Ruffey Lake Park Fruit, Frogs and Family Fun Walk (Doncaster)
Ruffey Lake Park is a delightful surprise in the middle of urban Doncaster. The park is well maintained and features gently undulating hills, wetlands, revegetation zones, and interpretation about the extraordinary achievements of our early orchardists.
Start your walk at The Boulevarde playground carpark at Ruffey Lake Park.
This is a hidden gem - a great walk offering something for everyone, including the dog. The 3.5 km walk is a family-friendly stroll up a gentle hill, around Ruffey Lake and along the Ruffey Creek. Heritage signs show images of the landscape covered in bushland and later, orchards. Bird images help you identify the different resident species and there is also an off-lead area to run your dog. This is the perfect place to combine a walk with a picnic or barbecue. There are also great playgrounds at The Boulevarde and Victoria Street.
Facilities include toilets, great playgrounds, picnic shelters, barbecue, drinking fountains.
Map of Route
Route Description
Start your walk at The Boulevarde carpark. If you have a dog, it must be on a lead near picnic and play areas, and under effective control at all other times. There are off-lead areas to run your dog (under effective control) - check signage within the Park for details.
Take one of the gravel paths up to the sealed path and turn left.
1. At the crossroads you will be in front of a row of trees. This used to be filled with fruit trees. Orchards were dotted over almost half of Doncaster and Templestowe. Today very few remain.
Walk through the trees and head up the hill for sweeping vistas across the park.
2. The path passes a Yellow Box revegetation area. Yellow Box, Eucalyptus melliodora was once prolific throughout Melbourne. It produces a bird-attracting fragrant white flower in spring. Common birds seen and heard here include Rainbow Lorikeets, Bell Miners and Laughing Kookaburras. The first of several heritage signs begin here and illustrates the lives of past orchardists at Ruffey Lake Park.
Keep to the upper side of the Yellow Box revegetation area.
3. The Thiele family arrived in 1853 and built this cottage known as 'Friedensruh'. They were one of several German Lutherans who planted orchards here and developed into a tight-knit community. There are heritage signs along the path that tell the story of their lives.
Follow the path downhill towards Ruffey Creek.
4. There is a choice to make here. To stay on our walk you cross the creek and veer left. If you have a pusher or are walking with seniors you might prefer to stay on the sealed path this side of the creek. Both paths converge at the next bridge.
There is a playground, a toilet block and picnic area here. Historic Schramm's Cottage is just across Victoria Road and offers a step back in time. Open on Sunday afternoons and public holidays.
5. Your walk now follows the old cart track, a road dug by the early pioneering orchardists over a hundred years ago. They dug the track to carry rock from the quarry to build their house as well as transporting fruit and other supplies.
6. The quarry to your right was where the Thiele family cut rock for the foundations of their home. The row of pines along the top formed a windbreak to protect precious fruits in neighbouring orchards.
7. You are now at the lake. The Monterey Pines to your right formed another windbreak and are as old as some of the resident native trees. Begin your wetland bird watch here. Look for Dusky Moorhens, Purple Swamphens, and Australian Wood Ducks and White-faced Herons. There is a bird identification chart at the next stop.
The track follows the perimeter of the lake.
8. This waterside platform creates another great bird watching station with images of the most common visitors. You might see an occasional pelican here.
9. You now have the lake on your left and wetlands on your right. The wetlands are a protected sanctuary for birds, frogs and turtles. Wetlands are vital habitat for many of our native animals. Several species of native plants filter toxins from the water helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
10. This area is called The Magic Mountain and is a great place to exercise your dog more vigorously. Throwing balls or frisbees for your dog to chase helps you and your dog become stronger and healthier.
Return to the path and head back to your starting point.
This finishes your walk. Time to relax and plan your next adventure.
The Ruffey Creek Trail begins at the far end of Ruffey Lake and takes you all the way to the Main Yarra Trail.
Location
Cnr George Street and The Boulevard, Doncaster 3108 Map
Web Links
→ Fruit Frogs and Family Fun Walk Guide and Map
