Be Bushfire Smart

• The clear light and peace and silence of the bush have always been a source of inspiration to artists, writers and people who wish to contemplate nature.
• Picnicking, bushwalking, swimming, bird-watching, fishing, exploring forgotten goldfields, nature walks and photography are popular.
• So is canoeing on the Yarra River, but sufficient time must be allowed for this activity - the journey by canoe from the canoe access ramp at Wittons Reserve (Mount Lofty) to Jumping Creek Reserve is about six hours.
• Horse riding is permitted along designated trails, and gold panning is allowed in Andersons Creek.
• Abseiling and rock climbing are permitted at Whipstick Gully Quarry by arrangement with the senior ranger.
• At Pound Bend it is possible to see the tunnel which was dug to divert the river and enable the exposed river bed to be dredged for gold.

Warrandyte State Park Mine Safety Works

• Pound Bend: Picnic tables, seats, interpretive signs, toilets, canoe ramp and Riverside walking track.
• Jumping Creek (and Stane Brae): Sandy Bay is the main picnic area, although there are a few smaller secluded picnic sites. Facilities include walking tracks, picnic facilities, wood barbecues, toilets, an interpretive self-guided trail and canoe access.
• Whipstick Gully: Ample parking, picnic tables and seats, interpretive shelter and a number of information panels which recreate the gold mining scenes.

Settlement by Europeans was slow but the discovery of gold at Andersons Creek in July 1851 changed that. The first gold licences in Victoria were issued by August that year. At the turn of the century, Anderson's Creek, now known as Warrandyte, employed about 250 miners. For more information about Warrandyte heritage visit the Warrandyte Historical Society website.

Warrandyte State Park was declared in 1975 because of its outstanding natural and cultural values. Some sections, including Stane Brae and Yarra Brae, were later added because of their conservation value. In 1997, Mount Lofty was added.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners

Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria

The wildlife, so diverse on the fringe of such a big city, includes kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, platypus and koalas. Over 100 bird species have been recorded as well as many reptiles, frogs, fish and insects.

Trees in the area were almost totally cleared during the mining days in the early part of the century - most of the bush seen today has regrown since then. Smooth-barked Manna Gums and Silver Wattles line the Yarra River, while an assortmant of Box Eucalypts and other Wattles cover the hills. Much of the hilly area is characterised by open, forested country, with an understorey of native grasses, creepers, orchids and other wildflowers.

• No dogs, cats or firearms.
• Fires to be lit only in fireplaces provided.
• Horse riding only on designated tracks.
• No digging for worms on the river bank.

• Keep to walking tracks, as many partly hidden mine shafts dot the hills.
• Tracks in Whipstick Gully can be steep and slippery in wet weather. Historic gold sites are protected.

Jumping Creek Reserve: through Warrandyte, turn left into Jumping Creek Road (Melway ref: 24 A11).

Black Flat: through Warrandyte, turn into Tills Drive (Melway ref: 23 J10).

Yarra Brae (and Clifford Park): through Warrandyte, turn into Clifford Drive (Melway ref: 24 J6), or take Jumping Creek Road and Reserve Road to Wittons Reserve (Melway ref: 24 K6).

Roads out of Warrandyte lead to Whipstick Gully, Fourth Hill and the gold memorial.

Pound Bend Reserve is on Pound Bend Road (Melway ref: 23 A11)

Park opening hours are 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, extended to 8:00 PM during daylight savings period.

Pound Bend and Jumping Creek

• Candlebark Park
• Longridge Park Camp
• Nioka Bush Camp
• Westerfolds Park