Diamond Creek Trail (Eltham - Diamond Creek)
The Diamond Creek Trail is a 11km shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Diamond Creek through the north eastern outer suburbs of Melbourne. The trail generally follows the creek and railway from Diamond Creek to Eltham where it joins the Main Yarra Trail. The trail is fully paved and is mostly flat with some minor rises.
One end of the trail is south of Eltham Lower Park (near Homestead Road, Eltham) which has a lovely fenced playground and is home to Diamond Valley Miniature Railway which operates every Sunday afternoon.
There is another nice playground at Alistair Knox Park in Eltham.
The trail also passes the awesome playground at Eltham North Reserve which is next to Edendale Community Environment Farm where you can catch up with goats, sheep or alpacas (gold coin entrance donation) and have a pit stop at the cafe.
There is yet another great playground at the Diamond Creek Regional Playspace which has a cafe in a restored W-class tram.
The northern end of the trail at Diamond Creek is near the Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool.
The route has a few pitfalls for the unwary. The best advice is to use this route description from Bloke on a Bike.
"The route starts at Diamond Creek. The route is not well marked and there are two points where the unwary cyclist can become disorientated.
The first is at Allendale Road, Diamond Creek where you will need to turn left and pick up the trail a little further along the road.
The second is when the trail meets Gastons Road. Here suburban streets have to be used to reconnect with the trail near the Andrew Park Tennis Club on Diamond Street, Eltham.
There are also several road crossings and an unprotected rail crossing where care is required.
The offset of these inconveniences is that the paved creek valley route includes scenic parklands and semi-rural suburbia which is very conducive to a dreamy, leisurely ride rather than fast, get-there-quick commuting. The southern terminus is where the Diamond Creek Trail connects with the Yarra River Trail in Eltham.
It is also possible to connect with the Maroondah Aqueduct Trail by riding a little further left down Allendale Road or when reaching Gastons Road, turn left onto Wattletree Road and then left onto Main Road."
Extensions are soon to be built all the way to Hurstbridge from Diamond Creek with the route to Wattle Glen accessible.
There are train stations at Eltham, Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen.
Location
1 Elizabeth Street, Diamond Creek 3089 Map
