Viaduct Track Circuit

Starting from the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park carpark on Ayliffes Road, St Marys, this walk takes you on a circuit via the Viaduct Creek Trail and Viaduct Track. Explore the tracks, creeks, old railway tunnel and viaduct remains in Shepherds Hill Recreation Park and adjacent Watiparinga Reserve on this walk. The railway line viaduct and tunnel were built in 1883 as part of the Adelaide to Melbourne railway, and replaced by the current dual track embankment and tunnel in 1919. This hike takes you through scenic woodland of Grey Box trees, over a lush green grassy understorey dotted with brightly coloured wildflowers. The tracks are mainly wide and well-formed, with some narrow and slightly rocky sections. Be aware that the train tracks are active, and so is the open railway tunnel. The abandoned tunnel is just around the corner from the active one, and is boarded up and covered in colourful graffiti. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-35.0110559,138.5797632)
Mode	Car
Directions	From South Road, A2 Turn on to South Road, A13 then drive for 460 m Keep left onto South Road and drive for another 110 m Keep left and drive for another 325 m Turn right and drive for another 15 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
Starting from the gravel car park off Ayliffes Road(320 metres east of intersection with Shepherds Hill Road), head towards the metal gate with a “GATE:1” sign on it, moving parallel to the road. Pass through the gap in the wooden fence next to the gate, and keep left as you follow the gravel/dirt fire trail to continue along Viaduct Track Circuit.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the car park at the start.
	After another 4 m turn left, to head along Viaduct Track.
	After another 35 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track. After another 70 m (at the intersection of Viaduct Track & Danthonia Track) continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track.
	After another 40 m (at the intersection of Viaduct Track & Viaduct Creek Trail) veer left, to head along Viaduct Creek Trail (a walking track). After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Creek Trail.
	After another 50 m (at the intersection of Creek Crossing & Viaduct Creek Trail) continue straight, to head along Viaduct Creek Trail. After another 220 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Creek Trail. After another 160 m continue straight, to head along Fire Track.
	After another 70 m continue straight, to head along Fire Track.
	After another 90 m (at the intersection of Viaduct Creek Trail & Fire Track) veer right, to head along Viaduct Creek Trail (a walking track). After another 205 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Creek Trail. After another 260 m (at the intersection of Viaduct Track & Viaduct Creek Trail) continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track (a vehicle track).
	After another 340 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track.
	After another 420 m veer left. After another 165 m continue straight.
	After another 105 m turn right.
	After another 40 m continue straight. After another 250 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track.
	After another 420 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track. After another 340 m (at the intersection of Viaduct Creek Trail & Viaduct Track) continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track. After another 75 m (at the intersection of Viaduct Track & Ridge Track) continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track.
	After another 305 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track. After another 115 m pass the water tap (40 m on your right).
	After another 30 m veer right.
	After another 315 m veer left.
	After another 190 m turn right, to head along Viaduct Track.
	After another 165 m continue straight.
	After another 120 m continue straight, to head along Viaduct Track. After another 8 m to find the car park.
	After another 30 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Viaduct Track Circuit

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4.7 km
Time	1 h 30 min to 2 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Moorabbin Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.
  
  Friday 1 November
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower near the Otways, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 18.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:30am to 4:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 [Very High]
  
  Saturday 2 November
  
  7°C → 27°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of fog and frost in the east in the early morning. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then increasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the early afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching 21 to 28.
  
  Sunday 3 November
  
  18°C → 25°C
  Possible shower. Wind easing.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Winds northerly 30 to 45 km/h shifting west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 14 and 18 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Monday 4 November
  
  11°C → 20°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning south to southeasterly during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 20.
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  9°C → 23°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  11°C → 29°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 7 November
  
  15°C → 26°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- South Australia NPWS
  When planning and before starting your trip please check South Australia NPWS closure website for anything that may impact on your plans.

Weather Forecast

Alerts