This blog gives an overview of our activities during the week; see also our Facebook page (link below)
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Our Week Away for 2026 started on Tuesday evening, with a gathering in the camp kitchen at the Healesville Caravan Park, where an excellent briefing on the week’s agenda was given by Jeanette and Michael.
The next day (April 29) the thirty of us headed off on the Maroondah Highway to Fernshaw and Dom Dom Saddle, where a selection of walks were starting off from.
We had easy, medium, hard, short and long walks to choose from, as well as loops, and there-and-back walks.
With all of these choices, the walks were excellent, and we enjoyed the lush forest that typifies this part of Victoria.
At night time we gathered in the camp kitchen to swap notes on the day’s walk, gossip and get a briefing on the next day’s activities.
Day 2
Day two of our Yarra Valley adventure was focused on the Kinglake area, with a wide variety of walks on offer.
These wonderful walks were preceded by a scenic drive to the northern part of the ranges, via the village of Toolangi.
Once at Kinglake, we proceeded to the west of the village, and enjoyed a full day of walks in this area.
Day 3
Day 3 was based in the environs of Maroondah Reservoir, with the usual selection of walks on offer.
For example, the “medium” group headed off to Donnelly’s Weir for morning tea, then returned to the Reservoir parklands via Henderson’s Hill (great views of Mount Donna Buang, the Reservoir and Healesville township).
Part of the route followed the Donnelly’s Creek aqueduct, and so the group had a good mix of walking environments.
After about 8.5km of chatting and walking, lunch was enjoyed at one of the picnic areas of the parklands of the Reservoir, and then a shorter walk (to Mount St Leonard) was tackled by the “hard” group in the afternoon.
Day 4
Day 4 was spent in the Warburton area, a very scenic venue at this time of the year (autumn colours) and a very busy venue with visitors for that reason.
However, we still managed to get our array of walks in progress, mostly following the upper reaches of the Yarra River (which runs through the township) and out at Mount Donna Buang.
Donna Buang is one of the favourite venues for “peak baggers” in the Yarra Valley, and a popular cross-country ski area in the winter.
We also admired the tall timber of the region, and enjoyed a section of the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail.
Day 5 was predicted to be dominated by heavy rain, so it was declared a day of “do-your-own-thing”, but take care.
Items on the agenda included a visit to the C J Dennis Singing Gardens at Toolangi, mixing with cafe society at Warburton, browsing the shops in Healesville, and visiting that wicked place called the Chocolaterie at Yarra Glen.
Happy Hour convened, as normal, at the Camp Kitchen, and this included line dancing (organised by Erin) and a very enjoyable sing-a-long organised by Andy and Rod – who played ukeleles in the background.
Day 6 was spent in the Toolangi area, with a variety of walks being held in the Wirrawilla Area, to the north-east of the township.
The forests in this area are very lush, and full of wildlife, and prosperous vegetation. Fallen trees were a problem in several sections, but a great day was enjoyed by all.
In the village, several of us tackled the Yea River walk, but found the lack of signage very annoying. Similarly, the Sculpture Trail appears to be no longer maintained.
At night time we all gathered at the Healesville Hotel for dinner, and celebrated a beautiful week of walks, and socialising.
Many Thanks to Jeanette and Michael for organising the walks program for the week, and to Cheryl and her team for their great efforts in the Camp Kitchen, and overall organisation of the week away.
[Chris M]