The Great Darebin Creek Expedition - 14 km - Latrobe Uni/Abbotsford Convent

The Great Darebin Creek Expedition
Eat Drink Dance Melbourne — Singles Only

Saturday 5 September
Start: 1:00 pm sharp (arrive 12:45 pm)
Distance: ~14 km
Duration:~ 3.5 hours
From: Latrobe university
To: Abbotsford convent Collingwood
Tone: Social, energetic, lightly cheeky
Age Range: About 35+
Max 20 people

🌿 Event Description — The Great Darebin Creek Expedition
Welcome to The Great Darebin Creek Expedition, a 14 km, 3.5‑hour singles‑only urban adventure for people who enjoy good company, long trails, and the occasional snack stop that feels like a reward for being an adult who goes outside.

Disclaimer: I've not done this walk before so this will be exploratory for the organiser

Please note: This event is waitlisted I will not be releasing the meetings point at Latrobe Uni until the day before.
I want a balanced gender mix, i.e even numbers of girls and guys. I have a creep code operating and event expectations around no shows, read on for how all this works..

We step off at 1 pm sharp — not “Melbourne sharp”, not “I’m just grabbing a coffee” sharp, but actual sharp.
Please arrive by 12:45 pm, because we won’t be waiting for latecomers.
If you appear at 1:01 pm, you will witness a group of motivated humans already disappearing down the trail like a well‑organised migration.

🥾 What makes this walk great?

• A proper 14 km expedition — long enough to feel like an achievement, short enough to still get dinner afterwards.
• Darebin Creek’s green corridor — wetlands, bridges, winding bushland, and the occasional wildlife cameo.
• Urban transitions — from La Trobe’s leafy edges through Alphington and Fairfield into Yarra Bend Park.
• Rest + snack stops — strategic pauses to reset legs, chat, and refuel.
• A satisfying finish — ending at the Abbotsford Convent feels like completing a scenic quest.

🔒 Meeting point policy
Due to previous incidents of unregistered people bypassing waitlists and showing up unannounced, the exact meeting point will ONLY be sent to confirmed attendees.

You’ll receive a message from the organiser the day before with the precise location.
If you don’t receive it, you’re not on the list — simple as that.

🎯 Who this walk is for

• People who enjoy long urban walks
• People who like social, low‑pressure group activities
• People who appreciate nature, humour, and mild chaos
• People who prefer IRL socialising over apps
• People who can commit to being on time

🧭 Route vibe
We follow the Darebin Creek Trail south, weaving through bushland, bridges, quiet pockets of suburbia, and the lush approach to Yarra Bend Park. Expect variety, scenery, and plenty of opportunities to chat with different people along the way.

🧣 What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Snacks + water
Winter layers
A playful, open attitude
Curiosity for strangers who might not stay strangers

⚠️ Group Rules & Event Etiquette ⚠️
These are basic, commonsense standards that keep events safe, smooth, and enjoyable for everyone.

💘 Flirtation Guidelines
This is a social event, not a pressure cooker.Don’t be pushy about phone numbers — let the moment offer itself
Don't send unsolicited messages, get in person permission first
If the vibe is mutual, go for it
Become a regular — I’ll be testing this format over 3–4 events
You’ll likely see the same lovely humans again at future singles nights/events or Eat Drink Dance “open” events

The goal is to build a small, recurring ecosystem where people feel comfortable, familiar, and relaxed enough to be themselves.

👟 Fitness Requirements
Walking: 3–4 km/hr. Moderate fitness. enough to walk 15 km with limited stops

We walk at a relaxed pace. Please ensure you meet the fitness level for the event. If the group is forced to wait excessively, you may be asked to leave the event.

⛹️ Pace: Too Fast or Too Slow
Small social events rely on staying together. If you prefer a very different pace, consider going solo, joining a faster/slower group, or choosing events that match your fitness.

👩‍💼 Time Constraints
If you’re on a tight schedule, this may not be the right event. Social activities rarely run exactly on time.

👥Waitlist & Gender Ratios
To keep things balanced and comfortable:
Event capped at 12 people to test interest, if my star signs are in favour I may increase this to 20

Generally guys admitted only after a woman registers (to maintain ratios) at my discretion.

Female Privilege: New Idea
There is usually a waitlist of men. The first female that discretely messages the organiser gets first dibs on any guy that is on the waitlist to have him included. Assuming this occurs within 12 hours of being put into the going list. Otherwise the organiser chooses.

Women can be a little flaky (we love them anyway), so I may accept 1–2 extra

🧭The Creep Code
A refined social compass keeps the vibe safe, fun, and drama‑free.
So: No married/Seperated individuals or those already coupled up (generally)
No Tinder Swindler‑style minglers

Guys: Please Take Special Note
Must have a clear face photo (no sunglasses, no blurry shadows, no “mysterious man in witness protection”)
Don't send unsolicited messages, that's creep gold..

⚠️Don't obscure your identity in other words.

No wide shots taken from a distance where you can't be identified.
No yacht/car/jet flexing — if your profile screams “crypto‑adjacent”, you will be gently declined.
If you are declined, update your profile photo to something less creepy and more classy

Girls: No restrictions — privacy and safety first”

⚠️ CRITICAL EXPECTATIONS ⚠️

👻 No‑Shows
No‑shows block waitlisted people from attending and disrupt small-group events.

***Remove yourself at least 24 hours before the event, cancellations within 24 hour of the evevt when there is a waitlist will result in group removal

People on the waitlist need more than 24 hours notice that they have been approved to attend.. Flaking within this time period prevents waitlist people from attending

No‑shows will be removed from the group.
*Last‑minute cancellations (“flaking”) may also result in group removal, especially when there is a waitlist.

👀 Attending Without Being on the Going List****
This is a security issue.
Do NOT turn up unannounced.
If you’re not on the Going list and haven’t arranged it with the organiser beforehand, you will be asked to leave. Event check‑ins are performed.

⏰ Late Arrivals
If you’re late, the group will not wait.

You willl be marked as a No‑Show and removed from the group.

Messages will not be monitored after the event starts
*It’s your responsibility to communicate and catch up before the evevt starts—this may not be possible for some events.

🎲** Second*** Chances*
If something goes wrong, communicate with the organiser. Silence + poor behaviour = removal. Communication + accountability = second chances. As the organiser is busy organising this may be impossible during the event.

🚩Disclaimer: No Liability & Organiser Indemnity
By participating in this event, you acknowledge and accept full personal responsibility for your own safety, wellbeing, and belongings. The organiser assumes no liability for injury, loss, or damage incurred during the activity. Participation is entirely at your own risk.