What started as a patchwork of lumpy, narrow paths beside the Pakenham-Cranbourne Line has been turned into a brilliant recreational facility for Melbourne’s densely packed south-eastern suburbs.

Due to incomplete infrastructure projects in Dandenong, the Djerring Trail is split in two:

• Caulfield to Dandenong (19.2km): A wide shared path that runs under the area’s “skyrail” development with some older, narrower sections where the railway is at ground level.
• Hallam to Narre Warren (6.9km): Dubbed the Hallam Valley Trail, this section is a railside trail running through parks and wetlands.

There are no emergency marker posts on this trail. In an emergency, call 000 and provide the name of the street nearest to you on the trail.

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Caulfield to Dandenong (19.2km)

• Access: The trail starts south-east of Caulfield Station near a park off Dudley St (Search: East Caulfield Reserve Toilet) where there’s a bike repair station, water fountain and picnic facilities but limited parking (past the cricket clubrooms). From the railway station, take Sir John Monash Drive to reach the reserve and trailhead
• The Rosstown Rail Trail can be ridden or walked from Murrumbeena Station while the Outer Circle one branches off to the left at Hughesdale
• It’s a straight run for more than 3km past play areas, picnic spots and dog parks until approaching Oakleigh, where the rails have returned to ground level. Here the trail uses the alignment of the Rosstown Railway branch line. Riders must take care on the approach to the station underpass, where the steps on the direct route are not well marked while the ramp for riders faces in the opposite direction. You must dismount anyway
• The route south from the underpass is also poorly marked and requires travelling through the station car park before the trail resumes at the far end. Not a safe spot during commuting periods
• It’s an older, narrower concrete path from here to Huntingdale and it then crosses the tracks before they head skywards again approaching Clayton
• At Springvale, the railway has been “trenched” but not the pedestrian crossing of busy Springvale Rd
• Sandown Park Station serves horse racing, greyhound racing and motor racing venues but has escaped rebuilding
• At Noble Park, more elevated train tracks have created a giant open space incorporating Ross Reserve, the large Noble Park Aquatic Centre, outdoor gym and skate park. Take your bathers
• At Yarraman Station, the Djerring Trail is joined briefly by the EastLink Fwy one, but then peters out on gravel in Greaves Reserve, home of the Dandenong Show
• You can make it to Dandenong Station via Attenborough St and a short section of Cheltenham Rd but it’s easier to catch the frequent Pakenham Line trains from Yarraman to Hallam for the start of the next section. It takes less than 15 minutes to get there.

Hallam to Narre Warren (6.9km)

• Access: From Hallam Station, the Hallam Valley Trail is less than 1km south via a shared path along the western side of Hallam Rd. If coming by car, the trail actually starts further west in a large park (Search: KM Reedy Reserve) where there are car spaces and toilets
• Head east along the trail, which borders the Hallam Main Drain and a large wetland
• It gets close to Narre Warren Station before a shared path along Shrives Rd, Centre Rd, Saxonwood Dr and Redwood Court will get you to what is called the Hallam Valley Trail Extension
• This will take you as far as Darling Way, where further work is needed for the railside trail to get to Berwick
• Head home by going back to Narre Warren Station.

CONNECTING PATHS

East Link Trail (35km): Meets up with the Djerring Trail at Yarraman, where it heads south beside the M3 and then on to Port Phillip Bay at Carrum. Heading north it uses the Dandenong Creek Trail for a while to give you a break from the freeway noise.

Dandenong Creek Trail (44km):  This one provides a more pleasant way to get into Dandenong, but not to the railway station, and goes as far north as Kilsyth South.