The Valley and Eagle Nest Loop with Yoga Meditation and Relaxation
(special needs friendly pace)
Pack you lunch, blanket and hiking boots for Yoga and Adventure in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. This retreat is one for the whole family and we will be taking things at a special needs friendly pace.
The Valley and Eagle Nest Loop starts at the Valley picnic Ground parking area near Olinda. This 3km walk takes you through lush forest and is pram accessible. Our Free Day Retreats include Yoga, Meditation and Relaxation and are not for profit events. Simply meet us at the starting point, and breath out for bliss.
To book an All-Terrain Wheel Chair press here
Meeting Point: 11am sharp at the Valley Picnic Ground, Olinda
Yoga stop: 11.45 – 12.15pm gentle yoga movement at Eagle Nest Picnic Ground
Relaxation: 1.15 – 1.30pm Yoga Nidra relaxation at Vally Picnic Ground
Picnic Lunch: 1.30 – 2.30pm at Vally Picnic Ground
Go to get there: Head in to the Dandenong ranges towards Olinda. At Olinda, turn into Olinda-Monbulk Rd (C406). Pass the National Rhododendron Gardens and the Golf Course. Turn right into Chalet Rd (If you miss Chalet Rd, turn right into Woolwich Rd). Stop at RT Hamer Arboretum if you need the toilet (last access to public toilets – from then on it’s bush style peeing only!). Drive on a little way then turn left at Silvan Rd, keep driving for a couple of kms then take another left onto Boundary Rd until you reach Valley Picnic Ground parking area.
Please note these are community days and all participants are responsibility for their own safety and well-being. Participants must acknowledge that Grace Touring is not liable for any accident or injury. We advise that participants pack sunscreen, a small first aid kit, wear suitable hiking shoes, comfortable clothes and have adequate supplies of water and food. We also suggest to pack a towel, sarong or light blanket to sit on for yoga and lunch. This day retreat is suitable for the whole family and will be paced slowly for those with special needs.
For more information or to register your interest please contact us
Your Guides for the day are Rebecca Sullivan and Brett Gili
Rebecca is trained extensively in Yoga and Mindfulness and Brett is a master at keeping a serene pace
Testimonial from prior retreat:
“Was such a great day! Bec and Brett created a perfectly balanced combination of an energetic walk in a beautiful location, with a yoga practice under a tree canopy and a meditation. There is something quite special about yoga under tall trees with a bird song soundtrack. The yoga nidra, gratefully appreciated after the walk, giving us a chance to appreciate and connect with nature in a unique, peaceful way. A great concept that we are lucky to have offered. And a chance to meet some lovely like-minded souls. Will be at the next one!” – Charlotte Aberhart
Only a 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne – Walking Lanjanuc (Mount Alexander) has been a highlight of our winter. In Dja Dja Wurrung Language the mountain is Lanjanuc named by the Jaara Jaara people. Lanjanuc has many recreational walking tracks, ranging in degree of difficulty from easy to challenging. It took us 3 hours to walk the track from Leanganook Picnic Ground to Harcourt-Sutton Grange Road, and the walk was not as steep as we expected but the path is rocky. There are spectacular views along the trail, but the highlight for us by far was ‘Dogs Rocks’. 
Early Europeans named the area in homage to the dingoes that used it as their lair. 
Lanjanuc is sacred ceremonial ground, which is food for thought and feeling when walking the trail. We certainly felt a sense of spirit in the ancient granite rocks. Some history of the Jaara Jaara people can be found 
Ballantine antipoda (southern shepherd’s purse), is a unique tiny plant that grows in patches of moss and decorates the rocks of Lanjanuc. It is only found in this part of Victoria.
Walking in winter is invigorating and certainly helps to beat off any seasonal blues, but it is chilly! If you head out this way we recommend wearing layers; pack your gloves, wooly hats, and a thermos of soup! 
We made a one way walk of it by having our friends park their car at Harcourt-Sutton Grange Road; we then car pooled back to Leanganook Picnic Ground along Joseph Young Drive. The map below is available from the Castlemaine Visitor Centre – 44 Mostyn St. We always recommend a visit to the local information centre before any walk – It’s a great way to check on the conditions of tracks and call on local knowledge for other adventures. For more information from Parks Vic press 
For intrepid adventurers wanting a longer trail, it is possible to bike ride or walk the Goldfields Track (formally known as The Great Diving Trail) from Ballarat to Bendigo. Mount Alexander is part of the Leanganook leg of the trail. The Leanganook track stretches 60kms from Castlemaine to Bendigo. Find more information on the Goldfields Track 
After the Leanganook track passes over Joseph Young Drive, be sure to check out the views at Langs Lookout. On the way down, watch out for big Leaping creatures on the path.
For those interested in a shorter walk or picnic outing with the kids, try the loop walk from Leanganook Picnic Ground which includes veiws from the South Lookout. We suggest diverging from the loop to include Dogs Rocks on the walking menu, or driving down the road after the loop and parking to picnic at the rocks. 
To get to Lanjanuc from Melbourne, take the Calder Freeway towards Caslemaine. For a yummy breakkie and a decent coffee by an open fire, try Toggs Place Cafe on Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine. Happy Adventuring!
grace touring 