10 things to see along Armstrong Creek

Tuesday, 13 September 2022

For centuries the Armstrong Creek has been a vital community asset, a meeting place or travel route, a sanctuary, outdoor fitness centre or play space.

10 things to see along Armstrong Creek

p>If you are new to the area or looking for your next outdoor adventure here is a list of ten things, you can see along the Armstrong Creek.

1. Our Creek or “Green Spine”

Did you know our creek was once an important Aboriginal meeting place and an integral travelling route from Mt Moriac to Lake Connewarre?

Today our creek is an award winning, world-class wet land that pleasantly meanders through the neighbourhood, inviting our community to enjoy its thriving ecosystem.

Intrinsic to our cultural heritage the creek is beautifully landscaped with an abundance of indigenous plants and grasses and creates 22 hectares of new habitat.

Accessing our creek is easy!

There’s 4.9km of generous shared path network which not only allows you to take in the beauty of the creek but connects you to schools, shops, community facilities, sporting grounds and parks.

2. Dooliebeal

If you want a taste for Warralily’s Native Landscape, take in the tranquillity of Dooliebeal.

Dooliebeal (formerly Stewarts Reserve) is a nature reserve, tucked away along the creek on Warralily Boulevard and opposite Neville Drive. This reserve is a significant Wadawurrung site and is among one of the greatest remaining examples of Grassy Woodland in the Geelong region. With eucalyptus trees like Manna Gum, Swamp Gum, large old River Red Gums and a variety of native grasses, wildflowers and sedges.

3. Stag trees.

Stag Tree’s provide critical habitat for our birds, reptiles and mammals to shelter in their hollows, cracks, crevices or notches.

The valuable resource and organic artworks have been integral to the successful restoration of the creek and conservation of fauna and are estimated to be from 200 to 500 years old.

4. Parks Along the Creek

Arrange a play date or family BBQ at one of the beautifully designed parks along the creek trail.

Mirambeena Play Park

Located at the Surf Coast Highway end of the creek trail this park features spinning hammocks, swings, a massive sandpit, a flying fox, basketball/netball zones and a village green/kick-about oval for ball sports and community events, as well as BBQ’s, picnic tables, toilets and baby-changing. Mirambeena has something for everyone.

Ambrosia Park

Stop in mid-run or walk for a few sets on the exercise stations, or catch up with mates to have a shot on the flying fox and swings, you’ll hear the frogs from here too as the creek is just behind the trees.

Warralily Boulevard Reserve

This stunning nature Reserve is the perfect place to enjoy some bird watching from the viewing platform or take a stroll along the board walk to the art sculptures or BBQ’s and play area.

Shoalhaven Park

Just a short walk from the creek trail you’ll find Shoalhaven Park within our Grange community. Complete with a downhill mountainbike trail, basketball/netball quarter court, skating features and kickabout space, plus slides, swings and climbing structures.

5. Native Grasses

Don’t underestimate the surrounding grasses along the creek and shared pathways. The seeds for these grasses were cultivated and harvested for 3 years from Warralily conservation reserves and include native grass species such as red leg, spear, kangaroo and silky blue grasses.

These types of Australian native grasses maintain an ornamental look throughout every season, are stress tolerant of intermittent droughts and fires and have huge biodiversity values. A vast number of beneficial insect species and wildlife call grasslands home including finches and parrots (attracted by seeding plants), native butterflies’, lizards and their natural predators such as kookaburras.

6. Birds

With our proximity to Lake Conewarre, one of the most important sites in Victoria for migratory birds, it’s no wonder our wetlands are a bird watcher’s heaven!

91 species of birds have been sighted at The Warralily Wetlands on Barwon Heads Road from the Black Swan (the only swan native to Australia) to the beautiful Royal Spoonbill.

Head up to Dooliebeal for more bird watching delights, 81 species have been recorded here including the red-rumped parrot and  straw-necked Ibis.

7. Frogs

Frogs are a plenty down at the creek and are an important part of its ecosystem, helping to keep the water clean and controlling bug populations. Hear them chirping and whirring the next time you visit – species that are regularly spotted here include the Southern Brown Tree Frog, Pobblebonk Frog, Spotted Grass Frog and the Spotted or Striped Marsh Frog.

8. Artwork Sculpture Trail

Our creek is intrinsic to our cultural heritage and is celebrated throughout our community with magnificent public artworks.

Follow the sculpture trail around the wetland at Warralily Boulevard Reserve.

“Bulrush” can be found along the creek trail on the corner of Barwon heads rd and Warralily Boulevard. This striking installation represents the Bal-yan or Bulrush, used for weaving and the roots were roasted and eaten as a healthy food staple for Wadawurrung people.

Wadawarrung artifacts are rich in the parklands and creek beds of Armstrong creek, if you go searching you might come across tree or stone carvings along the creek.

Fossil sculptures can also be found at the entrance to Coastside Drive and Warralily Boulevard.

9. Our People

Possibly the most enjoyable thing to see along the Creek are the friendly faces you will meet when you are here.

10. Listen, feel, smell

It’s the things you can't see that will capture your heart. The smell of eucalypts in the air, the fresh breeze off the water and the abundant sounds of nature the creek has playing on repeat, will have you planning your next creek adventure before you’ve left.

 

What are you waiting for?


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