The Lake Circuit Trail at Lysterfield Park offers a delightful 6km loop that's perfect for a leisurely escape into nature. This family-friendly bushwalk winds through dry forest and woodland, providing a scenic escape from the bustle of Melbourne.
The wide gravel surface makes for easy navigation, with distance markers popping up every kilometer to keep you on track. And don't worry about breaking a sweat - the trail is mostly flat with just two short hills to conquer. The trail is also open to cyclists and off-road prams, making it inclusive for everyone.
Lysterfield Park is renowned for its abundant wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos and wallabies grazing in the open areas. You might even get lucky and spot a koala or an echidna camouflaged amongst the trees. Dawn and dusk are prime times for wildlife viewing, so plan your hike accordingly.
As you embark on your journey, be sure to cross the dam wall for panoramic views of Lysterfield Lake. Throughout the walk, the trail weaves between the trees, offering occasional glimpses of the sparkling water. Take a moment to relax and soak in the scenery at one of the three jetties along the trail. Here, you can admire the tranquility of the lake and see if you can spot any waterbirds. The Eurasian Coot, Eastern Swamphen, and even the migratory Japanese Snipe all call this lake home.
The Lake Circuit Trail is just the beginning of your Lysterfield Park adventure. This trail connects to a broader network of walking and cycling tracks, allowing you to explore further. Feeling adventurous? Take on the Granite Peak Trail, a more challenging bushwalk that climbs uphill to Trig Point, rewarding you with breathtaking 360-degree views of Melbourne.
Grade 2 (Easy) -Â
A Gentle Introduction to Inclines: Grade 2 on the
AWTGS represents easy walking tracks that offer a slightly more challenging experience compared to Grade 1. Similar to Grade 1, no prior bushwalking experience is required. The track surface is typically hardened or compacted and may have gentle hill sections or occasional steps. The total distance of a Grade 2 walk is typically no greater than 10 kilometers. These walks are still suitable for families with a bit more experience or those seeking a gentle introduction to some inclines.
- Dogs, cats and motorbikes are not permitted in Churchill National Park and Lysterfield Park.
- Please take all your rubbish home with you.
- Do not feed the animals.
- Firearms, fires and camping are not permitted.
- Snakes live in this park and sometimes sunbake on the paths. Do not approach.
- There are picnic areas at both Lysterfield Park lake area and at Churchill National Park.
- Both picnic areas have toilets and provide free bbqs.
- Drinking water is available at Lysterfield Park.
- There is no drinking water at Churchill National Park.
Total distance: 5880 m
Max elevation: 106 m
Min elevation: 71 m
Total climbing: 103 m
Total descent: -102 m
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Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting to the trailhead: Lysterfield Park.
The Lysterfield Lake Circuit commences at Mahogany Carpark and is best walked or run in an anticlockwise direction.
Churchill National Park and Lysterfield Park are in Endeavor Hills, approximately 1hr from Melbourne’s CBD. The main entrance to Lysterfield Park is accessed from Horswood Rd, Narre Warren. Access to Churchill National Park’s main entrance is from Churchill Park Drive, off Police Road in Lysterfield South.
Pedestrians and cyclists can access both parks 24 hours a day. The main carparking area at Lysterfield Park is open from sunrise to sunset seven days a week. Vehicles can exit the park after hours via one-way spikes.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Consisting of woodland and small areas of original forest, Churchill National Park is home to a large Eastern grey kangaroo and Swamp wallaby population. The park is a wonderful display of the original landscape before clearing and settlement.
As you wander through the many trails, ensure you have your binoculars onboard. Carefully observe the different layers of canopy, spying reptiles basking in the sunlight, macropods moving through the shrubs or spotting a Powerful owl roosting in overhanging branches.
Look carefully and you might spot an array of parrots, honeyeaters, Superb Fairy-wrens, thornbills, grebes, pelicans, cockatoos or even the migratory Japanese Snipe and Swift Parrot. With Peregrine Falcons and Black-shouldered kites nesting in the area, birdwatchers won't be disappointed with the biodiversity in the sky. Keep an eye on the Birdlife Australia website, who records any major sightings of endangered species such as the migratory Swift Parrot.
Many other species of fauna reside in Churchill National Park. Some species include a healthy population of Powerful owls, Little Forest bats and numerous species of frogs, reptiles and snakes. The endangered Southern Toadlet can be heard croaking from the network of creeks throughout the park.
Over a dozen different eucalypt species, wattles and native orchids can be seen within Churchill National Park. You might notice large tussocks with long leaves - these plants are known as Red-fruit Saw-sedge. These plants, which can be found in the damp woodlands, are vital for the survival of the Sword Grass-brown butterfly. They lay their eggs exclusively on the Saw-sedge, and the plant plays an essential part in their life cycle.
Looking for more walks in or near Lysterfield Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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