Kalorama Ridge & Karwarra Native Gardens Loop (Easy-Mod – 8 km)

Join us for a scenic and culturally rich loop along the high spine of the Dandenong Ranges, following part of the Ngurrak Barring – Ridge of the Lyrebird trail. This walk blends forested ridgelines, quiet bush tracks, native gardens, and thoughtfully placed public artworks that honour Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung Country.

We will visit Kalorama Lookout, where the Yarra Valley opens in long, folded layers of blue and green. then follow the gentle rhythm of May Moon Track before wandering into the beautiful Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden, a living gallery of Australian plants.
Our return path will take us through a comination of short trails and roads to loop back to our starting point

## ✨ What You’ll See & Experience

As soon as we rise onto the ridge, the character of the walk settles in — a mix of tall eucalypts, soft sounds carrying through the trees, and artworks that sit quietly in the landscape, reminding us of the long story of this Country.

### 🌳 Forest Atmosphere

Trig Track rises through tall mountain ash and stringybark, their trunks catching the light in pale vertical lines. The air cools as we climb, and the forest shifts from open slopes to a more sheltered canopy.

### 🎨 Art Along Ngurrak Barring

Ngurrak Barring is an evolving cultural trail shaped with Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung guidance. Along the way, we pass site‑specific artworks that sit quietly within the landscape — pieces shaped from stone, timber, and metal that echo the movement of lyrebirds, the shape of the ridge, and the long presence of Wurundjeri people on this Country. These artworks line the ridge, blending into the trees until you’re close enough to see their form and intention.

### 🐦 Sounds of Country

You may hear:

• the soft scrape of a lyrebird turning over leaves
• kookaburras calling across the valley
• rosellas moving through the canopy
• wind travelling in long breaths through tall trees

### 🌅 Kalorama Lookout

From the lookout, the land opens in a broad sweep across the Yarra Valley. The nearest hills rise and fall in rounded shapes, their slopes patterned with orchards, farmland, and pockets of forest. Further out, the ranges soften into blue layers that fade gradually into the horizon. On a clear day, the sky feels wide and high above the valley floor, and the light shifts across the landscape in slow, quiet movements. From here, the track leads us toward Kalorama Park, keeping the openness of the ridge a little longer before we step back into more sheltered ground.

🌸 Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden
A two‑hectare garden dedicated entirely to Australian native plants. Depending on the season, you may see:

• sculptural banksia cones
• bright grevillea filaments
• wattles glowing softly in winter light
• foliage in silvers, greys, and deep greens

Karwarra is a quiet, beautifully curated space that rewards slow walking and close looking.

## 🥾 Terrain & Difficulty

Distance: 8 km Difficulty: Easy -Mod
Australian Walking Track Grade: 3
Terrain: Well‑formed tracks, steady climb at the start, gentle rolling terrain afterward
Estimated Duration: 2 hours

🧭 GPX & Route Maps
This event is part of club.hiking.org.au a free online community where you can download GPX files, explore route maps, share your outdoor adventures, and connect with other hikers. GPX for this walk will be uploaded there.

🌦 Weather & Safety
We walk in most conditions — mist, sunshine, cool air, or light rain — as long as it remains safe. If strong winds, storms, extreme heat, or track closures arise, we may modify or postpone the event. Updates will be posted on the Meetup page.

⚠️ Safety Disclaimer
This is a social, community‑led outing rather than a guided or professionally supervised activity. By attending, you accept responsibility for your own safety and wellbeing.
The route may include uneven ground, slippery surfaces, and natural hazards typical of bush environments. Please consider your fitness and comfort level, bring suitable gear, and look out for one another as we move through the terrain. Our volunteers carry first‑aid supplies, an emergency radio, and satellite navigation/communication devices, but these are not a substitute for personal preparedness.

❤️ About Walking With Grace
Walking With Grace is a faith‑inspired, non‑profit community that welcomes people from all backgrounds and beliefs. Our walks are community‑led, volunteer‑run, and centered on connection, kindness, and enjoying nature together. Because Adventures Are Meant to Be Shared.

✨ RSVP Etiquette
If your plans change, please update your RSVP so we can make space for others on the waitlist.

🌟 We Look Forward to Walking With You
Every walk is a chance to reconnect — with nature, with others, and with yourself. Whether this is your first event or your fiftieth, we’re grateful to have you with us.