Bunny Hop Circuit - 12 Kms

 U3A Hike No. 249





INTERACTIVE MAP OF THIS VIA THE LINKS AFTER THE PHOTOS


Hike Report by Anne 

Eight hardy walkers set out to walk the Bunny Hop rail walk, despite dire predictions of wind and rain. We walked along the Canadian Creek trail from Valley Drive towards Ballarat, passing Canadian Lakes and then diverting to Lake Esmond. We met a lone swimmer in the lake, who turned out to be Denise, a former member of our hiking group and regular daily swimmer in Lake Esmond. We couldn’t resist a spin on the flying foxes and some of us took advantage of the handy toilet facilities.

From the top of Lake Esmond, we found our way to the corner of York and Rodier Streets, where Andrew pointed out the site of the former York St Station. Housing had replaced the railway line, where it once descended from Eureka Station to this point. Between Wilson and Spencer Streets, we walked a remnant section of the railway embankment where Levy Station once stood. On crossing Spencer Street, we lost sight of the Bunny line. It had been replaced by housing and an industrial estate. 

In Butt St, we stopped and gazed across the industrial estate towards where the Canadian Station once stood. Apparently this was once a serious station, serving industries such as a sawmill and starch mill, and during WWII, an aviation fuel depot. It was also the station for accessing the rifle range, which was much used by troops during both world wars. Around the corner, we saw the old railway water tank, once used by trains at the station.

With the Bunny line now out of sight on private property, we walked along Katy Ryans Road and a few tracks east of the Canadian & Sailors Gully housing estates. Occasionally we would see a tantalising glimpse of a former railway embankment, then it would disappear into someone’s driveway.  We came to the newly opened 300m section of the Bunny Trail at Mt Clear. The Friends of Canadian Corridor (and partners) have helped get this section back into public ownership, with working bees on the track and a newly constructed bridge right alongside the original 1889 wooden bridge. What a great effort by all of the volunteers and organisations involved!

This was the turning back point of our Bunny Hop walk. We walked down Recreation Road and followed the Canadian Creek Trail back to Valley Drive. Everyone stopped for a cuppa on the back porch of Andrew’s house and the threatened rain started shortly after we all left. What great timing, and a fitting end to a very interesting 12km walk.

Photos by Mark B


















LINKS




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