Royal Park Billabong Preview

Welcome! Here a few how-to hints to help you use this tour.

Map

The map provides you with a bird's eye view of the tour, including the location of the next Stop.

Press the Map icon to display the map, and navigate around the map by swiping and pinching. Each Stop has a designated number.

If your device has GPS signal you can locate yourself via the GPS symbol on the map.

Images

Each Stop is accompanied by photographs and images which will help to familiarise you with key features at each location. Swipe the images to see more.

List

Press the List icon to display a full list of Stops for this tour.

WALKING SAFELY

Please prepare for this tour by wearing appropriate clothing for variable weather conditions, as well as comfortable walking shoes.

Take care when crossing roads, and keep an eye out for cyclists.

Public toilets are available on Flemington Road near North Park Tennis Club (near tram stop 20 towards Elliot Avenue).

Flemington Road picnic table

Meet at the picnic table then walk north away from the road into the park.

Welcome to the Royal Park Billabong walk.

Today we will explore a hidden water hole in Royal Park.

The rise

As you come over the rise this your first view.

The billabong was created to contain run-off from the park. Designed by Brian Stafford and built by Gordon Ford in the early 1990s. Due to a cloudburst as it was finished it filled in half an hour.

The current billabong was reopened in late 2018 with improved water flow and overgrown areas cleared.

The slope

The traffic noise is muted and a lovely grassed area is available for relaxing or for children to run around. Whilst relaxing on the grassed bank you can look across the park. You can watch the birds and listen to the frogs. Eastern froglets are to be found here.

The boulders

As you walk to the north end you will see the giant granite boulders which were sourced from Tooberac (in northern Victoria). Some are a metre high and 2 metres across. The creation of the billabong was to give this area a more Australian identity reminding us of the geological origins of this ancient land as one of the natural features in the Australian bush landscape.

During the 2018 renewal a long search ensured matching granite boulders were found.

Join the path

At the top end of the billabong, towards the tennis club, you will find a shared path leading up from Flemington Road. Turn right.

As you face the tennis club, turn right and walk up the path.

Amenities

Up the path to the right are some amenities

There is a drinking fountain for people and pets, plus a BBQ area not far away. There is a seat and lots of room for a picnic!

Up the path

Continue walking up the path into the trees

Walking up the path provides lovely views across the park.

Though close to a busy road it is still peaceful.

Lots of lovely spots for a picnic or just to sit.

The trees

Continue northwards up the path

Further along the path we come to several magnificent large trees.

They are Sugar Gums, Eucalyptus cladocalx.

They are probably over 150 years old!

After walking past them stop and turn around. Looking back the trees are just breathtaking.

The plantings

Beside the path

Tucked beside the path are plantings of grasses and wildflowers.

Stop to see the insects making good use of the plantings.

The tram

Continue to the tram track

Here we are at the Route 58 tram line, the last stop of this walking tour.

You may return to the billabong the way you came to view a different perspective.

Or turn left to Elliot Avenue and the tram stop and the zoo.

Or go straight ahead to explore more of Royal Park.

Or turn right for a longer loop back to Flemington Road.

We hope you enjoyed this short tour of the Billabong - a hidden Royal Park feature.

You may enjoy the other Royal Park walks curated by Royal Park Protection Group in this app.