Patterson River - February 2019

It was getting pretty late in the day by the time Sam and I got home from this walk.

With our long, hot summer dragging on I’m struggling a little on the really hot days to find somewhere that is both safe and comfortable to walk. Today the temperature topped out in the mid 30˚s and with numerous fires burning around the state my walking choices were again a little limited. So to cut a long story short I settled on this short walk around the Patterson River. I have to fess up about something now, yes this walk basically starts from my back door. I think I’m pretty lucky to live here so this is a look at my back yard... so to speak.

Looking up the Patterson River to where Dandenong Creek enters under the bridge. Chateau Feral is only a couple of minutes from here.

This circuit is a bit of a ‘get fit’ type of circuit for the locals and every year there is a fun run around the shared path here as well. At the moment parts of the normal circuit are actually closed due to the Victorian governments level crossing removal project so I had to modify things a little, maybe I’ll write it up again when the complete walk re opens…we’ll see. Leaving home at 7pm is fairly late for a walk but Sam and I were going to grab something to eat down in Carrum so we couldn’t go too early, and besides the sunset should help my photos a bit, well that was the theory anyway. After climbing up onto the levy bank that lines the Patterson River along here, we turned left and headed off on out clockwise circuit.

There is generally a fair bit of bird life around here.

Looking down the Patterson River towards Port Phillip Bay. Dandenong Creek is flowing into the river in the bottom of the photo. This rocky bar is where the fresh water flows into the salt and is also the start of the Patterson River.

This whole area use to be part of the large Carrum Carrum Swamp until it was dredged in the 1970’s. The dredgers dug out a series of man made lakes which are now known as Patterson Lakes as well as creating the tidal Patterson River. After walking for a few hundred metres we crossed over the river at the spot where the Dandenong Creek becomes the Patterson River, being in the midst of a dry summer there was very little water flowing out of Dandenong Creek this afternoon, but this rocky choke is an amazing sight after good rainfall. The outlet of Dandenong Creek is generally a fairly reliable spot to check out Pelicans and today was no different and we were able to enjoy three Pelicans practising their synchronised swimming.

The Pelicans put on a synchronised swimming show for us.

Too funny...!

After crossing the river Sam and I headed off down the south bank towards Port Phillip Bay. The south side of the river is home to the flash marinas that Patterson Lakes is known for and the walking track is probably the best spot to sneak a peak into these gated communities. It was hot work walking down here today though, as even though the path is as close to level as you can get there isn’t a lot of shade and we now found ourselves walking directly into the low afternoon sun. After passing the busiest boat ramp on Port Phillip Bay we arrived at the spot that we had to leave the river due to the level crossing removal program, meandering our way through the back streets of Carrum on our way to the café the scenery wasn’t quite as nice unfortunately.

It was still a baking hot evening.

Sneaking a peak at some of the flash houses at Patterson Lakes.

Late afternoon on the Patterson River.

This is the busiest boat ramp on Port Phillip Bay. In the Snapper season the 4wd's are cued up for 100's of metres waiting to put their boats in.

With our dinner finished Sam and I started to head for home. The sun now was just dipping into the still water of Port Phillip Bay in the west, so we were going to struggle to make it home before dark. Walking here in the dark wasn’t going to be a real issue though as the paths are all pretty good, so we took the time to cross the Nepean Highway and watch the last of the sun set from the bridge over the Patterson River. With the sun down we crossed back over the highway and headed through some quiet back streets until we could jump back onto the Patterson River path.

Sunset at the mouth of the Patterson River..... as the sun sets into Port Phillip Bay.

Our walk was modified a bit tonight due to the level crossing removal work going on....

....which meant we had to walk some quiet back streets....

....before we arrived back on the river bank again.

Once back on the levee bank we just had to follow the crushed granite path west until we arrived home. Walking along here in the balmy evening air we were pretty happy to be living in this special place. With night quickly overtaking the twilight I was now struggling to take photos a little, not that it mattered much as home was now in view and our nice easy walk was over.

The boat ramps were still pretty busy on this warm night.

Today hot been hot and tomorrow the temperature would push into the high 30˚ again.

A lot of locals use this as a get fit circuit.

The Dirt.
We walked 6.6 kilometres and climbed 11 metres (that’s not a typo) on this easy stroll. Sam and I ate at Burgled on this walk, we’ve eaten at this burger place a couple of times before and they make a nice burger. Tyrone Thomas has actually published notes to this walk in his 40 Bushland & Park Walks In Metropolitan Melbourne book. This walk is best done in the warmer weather when a swim down at Carrum Beach would be a great addition to the day. As I mentioned earlier there is a fair length section of this walk that is closed currently due to the level crossing removal program. When the walk is eventually opened again with new access and exit ramps at the Port Phillip Bay end of the river, it looks like the walk will be even better.

Relevant Posts.
Mordialloc Creek, 2015.
Mordialloc & Carrum, 2017.
Mornington to Frankston, 2014.

Five minutes from home now and it's officially dark.

Sam and I had dinner at Burgled.

We're not talking 3 Chef Hats here, more your cheap and cheerful (and tasty).