Fitness enthusiasts, nature lovers and locals in Melbourne’s north will soon enjoy more ways to get into nature at Plenty Gorge Park, with works to build the new Plenty River Trail starting this month.

The new Plenty River Trail, on Wurundjeri Country, will travel from Doreen to University Hill, helping to connect communities located in the north and south of the park. It will be shared-use for pedestrians and cyclists.

Five new lookouts will be built to offer spectacular views of the area, and two new bridges will provide additional river crossings for visitors to explore more of this beautiful bushland. The existing Maroondah Aqueduct Pipe Bridge will also be refurbished.

The trail is being built in stages, with the first stage delivering a section of trail, the Hawkstowe section, that will journey through the Hawkstowe Picnic Area. The picnic area will also receive a new accessible toilet, new play spaces and improved pathways and access.

When complete, the trail will provide new connections to Hawkstowe Station and Mernda Station, providing more ways for locals to access public transport options in the area.

The final trail designs have been informed by consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owners, the local community, local councils and stakeholders.

The $19.3 million Plenty River Trail project is being delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s $315 million Suburban Parks Program, which is creating 6,500 hectares of new and upgraded accessible green open space, to support growing communities across Melbourne.

The Victorian Government has also invested $850,000 as part of the Urban Parks Active Wellbeing Program, and a further $800,000 as part of the Plenty Gorge Park Master Plan development, to deliver the upgrades at Hawkstowe Picnic Area.

Plenty Gorge Regional Park offers a wide range of natural and cultural experiences only 20km from Melbourne, where visitors can enjoy diverse landscapes and stunning views of the gorge, historical sites and abundant opportunities for bird and wildlife watching.

Subject to on-ground and construction industry conditions, works on the Hawkstowe section are expected to be completed by mid 2024.

For more information about the project, visit the Plenty Gorge Park upgrades page.