**WALK DESCRIPTION:** In the Autumn season, the Arboretum is blooming with amazing autumn colours. Now is an excellent time to enjoy these beautiful colours by hiking the Olinda Bushland Reserve starting from RJ Hamer Arboretum picnic grounds. Both the Easy/Medium walk and the Medium walk will start at the same location. Then we head towards Silvan Reservoir Park for lunch. Both the walks will stop here for lunch. After the lunch we then head towards Olinda Falls. While the Easy/Medium walk lead by Judith covers about 15km covering about 540m elevation gain, the Medium walk lead by Indu will cover about 17km with 730m elevation gain. For all visitors, it is strongly recommended that you do the Easy/Medium walk. Toilet facilities are available at the start of the walk. They are also available at the Silvan Reservoir Park during lunch break. And also at the end of the walk near Olinda Falls Picnic grounds. A reminder to bring a change of footwear for the trip back, because dirty boots leave marks on the bus that our club pays to have cleaned. Please note that at this time of year there is still a possibility of encountering snakes, so appropriate leg covering is recommended. Please carry at least 2 litres of water. . **DISTANCE(S):** 15km and 17km . **TOTAL ASCENT(S):** 540m Rise and 730m Rise . **GRADINGS:** Easy/Medium and Medium **Easy/Medium (E/M):** More consistent walking, mostly on tracks or in open country, but with some significant hills, probably some stretches of light scrub. Possibility of some rock hopping. Distances up to 19km but may be much shorter depending on the difficulty of the terrain. Reasonable lunch and rest stops. **Medium (M):** Consistent walking on tracks or in open bushland, usually with patches of thicker scrub, several moderate climbs, and/or rock hopping. Distances up to about 22kms with reasonable rest stops. A good level of fitness and walking experience is required. **.** **PLEASE NOTE:** Your RSVP on MeetUp lets us know who may be interested but does not add you to the booking list. To register and pay for the walk you must visit our clubrooms (details below). . **HOW TO BOOK AND PAY:** (a) Visit the Melbourne Bushwalkers' clubrooms on either of the two Wednesday evenings before the walk, speak to the leader and, if it is agreed to walk, make a payment to secure your place on the bus. (b) To cancel a Sunday Walk booking before 4pm on the Thursday before the walk, send a note to sunday@mbw.org.au. A credit will be issued for a future walk. (c) To cancel a Sunday Walk booking after 4pm on the Thursday before the walk contact the walk leader direct. You should be given the walk leader contact details at the time of booking. (d) The costs for the walk are 30 bus fare plus 10 visitor fee if you are not a paid-up Member of Melbourne Bushwalkers. . **OUR CLUBROOMS:** Our clubrooms are located at The Mission to Seafarers Victoria, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands. We are open Wednesday nights 6:30pm - 8.00pm. . **CONTACT US:** To contact us regarding this walk send an email to sunday@mbw.org.au. We do not regularly check the MeetUp site for messages and the above address will get a faster response. **.** **CAN I MEET AT THE START OF THE WALK?** No! Since Sunday Bus walks are generally walks starting and finishing at two widely separated locations we do not accept walkers meeting at the start of the walk. There is no way for them to get back to their transport. We can arrange for a pick-up and drop-off at a designated location along the route closer to Melbourne, however, the full bus fee is still payable since a seat has to be kept free on the bus. . **IMPORTANT TO KNOW:** Registration (membership) on Meetup is not the same as paid-up Membership of MBW. To become a paid-up Member with online booking and other benefits see: [https://mbw.org.au/MBW_membership.php](https://mbw.org.au/MBW_membership.php) . **WHAT TO BRING:** A day pack containing: \ \*Lunch, a morning and afternoon snack. \* Full water bottle - we recommend 2 litres, more in warmer weather. \ \*An unlined waterproof jacket or cape, waterproof over-trousers (if your jacket is short). \* Whistle, pencil and paper. \ \*Personal and first aid items, including sun screen, lip screen, toilet paper, identification, Club green Health Card, some money etc. Note: The leader always carries a first aid kit. \* A change of footwear for the trip back. . **DO YOU HAVE COMPREHENSIVE AMBULANCE COVER?** The Club strongly recommends that all participants have comprehensive personal ambulance cover. . **MORE DETAILS:** The visit to the clubrooms on a Wednesday before a walk is to cover three things: (a) Provide background on the club and ensure all walkers are familiar with the safety and courtesy guidelines we adopt; (b) Meet with the leader of the walk who will be in the clubrooms to discuss any special features of the walk and ensure that adequate gear and fitness requirements are met. (c) Sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form and pay the visitor fee (10) and bus fee (30) to reserve a seat on the bus. No booking is accepted until the payment is received. . **DAY WALKS BY BUS** with Melbourne Bushwalkers: [https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/walks/MBW_bus_walks.php](https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/walks/MBW_bus_walks.php)