Three walks with a purpose in Nillumbik

What’s your ideal walk? A meander along well trodden paths? A heart pumping bush track up a hillside? A ‘getting away from it’ hike to a new destination? A walk with a view?

The Nillumbik region has so many walks to choose from and for those who seek a walk with a purpose, here are three opportunities to walk, learn and love the area.

Hurstbridge Heritage Trail

The Hurstbridge Heritage Trail, comprises 30 sites of historical significance to the town of Hurstbridge. You can start and finish wherever you please. Each site has an information sign, many with great old photos, and touring maps can be picked up in local cafes and public spaces.

Hurstbridge was first settled in 1842 and the walk takes you past early settlers homes, the primary school, The ANZAC Avenue of Honour, early period shops, significant memorials, the original train station and other landmarks.

The whole walk is approximately 3.6 kilometres in length and takes about an hour to walk, but there are plenty of other interesting things to see along the way so you can easily turn your ‘walk in the footsteps of history’ into a whole day.

Finish your walk with a visit the Hurstbridge History Room located at Allwood House.

Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Trail

The Gawa Wurundjeri Resource Trail is a self-guided, 340 metre loop walking trail. Markers explain how the Wurundjeri clan lived near the creek and used the land to obtain bush foods, medicines, implements, shelter and clothes. The trail is an introduction to Indigenous flora and fauna, including manna gums, Lomandra (used to weave baskets) and wombat burrows. This trail tells the stories of the land for all people.

Edendale Community Environment Farm

The Edendale Community Environment Farm in Eltham provides information and education on supporting sustainable living practices for the whole community. Wander through the sustainably-grown vegetable gardens and fruit orchard to get ideas on what you can do in your own garden and enjoy recycled art installations for a different kind of inspiration. There are animals to meet along the way and plenty to keep the children occupied – including self-guided clipboard activities.

The nursey is well worth a visit and is noted for its propagation of Indigenous plants, many of which can be found in the Moor-Rul Grasslands, (adjacent to the Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Viewing platform) where a section of land is being regenerated with plants indigenous to the area as part of this historic memorial.

Everywhere you look there is something to learn and something for everyone. Appreciate the world on foot and Find Your Self in creative, fertile and historical places that may well change the way you live.