robins, treecreepers and so on are common through here. Spotted Quail-thrushes have been recorded (although not often - keep an ear out for their call!).

5. Eventually you emerge at a fenceline on the shoulder of the hill. Private property on the other side, but some clear sky and a view north-east across the valley. Watch for eagles!

6. Follow the track a bit further. At a junction, bear right to climb gently around the hill. (If you want to explore further, take the left-hand path across the valley - it eventually links up with the firetrail of #7.) This drier, north-facing slope gives clearer views of the small bush birds that are numerous here. In spring there can be good displays of small orchids; it seems to be popular with migrants such as cuckoos, bronze-cuckoos and Rufous Whistlers also.

7. Meeting up with the firetrail on the southern boundary of the reserve, turn right - it will take you back to the carpark. Here we are following the ridgeline - over the fence is closed catchment for Yan Yean Reservoir, so no entry. Along this ridge is prime territory for Buff-rumped Thornbills, which are often to be seen in small flocks, either feeding on the ground or in the foliage of the low eucalypts. You may also get rosellas and cockatoos of various sorts, and the foliage supports Weebills and pardalotes.

8. Keep on the firetrail as it follows the fence back to your starting point.

1a/b. Alternative access points (see above). Take the broad easement heading eastwards into the woodland.

2. As you drop down the hill there may be cockatoos, lorikeets in the trees, and smaller birds in the scrub: fantails, pardalotes and so on.

3. The old pipe bridge acros the river used to carry a water main (now underground). About 50m before the bridge take the track to the left, which leads down to a bare area ...

4. ... used by mountain bikers. Head towards the river and pick up the track leading upstream.

5. When the river is low you can cross here and connect with the Plenty River Trail on the other side (leading back down to Greensborough).

6. This area is popular with Gang-gangs and other cockatoos and parrots. Keep an eye on the river for ducks, Dusky Moorhens and the occasional cormorant and heron.

7. Keeping the river on your right, continue upstream. The taller trees here support numerous honeyeaters (Yellow-faced, New Holland, White-eared, sometimes White-naped), White-throated Treecreepers, pardalotes and thornbills. Brown Goshawks can be spotted regularly. Along the riverside will be Superb Fairywrens, White-browed Scrubwrens, Grey Fantails and thornbills.

8. A narrow plank bridge leads across to Happy Hollow, a historic homestead site. The old fruit trees are worth checking for Silvereyes, honeyeaters and so on. You can take the path leading up into Yellowgum Park (see Walk #6, which connects here).

9. The path runs a little higher up the slope here, through thicker scrub which can support numerous small birds. The foliage above is good for honeyeaters; you might also get whistlers, treecreepers and sometimes Varied Sittellas.

10. Another low-water crossing into Yellowgum. From here our path climbs higher up the escarpment and is quite rocky; there are good views down to the river. Keep an eye out for raptors.

11. Here you meet a rough firetrail leading down to the river, which here is a long reach around the bend. The thick Acacia scrub can be good for thornbills.

12. These tracks lead on up the river to Janefield, Tanunda and University Hill - good walking if you have time. To keep on our route, turn south-east and follow what turns into a fire trail leading eastwards. 

13. Passing back through the thicker scrub, expect similar birds to #9.

14. Turn right onto a bike path which zig-zags up the hill to meet the easement. This area is good for White-winged Choughs, usually in large, noisy groups.

1. Hawkesdale Station, Plenty Rd.

2. Walk start. Head east a few metres along Wilton Vale Break and enter the park through the gate on your right.

3. As an extension to this walk, this path leads to the north end of Wilton Vale Wetlands (see Walk #1). The grasslands on your right can be good for parrots and cockatoos, Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Flame Robins (in winter).

4. The line of planted eucalypts along the fence (many of them exotic) often hosts numerous lorikeets - always Rainbow and Musk, but listen out for Little and Purple-crowned as well. There will also be Crested Pigeons, Eastern Rosellas and cockatoos.

5. 100m in, turn left to pass north of the lake. This grassy plain sports River Red Gums and Yellow Gums; there are usually flocks of Grey Kangaroos feeding or resting.

6. Looking down into the lake you may see ducks (especially Grey and Chestnut Teal, Pacific Black and Wood), swans, Coots and grebes. These lakes are the result of quarrying for basalt (bluestone and road metal). This one is not very deep and dries out in some summers.

7. Stand on the edge of the gorge and note the different landforms on either side of the river.  The rock you are standing on is Newer Volcanics basalt, only 800,000 years old, which flowed from volcanoes 20km or so to the northwest. It stopped here because the much older sedimentary hills (about 420 million years) on the other side used to be higher - the Plenty River once flowed further to the west, but was pushed to the edge of the harder basalt and carved a new bed through the softer sandstone. You can see the difference between the largely flat lava flows on the west, and the rolling sedimentary hills on the east. The vegetation is different too - note the duller greens and browns of the boxes and ironbarks on the other side, many with prominent clumps of mistletoe. 

8. This path heads off up the river to Plenty Falls and beyond.

9. Listen for the bush birds in the gorge below - whistlers, honeyeaters, pardalotes, treecreepers and so on. You will also hear the chimes of the small colony of Bell Miners on the near slope of the gorge - look for their olive-green plumage as they forage through the foliage of the Long-leaved Boxes and Manna Gums. On the lake to your right will be more ducks, coots, grebes; and at times there will also be herons, egrets, cormorants and lapwings.

10. The grassy islands here can be home to some interesting species - crakes, rails and (in summer) snipe. Swans and other waterbirds nest here. There are often Hardheads, Blue-billed Ducks and Australasian Shovelers too.

11. This is the overflow of the lake, down to the river on your left. This inlet is a favourite spot for Coots and Australasian Grebes. Keep your ears open for the haunting call of the Brown Quail.

12. Turn left onto the main vehicle track, then immediately right onto Marshland Track.

13. This is a deeper lake, favoured by the diving species - Darters, cormorants, grebes, Blue-billed Ducks and Hardheads. The small dead trees in the middle are nesting sites for Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants - keep to the main track to avoid disturbing them when occupied. Watch also for turtles in the water below.

14. This small outlook gives views down the lake - check for Darters roosting on the rocks. Sacred Kingfishers may be around here during summer.

15. The shallow ephemeral wetland on your right is a home to dabblers and waders - ducks, Coots, Swamphens, Lapwings. If you're patient and lucky you may see crakes (especially Spotted), Buff-banded Rails and (in summer) Latham's Snipe. The big dead tree is a favoured roost for ibis, cormorants and herons, as well as Red-rumped Parrots.

16. Listen and watch for Reed-warblers in the warmer months. The shallow, vegetated ponds often have ducks, herons and so on, as well as Superb Fairy-wrens. The trees on your left often host Dusky Woodswallow in summer, as well as thornbills and honeyeaters.

17. If you have time, you can take the slightly longer detour around the deepest lake.

18. The track left goes to Hawkstowe Park and Le Page Homestead.

19. Look down into this pit to see Australasian Grebes, Coots, Dusky Moorhens and Reed-warblers (in summer).

20. The area of scrub on your right is home to numerous small birds - fairy-wrens, Red-browed Finches, Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails and so on. The concrete power poles in the grassland to your left are popular nest-sites for Striated Pardalotes.

21. There's an alternative entrance to the wetlands here, from Wilton Vale Rd; across the road are the Wilton Vale Wetlands (see Walk #1).

22. There are some nice spots to sit along the bank of the pond here - especially in the warmer months and early in the morning, a very good chance of watching crakes and snipe.

23. As you return to the gate along the line of eucalypts, watch for lorikeets, rosellas, cockatoos.

11. More to come ... .

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