Skeleton Waterholes Creek Walk (Tarneit)

This 5 km walk along the Skeleton Waterholes Creek trail loops between Truganina and Tarneit and takes in Tarneit Creek wetlands.

Skeleton Creek, also known as Skeleton Waterholes Creek, was once a series of seasonal waterholes thought to resemble vertebrates of a spine. In many places, Skeleton Creek is thick with phragmites, common reed grass, and is a haven for birdlife, frogs and insects.

The creek is home to a huge array of birdlife, eastern long-neck turtles, rakali (native water rats) and many species of frogs, such as the endangered growling grass frog.

Friends of Skeleton Creek have been revegetating and restoring the creek for over 30 years and have made an enormous difference to the creek and the natural environment.

The trail surface is smooth and sealed.

Toilets are available at Mahbeers Talliver Park.

Skeleton Waterholes Creek Walk (Tarneit)

Skeleton Waterholes Creek Walk (Tarneit)

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted on-leash.

Map of Route:

Skeleton Creek Waterholes Walk (Tarneit)

Review:

This is a great walk which follows the Skeleton Waterholes Creek for the length of the walk, covering both sides of the creek. In sections the creek is dry, some sections have waterholes and in other sections the creek is flowing. There are some information panels along the walk.

You can start the walk in many places but we started at the end of Sussex Court where there is a small parking area (red dot on the map above). After parking we went across the bridge on Sayers Drive to the other side of the creek and walked along the concrete path. At this point the creek banks are covered in thick vegetation and it is difficult to see the creek. After a short time you reach a large pedestrian bridge across the creek (don't cross it) where there is Mahbeers Talliver Park which has quirky playground equipment, picnic facilities, water tap and toilets.

Skeleton Waterholes Creek Walk (Tarneit)

When reaching Morris Road, you cross the bridge to the other side of the creek where there are some murals beside the path under the bridge. You then cross a little wooden bridge to reach an area with a fenced playground, pergola and bin. Take another boardwalk/bridge to circle around this wetlands area.

After a shortish distance the trail passes Dairy Fields Park which has a tiny playground with two cow springers which are a nod to the history of the site. As well as the remains of a dairy there is also a simple gym if you are in need of extra exercise and a lookout point to the waterholes below.

Skeleton Waterholes Creek Walk (Tarneit)

Dairy Fields Park celebrates the heritage of Rose Grange. It is a part of 1,326 hectares of land farmed by pioneering brothers William and Alfred Leake in 1854. The property was home to several bluestone buildings including the dairy and workers' cottages - the remains of which have been preserved in their original location as a reminder of the area's past.

The Leake family's bluestone dairy was used to produce butter and cheese. The dairy housed a large built-in vat for cheese making and a pit where the cheeses were matured and turned everyday. One of the cheeses won a gold medal at an international exhibition in India in 1873. William Leake's sons hand milked cows before and after school. The average milk output was 900 litres a day from 130 cows.

Skeleton Waterholes Creek Walk (Tarneit)

A little bit further along Autumn Fields Circuit there is another small outdoor gym and a bridge across a side branch of the creek. There are BBQs and a bin here.

After another 100m there is a pedestrian bridge to cross the creek to start the return on the other side. There were plenty of waterbirds visible from the bridge. You then continue along a footpath beside the creek valley and pass another simple playground which is fenced and has a bin.

When you reach the Morris Street bridge, cross to the other side of the creek and continue. If you are up for some more exercise there is a row of four hurdles beside the trail. Continuing on, you'll pass the pedestrian bridge to Mahbeers Talliver Park where there are toilets and reach the end of the walk.

Information Panels Along the Walk

11. Native Pollinators

Wyndham's native grasslands were once full of wildflowers, providing habitat for native bees, butterflies, moths and wasps. These pollinators still play an important role, with many native plants needing their help for pollination.

Habitat Gardens
You can create native bee and butterfly gardens at home using grassland wildflowers. Species such as Basalt Daisy (Brachyscome basaltic), Drumsticks (Pycnosaurus globosus) and Bluebells (Wahlenbergia luteola) provide beautiful bright colour displays throughout spring and summer.

Bees: Native vs Introduced
European honey bees were introduced to Australia to produce honey, but they aren't the only bees around! Australia has over 1500 species of native bees that live mostly solitary lives. They come in all shapes and colours and rarely sting. If you have purple flowers in your garden, you may be visited by the native Blue-banded Bee.

Golden Sun Moth
The Golden Sun Moth is an endangered species that relies on grassland habitat. This day-flying moth lives for 2-5 days, laying its eggs at the base of native Wallaby grass.

12. Wetlands

Wetlands are an important part of urban landscaping, catching and filtering stormwater before it reaches our creeks and rivers.

Stormwater
Urban development places significant pressure on our waterways. With increased hard surfaces such as roads and roofs, rainwater can no longer soak into the ground, instead entering drains that lead to our natural waterways. Stormwater can contribute to stream erosion, habitat disturbance and pollute our environment. One solution for stormwater management is constructed wetlands.

Benefits of Wetlands
By channelling stormwater into wetlands before it reaches our creeks and rivers, we slow its flow and capture pollutants. The aquatic plants filter nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous from the water, which can otherwise build up and cause algal blooms. Constructed wetlands can contribute to the local environment. The green patches in urban areas help bring down temperatures during the hotter months and provide habitat for local wildlife. Water birds are attracted to the food and shelter, and at night you may find native bats.

Rakali
This native Water-rat, Hydromys chrysogaster, is sometimes considered the Australian "otter" with partly webbed feet, water-repelling fur and muscular tail that serves as a rudder when swimming. Commonly found around waterways, they feed on fish, insects, frogs and shellfish. From a distance, Rakali can be distinguished from an introduced rat by its white-tipped tail.

13. Grassland Residents

Before European Settlement, Wyndham supported expansive areas of native grasslands that were home to many native animals. Impacts from feral animals and habitat destruction have since resulted in significant loss of many grassland animals.

Eastern Barred Bandicoot
Now extinct in the wild, these small nocturnal marsupials built their nests in the native grass tussocks and dug in the volcanic soil for grubs.

Striped Legless Lizard
Endangered in Victoria, this small grassland lizard shelters in soil cracks and grass tussocks or under rocks. The biggest threats to this unique species are rock removal, farming and urban development.

Fat-tailed Dunnart
This small nocturnal marsupial can be found in many different habitats, including grasslands. Dunnarts feed on invertebrates such as beetles, worms and spiders and can store excess body fat in their tail when food is plentiful.

Plains Wanderer
This critically endangered bird once roamed the grasslands of Victoria. With the loss of native grasslands, these ground dwelling birds have nowhere to lay their eggs or hide from predators.

Aboriginal Waterways

There are a number of significant Aboriginal sites in the Rose Grange area. Skeleton Creek, as well as supplying fresh water, was home to water birds and fish, which provided an ample food source. Native trees, grasses and flowers. were used for the making of tools to provide shelter and food.

Skeleton Creek formed part of the wider hunting and gathering grounds of the Wurundjeri clan, who are the traditional custodians of this land.

The Great Fires of 1969

The fires of 1969 that ripped through the districts between Geelong and Melbourne claimed the lives of 23 people and 12,000 head of stock. Rose Grange suffered the full brunt of the fires which destroyed 230 houses and 21 other buildings. Ultimately, the 280 fires that broke out on the 8th of January 1969 burnt an area of some 250,000 hectares.