Truganina Park Altona Skipper Butterfly Loop Walk (Altona Meadows)
.jpg "Truganina Park Altona Skipper Butterfly Loop Walk (Altona Meadows)")
A 2.3km loop with expansive views of Port Philip Bay and Cheetham Wetlands. This circuit along Truganina Park Trail takes in important habitats for rare species including the Altona Skipper Butterfly.
Altona Skipper Butterfly
Did you know Truganina Park is one of the few homes available to the rare and threatened Altona Skipper Butterfly? This is largely due to destruction of habitat. One factor limiting this butterfly is that their larvae lives exclusively on Chaffy Saw-sedge (Gahnia filum) the plant growing in the ephemeral wetlands here. This plant grows in damp, mildly saline conditions and prefers shallow flooding for part of the year and requires burning periodically to create the perfect habitat for the butterfly. Burning is essential for the rejuvenation of the Chaffy Saw-sedge community by removing dead material and encouraging fresh new growth.
The larvae of the Altona Skipper Butterfly preference new growth, which appears after the plant is burnt. Hatched larva construct a shelter, by using silk to join together several saw-sedge leaves. It will remain within this shelter during the day, emerging at night to feed on these fresh young leaves.
Burning in a mosaic pattern creates a mixture of regenerating plants, surrounded by mature unburnt tussocks. These unburnt patches are essential as they provide cover for the adult butterfly, as well as a seed source and protective shelter for the regenerating plants.
As Chaffy Saw-sedges mature they form dense swards of dead leaves within the tussock, these also provide shelter for predatory insects such as spiders and centipedes.
Status: The Altona Skipper Butterfly is classified as threatened under the Victorian Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act (1988)
Range: This butterfly is geographically isolated from other Skipper Butterfly populations in Victoria. This has resulted in a population with distinct characteristics, namely, a brighter yellow form of the butterfly than other populations.
Start with a walk up the "The 100 Steps of Federation". From the hill the views are expansive, taking in Port Philip Bay, important wetlands and the city skyscrapers in the distance.
Where Laverton Creek joins the bay, a large sand spit has formed, creating a lagoon and habitat vital to shorebirds. The internationally significant wetlands extend from Laverton Creek to the suburb of Point Cook, and include Cheetham Wetlands, a former saltworks. With extensive lagoons and ponds, saltmarshes and coastal scrub, this often underappreciated landscape is of great ecological importance and is now protected by the international Ramsar Agreement.
After you've taken in the 360-degree views, follow the path downhill and re-join the Bay Trail. This is a sealed and shared-use path. Be careful of cyclists in a hurry.
Veer off the Bay Trail and take the unsealed scoria path known as Skipper Boulevard. Follow the interpretive signage to find out about the rare and elusive Altona Skipper Butterfly .
The Altona Skipper Butterfly lives only in Altona and breeds, feeds, lives and dies on one species of plant, Gahnia filum, the chaffy saw-sedge. The saltmarsh sedgeland on this trail is one of few remaining habitats for the butterfly.
Truganina Park is great for bird watching and this walk is excellent for spotting birds of prey. Nankeen Kestrels, Black-shouldered Kites, Brown Falcon (open spaces), Collared Sparrowhawk, Brown Goshawk (mostly treed areas) and Swamp Harrier (over wetland and reed beds) are often seen in the park.
Smaller birds such as Superb Fairy-wrens and honeyeaters are frequently spotted in the woodland areas and near the car park.
Facilities: Drinking water is available at the starting point of this walk. Public toilets are located near the sports centre at Andrew Park Drive.
Interactive map
Points of Interest
1. Starting point
Start at the Truganina Park car park at Andrew Park Drive.
2. She-oaks lead the way
Head up the hill via the 100 Steps to Federation
3. 100 Steps to Federation
The steps and incline are not too steep. The artificial hill has been made on the former landfill tip site.
4. View from the hill
Great views of the city, bay and wetlands.
5. Views of bay and spit
Looking out to a shorebird lagoon and saltmarsh landscape. The bare white ground is hyper salty!
6. Looking west
Looking west towards Point Cook and the expansive saltmarshes and lagoons of Cheetham Wetlands.
7. On the Skipper Butterfly Trail
Take the un-sealed, scoria path called the Altona Skipper Butterfly Trail.
8. Altona Skipper Butterfly
Follow the interpretive signage to find out about the rare and elusive butterfly.
9. Sedgeland
Between the path and the hill, one of the few remaining habitats of chaffy saw-sedge.
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At this point, you can walk along the gravel road to the east as per the map, or alternatively do a loop to the south through a saltmarsh sedgeland area.
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10. Birds of prey
Look out for birds of prey.
11. City silhouette beyond the saltmarsh
In the saltmarsh, glasswort is the dominant ground cover.
12. Beaded glasswort
Glasswort can grow in very salty environments and is a haven for wildlife.
13. Brown falcon
Truganina Park is a popular place for bird watching.
14. Woodland habitat
East of the hill, a woodland area provides habitat for insects, reptiles and birds including blue-winged parrots and swift parrots.
15. Superb Fairy-wren
Fairy-wrens, honeyeaters are frequently seen in the woodland areas including the carpark.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are permitted on leash.
Photos:
Location
Andrew Park Drive, Altona Meadows 3028 Map
Web Links
→ Altona Skipper Butterfly Loop, Truganina Park (Walking Maps)
