“Marvellous Melbourne” Midsumma Walk

Grade | Length | Type: Easy, 12km point-to-point walk with public transport.  There are many moderate inclines and several short steep climbs.

Meeting Point | Time: Hawthorn Railway Station, outside platform 1 (city bound side) at 10:30am.
Public Transport Options:

Tram route #75 to stop 26 (12 minute service in either direction on Saturdays).

Any train on the Belgrave or Lilydale lines that arrives by 10:30am.  Use PTV Journey Planner to plan your journey.

Map Reference: Melway map 45 grid A10.
Distance | Time from GPO: 9km, 20 minutes by train.  Allow 25 minutes by car.

Food: Bring lunch and 1 litre of water. There are no shops en route but there will be opportunities for coffee along the way.

Apparel | Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes suitable for hard pavement.  Dress to suit a summer period weather forecast.  Something dry to sit on may be appropriate.

Activity Description: This urban walk is an opportunity to appreciate both houses and gardens from an era referred to as “Marvellous Melbourne”.  The walk starts at the area of the former Palmer Estate and tracks around Yarra St, Isabella, Shakespeare and Coppin Groves to reach the Yarra at Bridge Rd.  Following the Boulevard around to Swan St, the next attraction is the seldom visited gardens of the Melbourne School of Land and Environment, Burnley Campus.  Next, the route is across the Yarra River to Heyington and Toorak, where contemporary wealth is displayed in the houses of Lansell Rd and St Georges Rd.  Alexandra Ave offers some glimpses of classic houses, but it will be a relief to escape from the traffic into the Botanic Gardens and through the Domain to Princes Bridge.
Further Information: “120 Walks in Victoria” by Tyrone Thomas (Seventh edition, 2006).