Mullum Mullum Creek Trail

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Posted 2019-04-20 by Neil Follett ⇒ follow

As the name suggests, this trail follows the Mullum Mullum Creek in Ringwood. Just under 6 kms in length, it is compacted gravel, but sealed concrete or asphalt between Oban Road and Highland Avenue.

I chose to walk the trail in two stages, starting at the Peter Vergers Reserve on Maroondah Highway, near Oban Road. This reserve has a large off-road car park and toilets to begin your walk in comfort.

Peter Vergers Reserve to Highland Avenue. 1.7 kms.

A bridge across the creek then gives you the choice of left or right.

First off, I chose the right walk to Highland Avenue which turned out to be a very pleasant and easy walk of 1.7 kms.

A third of the way the trail crosses Kalinda Road. I mention this as if you have children with you, on foot or bike, they always want to be ahead of mum and dad.

There are warning signs at the road crossing.

Crossing Kalinda Road there is a path on both sides of the creek. Take the left one as the right one soon ends at the small Douglas Maggs Reserve, which has a small playground.

Along the trail are numerous bench seats to rest or take in the ambience. Like all good suburban trails access is provided at many locations, a bonus for local residents.

Even though houses back onto the creek on both sides, they are often hidden by magnificent stands a of gum trees.

Peter Vergers Reserve to Suda Avenue. 2.7 kms.

Early into your walk Oban Road is reached. It is a very busy road so caution should be exercised if you have children with you. Once you reach Oban Road, you have the choice of walking on either side of the creek.

My suggestion is to walk on the south side going and the north side returning. Both trails are rewarding.

The south side is more popular, judging by the 'traffic' encountered, being wide and flat. The 'traffic' being casual strollers, joggers, dogs and cyclists.

This side should not present any problems for wheelchairs if they can navigate gravel paths.

The north side trail is narrower and quite undulating in parts and often meanders away from the creek itself, opening up to wide grassy areas.

This path is more interesting if exercise is not your prime purpose. It could be called an interpretive trail as at frequents intervals many small signs detail the customs of the original indigenous habitats of the area.

Unfortunately, almost every sign has been vandalised by graffiti.
From Suda Avenue, the trail continues onto the Ringwood bypass.

The Mullum Mullum Trail would be the most enjoyable suburban trail that I have walked. Although suburbia has encroached on both sides the trail is quite wide in places, negating the feeling of being in the suburbs.

On all my walks I always look for bird life. On the walk to Highland Avenue, I saw none. On the Suda avenue walk, I was rewarded.

Apart from ducks, I saw several crimson rosellas, several cockatoos and a lone cormorant. Kookaburras were heard but nor seen. An unusual daylight sighting was a fox lying very low in a scrub area.