Braeside Park Loop

Starting at the Goshawk Car park on Federation Picnic Area Road, Braeside, this walk loops within Braeside Park via the Howards Road, Wetlands and Red Gum trails. This calming loop walk meanders through woodland, grassland, heathland and wetland on a flat track, making it easy to forget that the suburbs surround you. In the wetlands, you will find side trails leading to viewing areas and a bird-hide, providing a great opportunity to watch undisturbed birdlife and appreciate flora and fauna. The visitors centre has information about the park, and there are picnic areas with toilets facilities along the way. Watch out for bikes and horses on the Red Gum trail, as it's a shared trail. Be aware that snakes may be present during peak seasons (October—May), so avoid walking off the trail. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the park. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks

Tips on staying safe on track

Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Transport options and directions

Start	(-37.9921972,145.1226139)
Mode	Bus Car
Directions	From Monash Freeway, M1 Turn on to Warrigal Road Off Ramp then drive for 400 m Keep right onto Warrigal Road Off Ramp and drive for another 120 m Keep right and drive for another 225 m Keep right onto 15 and drive for another 310 m Turn left onto 15 and drive for another 5.8 km Turn left onto Dingley Bypass, 14, 87 and drive for another 4.1 km Turn sharp right onto Boundary Road, 23 and drive for another 3.1 km Turn left onto Lower Dandenong Road, 10 and drive for another 1.4 km Turn right onto Sandleford Place and drive for another 140 m Keep right and drive for another 410 m Turn left and drive for another 140 m

Track Notes

Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the Braeside Park at the start. W:parkweb.vic.gov.au
	After another 10 m veer left.
	After another 10 m turn right.
	After another 85 m turn left, to head along Howards Road Trail. After another 400 m head into the "Braeside Park". W:parkweb.vic.gov.au
	After another 225 m (at the intersection of Cypress Drive & Howards Road Trail) continue straight.
	After another 390 m (at the intersection of Cypress Drive & Howards Road Trail) veer left, to head along Howards Road Trail.
	After another 125 m (at the intersection of Wetlands Trail & Howards Road Trail) turn right, to head along Wetlands Trail. After another 40 m pass the water tap (on your right).
	After another 80 m turn right. After another 260 m come to the "Birdhide" (10 m on your left). Then pass a seat (15 m on your left).
	Turn right, to head along Wetlands Trail.
	After another 610 m veer left, to head along Wetlands Trail. After another 285 m continue straight, to head along Wetlands Trail.
	After another 25 m (at the intersection of Howards Road Trail & Wetlands Trail) continue straight, to head along Wetlands Trail.
	After another 85 m continue straight, to head along Wetlands Trail. After another 55 m (at the intersection of Red Gum Trail & Wetlands Trail) continue straight, to head along Red Gum Trail. After another 35 m pass the water tap (6 m on your right). After another 20 m pass the toilet (45 m on your right).
	Continue straight, to head along Red Gum Trail. After another 40 m pass the sign (10 m on your right). After another 830 m (at the intersection of Red Gum Trail & Racecourse Circuit) continue straight, to head along Red Gum Trail. After another 245 m pass the sign (15 m on your right). After another 10 m pass the "Sherry Bridge" (15 m on your right). After another 270 m cross the bridge (about 9 m long)
	After another 25 m (at the intersection of Heathland Trail & Red Gum Trail) turn right, to head along Heathland Trail.
	After another 30 m turn right, to head along Heathland Trail.
	After another 55 m veer right, to head along Heathland Trail. After another 285 m pass the water tap (on your left). After another 160 m continue straight, to head along Heathland Trail. After another 10 m pass the sign (25 m on your right). After another 30 m pass the water tap (6 m on your left).
	After another 60 m (at the intersection of Red Gum Trail & Heathland Trail) continue straight, to head along Red Gum Trail.
	After another 50 m continue straight, to head along Red Gum Trail. After another 25 m continue straight. There is a playground (about 10 m back from the start).
	After another 10 m continue straight. After another 30 m continue straight. After another 30 m pass the toilet (45 m on your left). Then head into the "Braeside Park". W:parkweb.vic.gov.au
	After another 30 m continue straight.
	After another 40 m continue straight.
	After another 10 m turn left.
	After another 100 m continue straight. After another 65 m continue straight.
	After another 190 m turn right.
	After another 10 m veer right.
	After another 30 m come to the end.

Terrain

Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Braeside Park Loop

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	5.6 km
Time	1 h 15 min to 2 h 15 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Flat, no steps (1/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There is one 3.9 km from the start.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.9 km apart with the largest gap of 2.8 km.

Seat: There is one 1.6 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	1.6 km	[seat]
Toilet	2.8 km	[toilet]
Shelter	3.9 km	Sherry Bridge
Toilet	5.1 km	[toilet]

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