Race #2 @ Plenty Gorge
Spectator information
The Plenty Gorge Bushland Reserve is an often overlooked wilderness area on the outskirts of Melbourne. Located just past Bundoora, this Reserve provides a breath of fresh air to the inner north east of the city and will surprise and delight you with its natural features.
Watching the runners
Unfortunately (for spectators) the runners do not come past the start / finish area during their races as they do a complete loop to the south of the Yellow Gum picnic area, so unless you walk along the trails yourself (which is pretty easy to do) spectators will not see the runners until they finish.
But watching the finish will be quite worthwhile, particularly 500m back from the finish line as they will be struggling up quite a steep uphill pinch in the trail that will really sap the last of the powers. I’m sure any encouragement spectators can provide will be most welcome.
Otherwise, the Yellow Gum picnic area, adjacent Blue Lake and greater Plenty Gorge Bushland Reserve has plenty of things to see and do as the footage and details below illustrates. We are sure you will enjoy it.
About Plenty Gorge
The Plenty River originates near Kinglake and the Great Dividing Range near Wallan, then flows across the flatter areas near Whittelsea but carves a deep channel as it approaches the city outskirts at Plenty. The Plenty Gorge cuts a twisting path through the earth with a steep sided valley walls, lush eucalypt forest and natural rock formations to create a serene Australian landscape.
The start and finish of the race #2 at Yellow Gum park is located immediately adjacent the remarkable Blue Lake, named so because of the beautiful colours of the water owing to the mineral contents. The lake is also a popular swimming spot on hot days so if the temperatures are up then bring your swimmers for a terrific post race cool off. Or if you’d rather keep your feet dry then you can throw a line in to the lake for a spot of fishing – another popular activity in the Reserve.
The parkland is a home to all your most popular Australian fauna with kangaroos being the most prevalent, almost always seen nibbling on the grass in the clearings dotted throughout the park. Add to that plenty of echidnas, koalas, frogs, possums, skinks and a whole range of birds like ranging from cockies, galahs, wood ducks, grebes, swans to the huge Wedge-tailed Eagles and you’ll enjoy seeing the wild life almost as much as they will enjoy seeing you.
So bring a picnic or a BBQ pack with you and spend the afternoon enjoying a local regional park you’ve probably never been to before that’s on your very own doorstep.
Click these links go to the Parks Victoria page on Plenty Gorge Bushland Reserve and the Yellow Gum park.