Finns Reserve to Westerfolds Park Walk (Templestowe Lower)

This picturesque 5.6 km bushland walk encourages fitness but can be enjoyed by all ages as a leisurely stroll. The path is generally well-maintained and meanders along undulating hillsides offering vistas across the Yarra River. There is one section that is unsealed. When we did the walk we saw lots of kangaroos, a wallaby and a platypus.

Your bushland fitness experience begins at Finns Fitness Area. The equipment is useful for stretching before heading off on your walk. The trail crosses the Yarra River (twice) while traversing riverine eucalypt forests and open grasslands before steering you back to your original path and over the suspension bridge again.

Facilities are toilets, drinking fountain and fitness station. If you have children they will enjoy Wombat Bend Playspace - located next to the Fitness Station.

Start and finish at Finns Reserve carpark, Duncan Street, Templestowe. Be careful of cyclists who also use the track. There is no water along the route, only at Finns Reserve.

Map of Route

Finns Reserve to Westerfolds Park Walk (Templestowe Lower)

Route Description

Your walk begins at the Finns Reserve. This walk has been written to encourage fitness, but it can also be enjoyed as a relaxing walk in a lovely riverine environment. The reserve has a shelter with two tables, BBQs, water tap, bins and toilets.

1. Finns Fitness Station: There is a sit up board, a step up bar, push up bars and chin up bars. Begin with the step up bar. Place one foot on the bar and bring the other foot up to it then down. Bend at the knees as if skiing and repeat five times on each leg building to fifteen in the future. Stretching will reduce the risk of muscle soreness and stiffness from your walk.

2. Cross the suspension bridge and enjoy the view. Take several deep breaths of fresh air. Areas like this where the water tumbles over shallow rapids with noise and movement have delighted adults and children for thousands and thousands of years. Maybe that is why the feeling here is joyful and relaxing. When we crossed the bridge we saw a platypus swimming below.

At the end of the boardwalk, where the tennis courts are, look left and you will see benches on the rise. To the side of the boardwalk we saw a wallaby in the bush below.

3. Press Ups: Use the park bench to do press ups. Place your hands on the seat, stretch your body away from your hands in a straight line and lower and raise your chest to the bench. Keep your chest aligned with your hands. Start with five repetitions and increase to fifteen.

Power walk from here to the next bridge

4. Calf Stretches: Choose a place off the path. Place one leg behind you on your toes and push the heel to the ground. You should feel a calf stretch. Repeat with the other leg.

At the top of the next hill take the sealed track to your left.

5. Yarra Rapids Observation Point: The Yarra River was vital to the survival of local Indigenous group, the Wurundjeri. Rivers supplied food, fresh water and recreation as well as fertilizing the surrounding riverine habitat. Murnong - native yam daisy - was a tasty tuber that grew in riverine habitats but was largely destroyed by the heavy hoofs of wandering cattle.

Walk away from the observation point for approximately 150 metres on an asphalt path and then take an unsealed dirt track to the south. Take this and walk to a fork in the track.

6. Lunges: Choose a place off the path. Place your right leg forward and stretch your left leg back - keep your heel off the ground. Bend the left knee towards the ground, as far as you can go and still remain steady. Take hold of a tree if you need to. Raise and lower. Swap legs. Do five times each increasing to twelve in the future.

Keep to the larger more used track to your left. In this area we saw mobs of kangaroos. A cross roads of small tracks will appear. Take the right track, then right when you hit the sealed path again. On the sealed path there is a bench.

Finns Reserve to Westerfolds Park Walk (Templestowe Lower)

7. Dips: Using the bench, face the wetlands and sit down placing your hands by your side. Pushing with your hands raise your backside off the seat and lower over the seat's edge. Raise and lower using the strength of your arms for five repetitions. Increase to fifteen with time.

Power walk to the start of your walk. From point 7 we took a more exciting route back. We headed straight ahead on a gravel path towards the river, turned right at the river and followed the river bank to the bridge. The path crosses a steep bank above the river and is narrow and could be slippery when wet.

8. When you get to the Finns Fitness Station again stretch your muscles and cool down. Use the step up to stretch. Place your foot on the bar and bend over it feeling the stretch right down the thigh. If you can reach, take hold of your toes and pull the foot towards you for an even stronger stretch. Repeat with the other leg.

If you have children they will enjoy Wombat Bend Playspace - located next to the Fitness Station. It is an adventure worth walking for.

This finishes your walk. Time to relax and plan your next adventure.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted on the walk on-leash. There is a large dog off leash area at Finns Reserve. The walk is very popular with dog owners on weekends.