Koomba Park (Wantirna)
Koomba Park is one of the parks comprising the Dandenong Valley Parklands in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It consists of 92 hectares, of which 33 hectares are publicly accessible.
The trail network through Koomba Park incorporates both the Dandenong Creek Trail which branches off to a pretty boardwalk section and the Eastlink Trail that continues on to follow the Eastlink Freeway.
Koomba Park consists of billabongs and lakes fed by the Dandenong Creek. The bird hide provides a perfect way to observe birds in the natural habitat.
Information boards are located at the north and south pedestrian entrances to the park. A drinking fountain is also located at the junction of the Dandenong Creek and EastLink trails.
The adjoining Wantirna Reserve has a playground and oval.
Review:
The northern end of the trail crosses under Boronia Road from beside Campbell's Croft Reserve & Wetlands. The walking/bike trail actually is on the opposite side of Dandenong Creek to the Reserve.
The trail through Koomba Park has a number of loops and at the southern end splits into two trails - the Dandenong Creek trail and the Eastlink trail. At the northern end is a little loop (300m) for walkers which goes past a pond and follows the creek for a short distance. After a while you come to a branch where you can go to the Koomba Park pedestrian bridge across Eastlink (500m detour) but this doesn't lead to any decent walking / biking area. The track then has a branch to a boardwalk with a bird hide. The hide includes some photos of water birds found here. The hide looks out over a large reedy pond and the gravel path continues through an area which becomes boggy and wet in bad weather and then onto a grassy wide road next to electricity pylons. If you continue along the Dandenong Creek Trail you will reach an extended boardwalk through wetlands with another bird hide.
From the southern end of Koomba Park it is 7km to Jells Park and 5km to Chesterfield Farm (via the Eastlink Trail).
Photos:
Location
Boronia Road, Wantirna 3152 Map
Web Links
→ Friends of Dandenong Valley Parklands
→ Friends of Dandenong Valley Parklands on Facebook
