Trig Point Lookout Circuit (7km)

Churchill National Park is a small but surprisingly isolated park in Melbourne's eastern suburbs - despite its proximity to civilisation, in the midst of the park one cannot hear any noise other than birdsong and your own footsteps. The park contains an extensive network of walking and mountain biking paths: Parks Victoria suggests a range of walks from a short accessible nature walk to a full circuit taking roughly 2.5 hours.

Tracks connect to the adjacent Lysterfield Park and the intrepid bushwalker could easily plot a route of 20km through open bushland. This walk uses a mixture of walking trails, bike paths and gravel roads. The walk can be shortened by omitting the climb to Trig Point Lookout or lengthened by adding on any of the side tracks. Phone coverage is good, the tracks are all signposted and shown well in Google Maps making navigation easy.

This walk starts at the carpark and heads north-west along Army Track before turning right onto Channel Track. Shortly, turn left onto a small walking track. This track weaves through close bushland and scrub and makes for interesting walking with some hidden gems however is somewhat overgrown. One can omit this section and continue along Channel Track if wished.

When you reach North Boundary Track, a gravel bike track, turn right and then turn right again onto Link Track (marker CNP504). When you reach Channel Track, continue to the left and then take Bellbird Track to the left (a walk-only track). At the top of the track there is a pedestrian gate onto Ridge Track. Turn left and then keep to the right at the junction with Nth Boundary Track (CNP503). Follow this gravel/dirt road as it winds through bushland.

When you reach the junction with Stonemason Track (CNP502), you can either turn right to head back to the car or continue along what is now Lysterfield Hills Track to Trig Point Lookout, passing the junction with Woodland Walk shortly after the fence separating Churchill and Lysterfield parks. The climb to Trig Point is worth the effort with stunning 360 views of Melbourne. From here you could take many of the tracks into Lysterfield Park to extend the walk, otherwise retrace your steps and turn left at marker CNP502 onto Stonemason Track.

Upon reaching Syphon Track (you'll see a wooden sign announcing Stonemason Track on the main track first), turn right and follow this very pretty path past hidden ponds and streams. Continue straight onto Channel Track at the intersection and straight again at Kangaroo Track. Shortly after, at a wooden fence post, a path leads off left back to the car park.