On a bright winter morning, our group was eager to see how the river had changed after the very heavy rains the week before. We had a large group of more than 30 people, which is best for this trail, as crime is unfortunately often reported here.

We began our walk at St George’s Park and walked down How Avenue, behind the hospital, to the entrance to Settlers Park. We descended to the valley floor and came to our first river crossing. Each river crossing has stepping stones, which add an element of whimsy to the walk. In drier months, your shoes won’t get wet at all. After the recent floods, we realised that every crossing would be wet.

Heading downriver, we came to a small amphitheatre built in the 1800s. This was a good spot for a snack break. Continuing along the river, we walked beneath thick vines and past ferns growing close to the water. We called this section Jurassic Park. As we headed up and out of the valley to complete our circular loop, the wide-branched coral trees provided shade.