Here at WAC, we love taking people on outdoor adventures. We know that when people spend time in the river, on the trails and up the mountains, they get a greater understanding of nature and are more likely to take care of it.WAC HQ is surrounded by parks: Yarra Ranges National Park (featuring the 1245m-high Mount Donna Buang), the Britannia Creek Cave geological reserve (where we run our caving sessions), and Yarra State Forest (where we run our mountain bike uplift services and guided mountain biking adventures). To keep these parks and the rest of our unique area pristine, WAC practices Leave No Trace principles:PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARECAMP AND HIKE ON DURABLE SURFACESPROPERLY DISPOSE OF WASTELEAVE NATURE AS YOU FIND ITMINIMISE CAMPFIRE IMPACT RESPECT WILDLIFE BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS AND TRADITIONAL LANDOWNERSThere’s a bunch of things you can do when you visit our area that will help leave it cleaner and better than before. We’d really appreciate it!Melbourne and surrounds have some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, so bring a reusable water bottle on your WAC adventures (or buy a quality one from WAC HQ) and refill it from water bubblers as you travel around Victoria.If you’re travelling with pets, check if dogs and pets are allowed where you go. For example, Mount Donna Buang is in a national park, and to protect native wildlife dogs and pets are strictly prohibited (even in the car). On-lead dog walking is only permitted on the O’Shannassy Aquaduct Trail between the Dee Road carpark and Yuonga Road, Warburton. Always pick up after your dog and dispose of the bags in bins.Many of Warburton’s rubbish bins have wire containers attached for drink containers with the 10c container deposit scheme logo on them. Please use these for your empties if applicable so someone can benefit from your rubbish!If you’re heading out on an adventure, bring any wrappers back with you, including fruit peels etc.If you’re heading on a river adventure, wear closed river shoes: thongs easily fall off and become rubbish (wear socks over thongs if you’re desperate!).Playing on the Yarra River/Birrarung? Only use high quality, durable river tubes on the river, and avoid cheap options especially those with glitter etc. inside as they break easily, adding to micro-plastic pollution. Use the public toilets in Warburton before setting out on your adventure as many scenic spots outside town do not have public toilets.If you’re bringing your own barbecue, check the rules. If Portable BBQs and Heat Bead BBQs are permitted, take home any resulting waste items, including used heat beads.Take 3 for the trails! You can help make Trash Free Trails by picking up 3 pieces of rubbish on your walk or run.
