Diamond Creek Trail
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists
and pedestrian
s, which follows Diamond Creek through the north eastern outer suburbs of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
.
It generally follows the creek and railway to Eltham
where it joins the Main Yarra Trail (also called Yarra River Trail). It is mostly flat with some minor rises. Scenery includes park lands, the creek valley, and semi-rural suburbia. The trail is fully paved with either concrete or asphalt and is not much affected by tree roots. It is a trail for leisurely riding rather than high-speed commuting and is shared with walkers, family groups, children, dogs (on leash) and the elderly. The path is narrow in parts and has many added 90 degree bends to vary interest.
The trail is poorly signposted and there are a two points where the unwary traveller can become easily lost. There are also road crossings and an unprotected rail crossing. The main features are Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre and Diamond Valley Railway.
The trail appears to end at Allendale Road, Diamond Creek. To pick it up turn left along Allendale Rd towards the railway crossing – the trail runs alongside the track. Between here and Eltham you pass Edendale Farm (admission fee payable) or check out the animals at the back fence.
At Edendale Farm you can divert to another trail that follows Main Rd and meets with the Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
. The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
in turn, loops back to Diamond Creek Trail back at Allendale Rd. To keep the cycling grades to a minimum, always do the Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
loop anti-clockwise.
The trail then runs along Railway Parade until it crosses the railway track opposite Elsa Court. You must dismount to cross the track. This is an open, unguarded crossing. The track then runs along the footpath into the Eltham business district. Eltham railway station
is 300 metres down the footpath after the crossing.
Continuing the trail again disappears. One block after the Elsa Court crossing turn right into Diamond St and then continue left in front of the tennis centre. Keep straight on for 200 metres – the trail resumes on the other side of the tennis centre, at Eltham Central Park.
At Withers Way, Eltham, the trail appears to run straight ahead towards Eltham High School. In fact, turn sharp left and cross the footbridge. At this point a detour to the nearby Montsalvat
can be made by crossing Main Rd at the pedestrian crossing and heading up Dalton St. Continuing, the trail narrows and twists through the park, until it comes to Eltham Lower Park. The park is famous for the Diamond Valley Railway, much-loved by generations of children (and adults).
On the south side of Eltham Lower Park continue to the left (east) where the path meets up with the footbridge across the Yarra. Crossing the footbridge leads directly to the Yarra River Trail about 1km east of Westerfolds Park
.
Cycling time at a leisurely pace: one hour. The next railway station is Heidelberg, about 14 kilometres along the Yarra River Trail.
. The south end of the Diamond Creek Trail intersects the Yarra River Trail.
North end at 37.671818°S 145.157578°E.
South end at 37.739666°S 145.143259°E.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
and pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
s, which follows Diamond Creek through the north eastern outer suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
It generally follows the creek and railway to Eltham
Eltham, Victoria
Eltham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2006 Census, Eltham had a population of 17,581....
where it joins the Main Yarra Trail (also called Yarra River Trail). It is mostly flat with some minor rises. Scenery includes park lands, the creek valley, and semi-rural suburbia. The trail is fully paved with either concrete or asphalt and is not much affected by tree roots. It is a trail for leisurely riding rather than high-speed commuting and is shared with walkers, family groups, children, dogs (on leash) and the elderly. The path is narrow in parts and has many added 90 degree bends to vary interest.
The trail is poorly signposted and there are a two points where the unwary traveller can become easily lost. There are also road crossings and an unprotected rail crossing. The main features are Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre and Diamond Valley Railway.
Following the Path
The start of the trail is unmarked but starts not far from Diamond Creek station. From the station cross Main Hurstbridge Road, turn right and cross the road bridge. The trail starts on the other side of the bridge next to the toilet block at Diamond Creek Reserve.The trail appears to end at Allendale Road, Diamond Creek. To pick it up turn left along Allendale Rd towards the railway crossing – the trail runs alongside the track. Between here and Eltham you pass Edendale Farm (admission fee payable) or check out the animals at the back fence.
At Edendale Farm you can divert to another trail that follows Main Rd and meets with the Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the disused Maroondah Aqueduct through the outer eastern suburbs of Eltham and Research in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the disused Maroondah Aqueduct through the outer eastern suburbs of Eltham and Research in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in turn, loops back to Diamond Creek Trail back at Allendale Rd. To keep the cycling grades to a minimum, always do the Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
Maroondah Aqueduct Trail
The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the disused Maroondah Aqueduct through the outer eastern suburbs of Eltham and Research in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
loop anti-clockwise.
The trail then runs along Railway Parade until it crosses the railway track opposite Elsa Court. You must dismount to cross the track. This is an open, unguarded crossing. The track then runs along the footpath into the Eltham business district. Eltham railway station
Eltham railway station, Melbourne
Eltham is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Eltham, on the Hurstbridge railway line. Eltham is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 2....
is 300 metres down the footpath after the crossing.
Continuing the trail again disappears. One block after the Elsa Court crossing turn right into Diamond St and then continue left in front of the tennis centre. Keep straight on for 200 metres – the trail resumes on the other side of the tennis centre, at Eltham Central Park.
At Withers Way, Eltham, the trail appears to run straight ahead towards Eltham High School. In fact, turn sharp left and cross the footbridge. At this point a detour to the nearby Montsalvat
Montsalvat
Montsalvat is an artist colony in Eltham, Victoria, Australia, established by Justus Jorgensen in 1934. It is home to over a dozen buildings, houses and halls set amongst richly established gardens on 48,562 m2 of land...
can be made by crossing Main Rd at the pedestrian crossing and heading up Dalton St. Continuing, the trail narrows and twists through the park, until it comes to Eltham Lower Park. The park is famous for the Diamond Valley Railway, much-loved by generations of children (and adults).
On the south side of Eltham Lower Park continue to the left (east) where the path meets up with the footbridge across the Yarra. Crossing the footbridge leads directly to the Yarra River Trail about 1km east of Westerfolds Park
Westerfolds Park, Melbourne
Westerfolds Park is a metropolitan park situated in Templestowe, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. .Westerfolds is classified as a metropolitan park and conserves riparian habitat within the Melbourne urban environment...
.
Cycling time at a leisurely pace: one hour. The next railway station is Heidelberg, about 14 kilometres along the Yarra River Trail.
Connections
The northern end meets with a trail on Main Rd that leads to the Maroondah Aqueduct TrailMaroondah Aqueduct Trail
The Maroondah Aqueduct Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows the disused Maroondah Aqueduct through the outer eastern suburbs of Eltham and Research in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. The south end of the Diamond Creek Trail intersects the Yarra River Trail.
North end at 37.671818°S 145.157578°E.
South end at 37.739666°S 145.143259°E.