Date Of Walk: 06/12/2008
Length (km): 1.8 km (according to MapMyWalk.com)
Time (hrs/mins): 20 mins
Grade: Easy
Return / Circuit / One-Way / Partial Circuit: Partial Circuit
Region: Melbourne
Park: Plenty Gorge (Hawkstowe Park)
Closest Town: South Morang
Ascent: 28m (according to MapMyWalk.com)
Maximum Height: 156m (according to MapMyWalk.com)
Map: Highlighted extract from ParkWeb Park Note (Hawkstowe Park)
Further Details / Source(s): ParkWeb Park Note: Hawkstowe Park & Plenty Gorge Park – Visitor Guide
Getting There: Access is via Plenty Road. Turn right onto Gordons Road and then left into the park (there should be a sign to the Red Gum Picnic Area.
Comments: This park is very open and not the most natural of settings. I wanted to check out the lakes and I’m glad I did because I saw some interesting birds and recorded some cool animal sounds but I wouldn’t recommend doing it if you’re looking for a ‘bushwalk’.
I knew the walk to the lakes would be short if I drove right up to the Homestead so that’s why I decided to park at the Red Gum picnic area and walk from there. There was another, longer track that seemed to extend from the lakes (Wonga Track or something similar?) but I decided not to follow it as it wasn’t on any of my maps.
Update: Trent has commented below, after exploring this area a bit further and finding some more tracks and interesting sites. Make sure you check out what he has to say if you’re thinking of visiting Hawkstowe Park.
my kids really want to see kangaroos. so we might try this. i am really enjoying this blog. it is fabulous! exactly what we need. easy for me to search for walks in a short driving distance from home.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Shellie! So glad you’re finding it useful! 🙂
Cheers
Neil
I did this walk today and found it quite interesting, if you do a bit more exploring than you mentioned above you will find that you can spend a good couple of hours on a circuitous route around Hawkstowe/Plenty Gorge. And this was without visiting the marvellous looking Le Page homestead. If you follow the Ridge track (to the left) just beyond the Redgum picnic spot instead of the Morang track it goes past an old quarry, and one may find the area much more remote and interesting than (I at least) expected. There are hundreds of roos, and the presence of wombats. On the north end of the park beyond the boundary fence are the remains of an old homestead, windmills, garden and livestock yards. There is also access to the Plenty River. I would rate this walk up there with(if not above)the Gellibrand Hill walk!!
Thanks for the info Trent. I've updated the post to mention your comments and will explore the park a bit further myself if I get a chance.
Cheers
Neil