River Gum Walk Reserve (Heidelberg)

This linear 3.42 hectare reserve runs from Viewbank to Heidelberg. A shared bike and walking trail runs through the centre, following the path of Banyule Creek, and connects with a many trails along the Yarra River, including the Main Yarra Trail.

Activities in the park include a playground, walking/bike trails and wildlife observation.

River Gum Walk Reserve (Heidelberg)

History

The River Red Gum was an important tree for Indigenous Australians. They were used as a food source, as corroboree or canoe trees, for containers and clubs, and the tree's gum was used to treat burns and diarrhoea.

Flora and Fauna

The reserve is in the Gippsland Plain bioregion, and has 2 vegetation communities: plains grassy woodland-river red gum (exposed plain-slope) and plains grassy woodland-river red gum (terrace/valley). It is managed by the Banyule's Bushland Management Unit.

The remnant river red gum trees provide wildlife with a corridor linking Creek Bend Reserve and River Gum Walk to Banyule Flats Reserve and the Warringal Parklands.

Access for Dogs

The reserve is a dog off leash area but dogs must be on leash while walking on the shared trail.

Review:

The south side of Banyule Road is the start of Rivergum walk and on the north side is the Banyule Shared Trail.

The pleasant walk on a shared path with cyclists (and maybe snakes in summer) follows a green corridor between houses. There are some grassy areas dotted with trees beside the path and seats beside the path.

After a short distance the path goes beside a playground with tables and seats and water tap with dog bowl but no bin. We saw lots of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos using the hollows in the trees.

The reserve ends when you reach Banyule Theatre Complex on Buckingham Drive. This is a distance of 800m one-way.