Trip Report Sugar Loaf Reservoir day hike .20th October 2020.

Yesterday for the first time since possibly July I had the chance to go and do something pleasant and active outdoors all day, so I that is exactly what I did.


First of all I was lucky enough to have a haircut before I set off. It was for the first time since June. That was a transformative experience.
I arrived at the top ridge car park at Sugar Loaf reservoir park at about 10.30 am. Two other VNPA walkers by chance were also preparing to set off on the day walk around the lake.
The reservoir is situated in the Christmas hills area in the NE fringe of the Melb. metro zone. The water is sourced from the Yarra River as well as from the Maroondah dam aqueduct and run off channels. The dam is at 98 % capacity at present.
The weather was cool and sunny and many other people were out enjoying their new found freedom to do a day of exercise within 25 kms of their respective abodes.
I don't remember doing this walk before .
It is easy to follow the orange arrows around the body of water and there is a loo with a view at the top of a hill , roughly half way around the lake.
The whole walk took about 5 hours to complete including a lunch break at the said hill top. There are some pleasant views up there on that hill . Swimming is banned but sailing is permitted and there is a sailing club located on one of the shore areas.
The sign at one point says the walk is 18 kms long. The photo below says 15 kms. Either way it was a really enjoyable day out of the suburbs after such a long period of being confined to a 5 kms radius from one's house.
I shall post some more photos soon.

 

More photos from the splendid day out.
It started out as a quite an overcast day but the sun did come out
and brighten things up. We walked the route clockwise. It became an impromptu unofficial VNPA day walk.
At some points along the way the sky scrapers of the Melb. city centre were clearly visible.

 

Some fallen logs were blocking the walking route at a number of places. Team Bears need to get out there with the chain saws!.
Being able to do such things makes a world of difference to the well being of people and at very little risk of spreading the plague.

 

https://visityarravalley.com.au/sit...ents/activities/sugarloaf-reservoir-walks.pdf

 

It is one of the sources of Melbourne's drinking water but it also part of a public park managed by Parks Victoria. The water purification plant is on site near the saddle dam picnic ground.