Ward Reserve is a large reserve located at the end of a small court in a low density residential area. The majority of the site is on a moderate slope rising from the street and has limited pedestrian accessibility.

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Ruffey Creek Linear Park runs along Ruffey Creek Valley in Templestowe from Ruffey Lake Park (King Street) to Finns Reserve, where the creek enters the Yarra River. The park is almost entirely a bush experience landscaped with native vegetation alongside a recently constructed shared path. Highlights of the Linear Park include the fantastic destinations at each end.

Places and spaces

• Ruffey Trail - bicycle and pedestrian path
• Wetland and bush areas
• Wombat Bend Playground and Main Yarra Trail at Finns Reserve
• The Boulevarde, Church Road North and Victoria Street playground at Ruffey Lake Park
• Barbecues, picnic shelters, open parkland, bushland and public toilets at all destinations

Pedestrian links

• James Street
• Montpellier Crescent
• Glen Court
• Kersey Place
• Montpellier Crescent

Bring your dog

Off lead reserve, except within 15 metres of a playground, barbecue area or where a sporting event is in progress. Once the trail is completed (refer Ruffey Creek Linear Park Management Plan 2017), dogs will be required to be on-lead within five metres of the trail.

Vegetation

Within the Linear Park, Ruffey, Biosite 30 comprises 7.35 hectares remnant vegetation located in three sections; one at the Yarra River at Finns Reserve, another upstream of Foote Street at St. Kevins Primary School and the third in Ruffey Lake Park. The vegetation is considered high priority in Council’s Healthy Habitats Bushland Management Strategy 2012. The creek valley has always been considered important as a wildlife corridor and appropriate screen planting of indigenous vegetation, weed management and integration of these adjoining reserves should continue.

Ruffey Trail

The Ruffey Trail, a major feature of the Linear Park, offers a bushland experience for pedestrians and cyclists on an off-road three kilometre shared path. The trail crosses four major roads between Finns Reserve and Ruffey Lake Park. There are underpasses (with lighting) at King Street and Williamsons Road and road crossings at Foote Street and Parker Street. Cyclists and pedestrians currently also use Eumeralla Avenue as there is no footpath or trail in this section.

Trail Length

3.0 km (sealed)

Topography

Valley

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This ride explores Ruffey Lake Park and the Ruffey Creek Linear Park.

There is a large sign marking the beginning of the Ruffey Trail at The Boulevarde in Ruffey Lake Park.

From here, a ramp takes the cyclist to an underpass at King Street and again at Williamsons Road. 

Follow the Ruffey Trail signage until it finishes at Finns Reserve and joins the Main Yarra Trail.

At Finns Reserve, the Ruffey Trail connects with the following trails:

• Main Yarra Trail to Westerfolds Park (northeast) and Southbank (southwest)
• Plenty River Trail to Greensborough (Western Ring Road Trail).

Take care

• Use the pedestrian refuge at the Foote Street on-road crossing. The Trail continues a short distance along Mclachlan Street and turn left onto Parker Street.
• There is an on-road crossing at Parker Street, Templestowe and the Trail picks up again next to the Templestowe Bowling Club carpark.

Places and spaces

• Ruffey Lake Park - Adventure playgrounds, picnic shelters, BBQs, lake and wetlands, toilets and drinking water.
• Finns Reserve - Picnic shelter, BBQs, playground, Yarra River access, toilets and drinking water.
• Westerfolds Park - BBQs, picnic shelter, wetlands and Yarra River Observation Deck, toilets and drinking water.
• Detour to Templestowe Village - cafes, restaurants, supermarket.

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Loved by locals and visitors and flaunted as the park that ‘has it all’, Ruffey Lake Park is popular for social gatherings and family reunions.

We have three kid-friendly picnic areas which have all the facilities you'll need. Our picnic shelters and barbecues are popular - so it's a 'first come, first serve' basis, with sharing encouraged.

Paths and trails

• Ruffey Trail - A 3.0 km shared path to Finns Reserve and Wombat Bend Playground.

View a full map of the network of paths:

Self-guided tours

Bring your dog to Ruffey Lake Park

Dogs are welcome at Ruffey Lake Park and there are off lead and on lead areas for you and your furry friend.

There are also some areas in the park fenced for revegetation where dogs are not allowed so that we can keep the park beautiful.

To plan your visit with your dog, download:

Ruffey Lake Heritage Signage Removal

We are installing new signs within the park. There are new gateway, wayfinding and interpretive signs that will cover First Nations stories, environmental information and Post Contact history. It is expected that these signs will be installed in 2024.

All previous information from the old signs is available to view below.

Gates close

10.00pm during daylight savings months otherwise 8.00pm. 

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Ruffey Lake Park’s Disc Golf course provides an 18 hole recreational activity in the park.

Disc Golf is a fun recreational activity for people of all ages. The aim of the game is to throw your disc from the tee pad into the basket in the least number of throws. This course has two baskets for each tee, creating 18 unique holes to complete over two laps.  

The course commences from the Church Road North picnic area.

Find out more about disc golf on the Melbourne Disc Golf website. 

How to play

Safety and courtesy

• Always give other park users the right of way
• Never throw when other players or park users are within range
• Respect the course – put rubbish in bins and keep the park tidy

Start

Each hole begins with a tee-off throw from the tee pad. After everyone has thrown, the player whose disc is furthest form the basket throws next.

New throw

Wherever your disc lands on the fairway is the spot where you must take your next throw towards the basket. Players may take a run up, but you must throw from behind this spot. A follow through is allowed after you release the disc.

Putting

Throws which are less than 10m from the basket requires players to stay behind the spot until the disc comes to rest.

Completion of hole

A hole is completed when your disc comes to rest in the basket catcher or chains. On top of the basket does not count.

Playing in order

When you start each new hole, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole throws first.

Out of bounds

A disc is out of bounds (OB) when it is completely surrounded by the OB area as marked on the tee sign. A one-throw penalty is added to the score and the next throw is taken from the point where the disc went OB. All throws on or over roads and foothpaths are out of bounds. ­­
 

Download the Udisc app to keep your score, track statistics and discover courses - UDisc - The App for Disc Golfers | UDisc

Borrowing discs

You can borrow discs from the Doncaster Library, just like a book. You can view disc availability via their online library catalogue.

You’ll need your photo ID with a current address to sign up for a library account (you do not have to live in Manningham to open a library account).

You can then borrow the discs for up to three weeks at a time and return them through the after-hours chute if the library is closed when you want to return them.

Doncaster Library: MC Square 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Phone: 9877 8500 
Email: don@wml.vic.gov.au

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• UDisc - The App for Disc Golfers | UDisc
• Melbourne Disc Golf

Swilk Reserve is 1.2 hectares of Crown Land that joins Ruffey Creek Linear Park and Ruffey Trail to the west.  There is easy access to a bus stop on Swilk Street in front of the reserve.  A section of Ruffey Trail runs parallel to Swilk Street, before crossing Swilk Street at the pedestrian refuge in front of the bowling club.

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Ruffey Lake Park’s Church Road North playground provides a different experience to the other playgrounds in the park.

Smaller and set amongst mature shade trees, the playground focuses on playing in the natural landscape and features a rock labyrinth, see-saw, swing suitable for all ages, junior see-saw and a cubby.

Cook something on the electric barbecues and enjoy a bite to eat in the large picnic shelter, or on the many picnic tables. 

Parking

You can park the car in Church Road North.

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Have you noticed something unsafe like a broken tree branch or damaged playground that needs our attention?

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Organising a large event?

Some types of events, such as festivals or school's cross country runs need a special permission to be held on public land.

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