Bird Hike

The hilarious Birdman Rally is a long-held Moomba tradition that sees competitors hurtle themselves off a platform over the Yarra River to see who can fly the furthest before splashing down. The rally runs from 11 am to 12 pm on Sunday, 8th March, and the platform is usually on the North side/City side of the Yarra, so it's best photographed from the south side. Our meeting point will be behind the Alexandra Gardens Skate Park on Boathouse Drive at 10:30 am. [Moomba Event Map](https://moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au/map/) **Event Schedule:** 10.30 am -10:50 am - Australian Skateboarding League – Semi Finals & Finals. This is right next to our meeting point and runs all day. 11:00 am -12:00 pm- Birdman Rally 12:00 pm - 1:06 pm - Men's Trick Preliminary 1:06 pm - 2:26 pm - Pro Men Wakeboard 2:41 pm - 3:35 pm - Women's Slalom 3:35 pm – 4:11 pm – Men's Slalom 4:15 pm event ends [Full Moomba event schedule](https://moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au/schedule/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23549729973&gbraid=0AAAAAC11gOuLT6tgB8NqEPEFU-CXmW7mm&gclid=CjwKCAiAqprNBhB6EiwAMe3yhjGrFMf7FrlDS4m9wVCPEBvzpcwlOgbsgHXuhyeVwjZGxJNNciOTGxoCW8QQAvD_BwE) Disclaimer & Waiver of Liability By attending this photography meetup, you acknowledge and agree to the following: • Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. • The organisers, hosts, and affiliated parties are not liable for any personal injury, property damage, loss, or theft that may occur during or as a result of this event. • You agree to hold harmless the organisers from any claims, liabilities, or expenses arising from your participation. • Attendees are responsible for their own equipment, belongings, and conduct throughout the event. • Photography activities may involve public spaces, varied terrain, or interaction with others; you are responsible for exercising caution and respecting local laws, regulations, and private property. • Any advice, demonstrations, or recommendations provided during the meetup are for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional instruction. • By joining, you consent to being in a public setting where photos or recordings may occur, and you release organisers from any claims related to such media use.

We are heading to one of the "Pick Your Own" Sunflowers farms near Ballarat. The tickets are limited. Please note that this trip also involves a shared taxi/uber. The payment shared taxi/uber can be made on the day of the event. Please follow these three steps to confirm your spot: Step 1: Please RSVP to this event on meetup. Step 2: Please pay the organizer fee ($20 - Early Bird, $25 - Regular) - [https://www.trybooking.com/DKAME](https://www.trybooking.com/DKAME) Step 3: Please buy the farm entry ticket ($10) via Trybooking for 8th March: [https://www.trybooking.com/events/1540269/sessions](https://www.trybooking.com/events/1540269/sessions) Organizer fee tickets are non-refundable. There is no option to transfer the ticket to a new date. Organizer fee tickets will be only refunded if the event is cancelled or moved. Organizer fee payments are managed through Trybooking and not Meetup. You will see an "Unpaid" status on your RSVP. The only thing you need is the Trybooking ticket which you will receive by email. **Meeting Point**: Let's meet in the Corner of Spencer Street and Bourke Street (Station Side - Near the steps) at 10:10 AM and take Vline train. We should be back in the city around 5 pm. Please note that meeting at the destination is not an option for this event. Please plan to show up at the meeting point as uber/taxi groups will be formed at the meeting point. **Meeting Point Photo**: [[https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2](https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2)](https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2) \*\* Please make sure you bring your Myki. Please ensure that it has atleast $8. Please ensure that your myki money is added before coming to the meeting point. \*\* Cost: Organizer Fee: $20 - Early Bird, $25 Myki Cost: $8 Sunflower Farm: Tickets $10 Sunflowers: $4 per stem – available for purchase as you leave Shared Taxi/Uber (Total): $20-$30 (To be paid via PayID or cash on the day of the event) **Pick Your Own Sunflowers** \- Every year since its beginnings\, Sunflower field in Dunnstown has grown into one of Regional Victoria's most popular rural experience\, with visitors flocking from all over Victoria and interstate\. Please carry snacks and water. There are no food options at the farm. Please follow us on Social Media for photos, videos & updates: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@explore-melbourne) \| [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/exploremelb) \| [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/exploremelb) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/xpmelb/) \| [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@exploremelbourne) \| [ExploreMelbourne.AU](https://exploremelbourne.au/) Loyalty Card Stamps for this event: If you are not using a discount code: 1 If you are using a discount code: 0 Explore Melbourne is the largest meetup group in Australia. We have eight simple rules in place to protect our community and for everyone to have a positive experience. ❌ Not a dating group! – We’re here to make friends, not find soulmates. No flirty business, please! No phone numbers, please! – Feel free to swap social media if both parties are cool with it, but let’s keep our digits private. Please don’t add people to WhatsApp or other groups. Our events are only open to people aged 18 and older. Please do not advertise other events or groups. Don’t be a social octopus! – Give people space to chat with others. Please don't be clingy. We don't allow carpooling due to safety incidents/our public liability insurance not covering motor related accidents. No sales pitches! – No selling, no MLMs, no pyramid schemes, no “life-changing mentorship” offers—let’s keep things scam-free. Cameras welcome, but… – please refrain from taking photos of our members for privacy reasons. By joining this event, you’re giving us a virtual pinky promise that you’ll follow the rules. Break them, and—poof!—you’re out for good. No second chances, no do-overs. Let’s keep it fun, friendly, and drama-free! **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being. By joining this event, you agree to the liability waiver mentioned here: [[https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/](https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/)](https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/)

we"ll walk to Ricketts Point and stop for coffee before returning back to Black Rock

Enjoy medium paced walk starting from near Point Ormond Lookout; with relaxing at foreshore, or beachside cafe/kiosk stop during walk Walk is 8km /2 hours return. + time to to stop & enjoy views & nature. Rest of the time, 30 minutes or so, will be at cafe/kiosk stop. [If walk takes longer, we can go to Elwood Patisserie (open till Late) instead, but it'll be after official duration/end time of the Meetup]. \*\*Meet at Elwood Foreshore grassed\* Reserve *opposite* Glenhuntly Rd, along Marine Pde (Beach Rd); meet towards that intersection Meeting Point shown in a photo below. {\*not adjacent Elwood bush reserve}. *12:50pm Meet time, for 1pm walking start.* **Important Public Transport info: Use Train to Elsternwick Station then 246 Bus to Point Ormond.** *All St Kilda Rd/ Swanston St corridor trams, & all Spencer St/Clarendon St/& Light Rail trams are affected by changes for the Grand Prix.* \*Meetup Msgs App not working on my phone properly. Please phone/text, if you need to on the day, 0402816644, or post comment/query on this event page. *This walk/Meetup is posted on/combined with 2 other Meetup Groups.* Plan is (may change on day): We'll follow the 'Bay Trail' from the nearby Point Ormond Lookout, then walk south to the Point Ormond Cafe (which is several hundred metres from the lookout). We can stop briefly at cafe to get takeaway drink or snack, then walk to Middle Brighton Beach, where we can take a break. Then return along the foreshore trail (this section is alongside beach). After walk/Meetup: option to go to Elwood Patisserie. *[Multiple Bus Routes run thru intersection where Patisserie is]* Getting there: Nearest bus stop is on Barkly St 50 metres from Glenhuntly Rd. That stop is almost directly across the road (Marine Pd) from Meet Point. Unrestricted Parking in much of those parts of Glenhuntly Rd & Barkly St (except for a few no standing sections). Paid Parking on Foreshore road. Bus: 246 Bus along nearly all of Barkly St goes to intersection of Marine Pde/Barkly St/Glenhuntly Rd opposite our Meet Point. (246 bus also goes along all of Hoddle St & Punt Rd, if coming from suburbs near those). Train: Train to Elsternwick Station (on Sandringham Line), then 246 Bus from Horne St on west side of Elsternwick station. Alternatively can cross Nepean Hwy walking west along Glenhuntly Rd, to near the Elwood Bowls Club. A bus stop is near there where can get bus (246) along Glenhuntly Rd. 246 Bus does depart from Elsternwick Station (but several routes also do & found it better, when unfamiliar) to walk to, as above for right bus Parking: Unrestricted free on-street parking along some of Glenhuntly Rd; &St Kilda St parallel Marine Pde (Beach road). *All parking* in Point Ormond / Elwood *Foreshore area is Pay Parking.* Remember to bring water, wear cap/hat & sunscreen. Current forecast is 25C mostly sunny, when we're walking. Much of the walk will be on made paths or firm grass so most flat or low heel shoes should be ok (whatever is comfortable); **But** some parts will be on sandy paths, & we'll walk along 1 beach.

Join us for our inaugural hike of the 2026 season as we hike the first leg of the Big Walnut trail. We will leave from Morse Rd at Hanna Realty and hike 2 miles on a flat paved trail along Big Walnutl creek and looping Academy Park. See you Sunday at 3 pm!

Hike approx 4.0 miles at approx. 18 minute mile pace. Meet in front of the Nature Center.

Meet in front of the Nature Center

Meet in the Maple Grove Picnic area. If trail conditions are poor, we will use the Multipurpose Path.