Green Cravings.

Challenge: 2 (sports shoe)
Circuit: Nikolaitor via Grünauer Teich,
Rohrhaus and Wiener Blick
Length: 8.33km
Start point: Nikolaitor (Himmelhofgasse 100)
Coordinates: 48°11'53.70"N, 16°15'10.30"E
Public transport: U4, S15, S45 > Hütteldorf station
(10minutes by foot to Nikolaitor)  

ROUTE DESCRIPTION
The urbs entered the Lainzer Tiergarten animal park through the creaky wooden door, and we immediately got the impression that we were in the middle of the forest. This track isn't really unknown, and it isn't the most exciting either, but there are plants and animals aplenty. We meet wild boar and beautiful red deer, specially in late afternoon. We saw stag beetles and great capricorn beetles, a rare beetle that can only be found on mighty oak trees. And the bats, which can bee seen around the Grünauer pond are fascinating, including Daubenton's bats, Gattung Nyctalus and Brant's bat. The path is also very nice to walk along, and the many meadows are an invitation to play or picnic.    

Go to Google -Maps

ROUTE
Go through the Nikolaitor, and then go straight away right on the asphalt path, right alongside the animal park wall. Keep going for a while and the track will turn gently and take you ever deeper into the forest. Keep following the asphalt path, over wooden bridges till Kastanienallee. The first big meadow is on the right, and it's worth taking a detour here to the Grünauer pond.  

Back on the asphalt path, go past the picnic places, play fields and places to feed the wildlife, till you reach a large fork in the path with a little shelter. Here, follow the sign for Rohrhaus. After a steep climb, Rohrhaus with play areas and sunbathing area comes into sight. At the top of the hill, follow the signs for Nikolaitor, which is well signposted from here. The path continues past the entrance to Wiener Blick, a meadow (Bader-Wiese) with a wonderful panorama view!

Back on the gravel path here, we carry on through the forest towards the exit gate. When we get down there we go past the Nikolai-Kapella and a forest play area before the exit can once again be seen.    

AREA TIPS  

Nikolaitor
Opening times:
February, March and October: 9am till 6pm
April to September: 8am till 8pm
Longer some days; closed in winter

Bat tour
Tracking the animal park creatures
together with a bat expert.
Ring 01-804 31 69 to arrange a tour.  
Restaurant Stephan Organic food and drink!
1130 Wien, Auhofstraße 224  

Gasthof Rohrhaus Snacks 
Plain fair and hunter's dishes
1130 Wien, Lainzer Tiergarten  

Play areas
Nikolaiwiese and Rohrhaus  
Skatepark Schimon-Park (Auhofstraße 262)