The Scotchmans Creek Trail is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, which follows Scotchmans Creek through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from East Malvern railway station through to Jells Park although several sections consist of normal residential streets. The trail provides good access to Chadstone Shopping Centre and Holmesglen Institute of TAFE for the local community. The trail passes through Valley Reserve in Mount Waverley, which is one of the last remaining stands of indigenous vegetation in the local area. Although Scotchmans Creek Trail is widely recognized as ending in the west at East Malvern Railway Station, some sources have the trail's west end at Warrigal Rd. The signage on the trail at this point is confusing as two separate routes are signed. One route is via Scotchmans Creek and the other route is via the Pinewood Shopping Centre. Strangely, both routes are signed as the Scotchmans Creek Trail and no indication is given, as to which is the one to use, and why.
Following the Path
The trail begins in the west at East MalvernRailway Station where it runs alongside the Monash Freeway until it meets Warrigal Road. An overpass takes it to Scotchmans Creek where it continues along the Scotchmans Creek Linear Reserve until it reaches Park Rd. It passes to the north of the Oakleigh Recreation Centre and onwards to Huntingdale Rd where pedestrian lights allow safe crossing. It runs past the Huntingdale Wetlands and crosses Stanley Ave, before going through a tunnel under the Monash Freeway and then under Stephensons Rd. After crossing Forster Rd, the path continues to Waverley Rd near Anthony Drive. Previously identified as a "missing link", this section was opened in October 2013, and may be prone to flooding. The alternate route is via Rhonda St and Anthony Drive. At Anthony Drive, the trail crosses Waverley road at the east end of traffic island, and continues north-eastward. There is a sign-posted turn off leading to Valley Reserve. The shared pedestrian-bicycle path crosses Blackburn Rd via a footbridge. and finally ends at Waverley Rd near the Homesglen Institute of TAFE, with most of the remaining journey to Jells Park being on residential streets. After crossing Waverley Rd, the trail turns down Ivanhoe St and follows the path eastwards to Winmalee Drive. It turns down Koonalda Ave and crosses over Springvale Rd at the pedestrian lights. A road section at Whites Lane leads to a tennis club. The trail leaves the road for the path at this point, this turn-off being noted for being very easy for users to miss. The path continues to Belvedere Ave, Mackintosh Rd and Lum Rd. There are two options for cyclists after Lum Rd: to go down either Strickland Dr and Clarke Ct, or to go down Tom Begg Ct. The trail is steep here as it descends into the Dandenong Valley. A short laneway at the end of each court leads to Sunnybrook Drive. The final section of the path continues to Jells Park.
The Waverley Rail Trail can be reached via Argyll St. At Waverley Rd pass under the highway using the path that leads to Golfers Drive. Heading towards the public golf course, the path resumes on the right. Descending down the path then leads to Argyll St. Travel east to the far end of Argyll St. At Holmesglen railway station use the pedestrian bridge to cross Warrigal Road arriving at the Waverley Rail Trail.
