YarraRangesNationalPark
O’ShannassyAqueductTrail
NestledabovetheflooroftheUpperYarraValley,theO’ShannassyAqueductTrailfollowsthehistoricopenchannelledO’ShannassyAqueduct,meanderingthroughpristineforestthathasbeenprotectedfornearly100yearsforwaterharvesting.Thetrailstretches
30kilometresthroughmatureferngullies,creeksandplantationsandoffersspectacularviewsofthevalleybelow.
Havefun,feelgreatandspendtimewithfamilyandfriendswhileexploringtheaqueducttrailbybike
Theaqueducttrailoffersanexcellentopportunityto relaxinapeacefulenvironmentwhileenjoyingawalk,ridingyourbikeorstudyingnature. Therearefantasticpicnic,sightseeingandphotoopportunitiesavailable. Bringyourbinocularsandcameraandtakeadvantageofthefantasticbirdwatchingopportunities.
Planning your walk
TheO’ShannassyAqueductTrailextendsfromParrot RoadnearWooriYallocktotheO'Shannassy Weirin EastWarburton.
Thetrailprovidesforshort,mediumandlongdistancewalksandrideswithseveralaccesspointsavailable. Thethreemetrewidehardsurfaceissharedby walkersandbikeriders.
Fora longerhike,thetrailcanbelinkedtothepopularWarburtonRailTrailatseverallocations.
Mostofthetrailisgentleandisidealforthewholefamilyandpeopleoflimitedexperienceormobility. Therearesomesteepsections,includingaccessfromthevalleyfloor,thataremorechallengingand moderatefitnessisrequired.Individualsshouldtakecareandadheretoadvisorysignage.
Organisingcarshufflescanbeausefulwayto maximiseyourwalkingexperience.
BeSafe,BePrepared
Beforeyouput onyourwalkingbootstoexplorethisoutstandingtrail,planahead.Knowyourentryandexitpoints.
Beself-sufficientwithdrinkingwaterCarryenoughfoodforyourwalk
Onlongerwalkscarrywarmandwetweatherclothing,justin case
Ahatandsunscreenareessential Alwayswearsturdyfootwear
Planyourwalkandensureyou returnfrom
walkingwellbeforedusk
Dependingonyourcarrier,mobilephone coveragemaybelimitedinsomeareasalong thetrail
Bealert!Snakes,leechesandwaspsarealla partofthebushenvironment
Supervisechildrenatalltimes
Avoidwalkingondaysofhighfiredanger
Be fire ready and stay safe
On days of forecast Code Red Fire Danger thispark will be closed for public safety.
Ifyouarealreadyintheparkyoushouldleavethenightbeforeorearlyinthemorningforyourown safety.
Closuresignswillbeerectedandrangerswillpatrol wherepossible,howeveryoumaynotreceivea personalwarningthattheparkisclosedsocheckby calling131963 orvisit
ForuptodateinformationonfiresinVictoriaorgeneralfiresafetyadvicecallthe VictorianBushfire Information Line on 1800240 667orvisit.
For further information CallParksVictoriaon131963orvisit
YarraValleyVisitorInformationCentreTheOldCourthouse
HarkerStreetHealesville3777
Tel:(03)59622600
Caring for theenvironment Helpuslookafteryourparkbyfollowingtheseguidelines:
Pleasetakerubbishwithyoufor
recyclinganddisposal
Allnativeplantsandanimalsareprotectedbylaw.Pleasedonotdisturbtheminanyway
Keeptotracksforyourownsafetyandtoprotectsoilsandvegetation
Theaqueducthaswheelchairstandardaccesstomostareas
FiresarenotpermittedalongtheO’ShannassyAqueductTrail.O’ShannassyAqueductTrailisintheCentral,NorthCentralandNorthEastTotalFireBan
Districts.
A rich heritage
Theforestssurroundingtheweirhavebeenmanagedforwaterharvestingfornearly100years,providingan invaluablewatersourceandcontributingtothesupplyofapproximately50%ofMelbourne’swater.
Initsprime,thegravityfedO’ShannassyAqueductdelivered90millionlitresaday totheSurreyHills Reservoir.ThedevelopmentoftheYarra-Silvanconduitsintheearly1950sreducedtherequirementfortheaqueduct.
Followingitscompletionin1914,theaqueduct experiencedseveralfailures,twoofwhichoccurredbetweenDeeRoad,MillgroveandYuongaRoad, Warburton.TheconstructionofanopensteelflumesectionofchannelandthepicturesqueDeeSlipBridgeremaintodayandserveasastrongreminderofthechallengestheaqueductfaced.
In1997,thechannelandsurroundingareawasdecommissionedbyMelbourneWaterandbestowedtoParksVictoriain2005forinclusionintotheYarra RangesNationalPark.
Plantsandanimals
ThenaturalforestofMountainAsh,Treefernsand cooltemperaterainforestsurroundingtheaqueduct providesahavenformanynativeanimals.AkeeneyeandearwilldiscoverKookaburras,EasternRosellas,Lyrebirds,SuperbFairy-wrens,magnificentYellow- tailedBlackCockatoos,WallabiesandEchidnas.
Priorto2009,80percentoftheO’Shannassycatchmentwas‘oldgrowth’withmanyMountainAsh treesover100 yearsold.Around93percentofthis areawasburntduringthedevastatingBlackSaturday firesofFebruary2009.Althoughtheforesthasbeen transformedintoyoungstands,itcontinuestodelivervaluablewatertoourreservoirsystem.
SuperbFairy-wrensarefrequentlyseenforagingalongtheedgeofthetrail
Furtherafield
Whileyouarehere,takesometimetoexplorethescenicwondersandcultureoftheYarraValley.
ThetownshipofWarburton is one of Melbourne’s mostrecognisedruraldestinationsandshouldnotbemissed.Callinforsuppliesandexplorethemanycafés,restaurants,shopsandlandmarks.
Enjoythe RainforestWalkonthesouthern slopesof MountDonnaBuangwithitsspectacularobservation platform.
Forthemoreadventurous,taketheMtVictoriatrail linktothesummitofMountDonna Buangwith exceptionalviewsofthenationalpark,AlpsandthecityofMelbournefromtheobservationtower.
UpperYarra ReservoirParkis locatedattheuppermostpointoftheYarraRiveraccessibletothepublic.Picnicfacilitiesandcampinggroundsamid eucalyptbushlandandspectacularscenerymakea visithereamemorableexperience.
DiscoverVictoria’sgold miningheritage-LocatedbetweenEastWarburtonandUpperYarraReservoirPark,theLittlePeninsulaandBigPeninsulaTunnels highlightthearea’srichgoldminingheritage.
Accommodation
Pre-bookyouraccommodation.Thepopularcamping groundatUpperYarraReservoirParkcanbeusedasa baseforextendedvisitstotheYarraRangesNational Parkandthewiderregion.Awiderangeof accommodationisavailableinnearbytownsalongtheWarburtonHighway.
Campingisnotpermittedalongtheaqueduct.
Howto getthere
ThestartoftheO’ShannassyAqueductTrailisaround 70kilometresfromMelbourne.FollowtheMaroondahHighwaythroughLilydaleandturnontotheWarburtonHighway.FromLilydaletravel25minutes toWooriYallock,turnlefttowardsHealesvilleontheKooweerup-HealesvilleRoadfor5minutes,turnrightintoDalryRoadthenleft ontoMcMahonsRoadto ParrotRoad.
IfyouareonfootorbicycleyoucantaketheLilydaleWarburtonRailTrailfromLilydaletoWooriYallock. Alternativelycar parkingisavailableatEwartsRoadvia DonRoadatLaunching Place,DeeRoadatMillgroveorYuongaRoadviatheDoonaBuangRoadfromWarburton.
June2013
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