Creek Circuit Walk

Welcome to the Walk Lightly, Embrace Nature series brought to you by the Yarran Dheran Advisory Committee. This is the Creek Circuit Walk, beginning at the Information Centre.

The full walk takes around forty-five minutes on moderate terrain, following the blue trail on your map. This walk invites you to notice fractal patterns throughout Yarran Dheran Reserve. Observing these repeating forms in nature can help reduce stress, sharpen focus, and deepen your sense of connection to the environment.

But what are fractals?

Joseph P. Kauffman wrote:
“Examples of fractals are everywhere in nature. They can be found in the patterns of trees, branches, and ferns, in which each part appears to be a smaller image of the whole. They are found in the branch-like patterns of river systems, lightning, and blood vessels. They can be seen in snowflakes, seashells, crystals, and mountain ranges. We can even see the holographic and fractal-like nature of reality in the structure of the Universe itself, as the clusters of galaxies and dark matter resemble the neurons in our brain, the mycelium network of fungi, as well as the network of the man-made Internet.”

Start at the Information Centre. Before you begin, pause and look around. Notice the shapes of the trees, the branching limbs, and how their silhouettes repeat in smaller forms. This is one of nature’s most familiar fractals—each part echoing the whole.

As you set out on the blue trail toward the Wildflower Walk, notice the understorey plants along the path. Look for Kangaroo Grass and Wallaby Grass. These native grasses grow in clumps called tussocks, forming repeating patterns that add rhythm to the landscape.

They are more than decorative. Female butterflies often lay their eggs on these plants, supporting the next generation of pollinators and adding life to the reserve.

John Muir wrote:
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

Continue to Part 2 when you reach the Wildflower Walk.

Continue along the Wildflower Walk as it descends toward the creek. In spring, wildflowers reveal their own fractal patterns, petals and leaves repeating shapes that mirror the larger plant. Even the smallest ferns reflect these designs, showing how tiny details connect to the wider ecosystem.

Keep an eye out for species like the Nodding Greenhood Orchid, or scattered bursts of colourful native blooms. Watch insects circle, land, and lift off again, tracing small loops that mirror larger patterns of life across the reserve.

Pick a tree near the trail. Observe its trunk, follow your eyes up the branches and smaller twigs, and then take in the surrounding space—no tree lives in isolation. Everything in this ecosystem is connected.

Peter Wohlleben suggests that when a tree is felled, neighbouring trees are left “bereft.” He noted, “There are more life forms in a handful of forest soil than there are people on the planet.”

What plants and animals do you notice around this tree and how do they share this patch of the world?

Continue to Part 3 when you reach Schwerkolt Track at the bottom of the hill.

Item deTurn right onto Schwerkolt Track. Follow the path along Mullum Mullum Creek, a tributary of the Yarra River. The creek winds through the valley, fed by smaller channels, shaping the land and sustaining a rich variety of life.

Here you may see Pacific Black Ducks, Wood Ducks, and in spring, families of ducklings paddling behind their mother. These dabbling ducks feed by tipping forward in the water—stirring sediment, spreading seeds, and controlling insect populations. Their routines support biodiversity and reflect the interconnected movements of the creek ecosystem.

Pause by the water. Watch for ripples, fish, or birds. Notice how the current flows around rocks and plants. Patterns appear not only in still images, but in motion—shapes that shift, repeat, and reform within a living system.

Albert Einstein wrote:
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

Continue to Part 4 when you reach the East-Link Trail.

Turn left onto the Eastlink Trail and cross the footbridge, following the path as it winds through the bushland. Notice how the larger trees above cast patterned shadows on the ground, echoing the shapes of their leaves and branches.

As you continue, observe how each section of the trail supports a different ecosystem. Near the creek in the riparian zone, the soil is damp and plants thrive in wetter conditions. Further uphill, the ground is drier and different species of trees and shrubs appear.

Birds, insects, and other wildlife change as well, reflecting the contrast between the riparian zones and the higher slopes. Even though the plant life varies, repeating patterns remain—the way branches spread, leaves cluster, and shapes recur across the landscape.

Slow your pace. Shift your attention from small details to the wideness of the valley around you. This gentle change of perspective can help settle the mind and broaden awareness. Reflect on your place and role within your family, your community, and the wider ecosystem.

Joy Harjo wrote:
“We are a part of the earth’s cycles, not outside them.”

Continue to Part 5 when you arrive at the Schwerkolt Track intersection.

Return along the Wildflower Walk, noticing the soft crunch of gravel underfoot and the subtle shifts of light through the trees. When you reach the turn, take the Quarry Steps to your left and follow the path through the picnic area, letting your pace slow as you take in the surroundings.

Novelist and poet Cesare Pavese wrote:
“We do not remember days, we remember moments.”

Allow yourself to carry that idea with you. Pause, breathe, and pay attention to the small details along the way.

Optional activity
Find a quiet spot to pause and reflect on what you’ve observed. Consider how small gestures, brief interactions, or simple choices ripple outward, shaping the broader patterns of your day, your community, and the world around you.

This concludes the narration for the Creek Circuit Walk. We look forward to having you back again soon.