Altona Dog Beach and Cherry Lake Walk (Altona)

This 7.5km circuit walk is especially ideal for a dog walk since it starts and ends at the Altona dog beach which is off-leash all year round and one of the best off-lead dog beaches in Melbourne with big tidal sand flats and shallow water. Near the dog beach is the P A Burns Reserve Fenced Dog Park which has large grassy off-leash areas. The remainder of the walk is a dog on-leash area.

The walk passes through Altona Coastal Park which was once the site of one of Melbourne's oldest racetracks but is now an important habitat for many wading birds. The 70 hectare park comprising of woodlands, grasslands and saltmarsh vegetation is home to a variety of native plants and wildlife. At low tide, the seawater recedes and the coastal mudflats are exposed, providing feeding grounds for the migratory and resident seabirds. Dogs need to remain on-leash in this area as well as Cherry Lake. This walk follows part of the Bay Trail which is a shared path, so watch out for cyclists.

This area is being rehabilitated by community members and supported by Melbourne Water and Hobsons Bay City Council. Prior to European settlement, this area had a range of plants and animals that inhabited saltmarsh and grassland environments. The groups have been reintroducing indigenous vegetation to this area to address the loss of biodiversity resulting from land clearing and invasive weeds.

There is no shade on the walk and be wary of snakes during the warmer months. A nice time to visit is October when coastal pigface is flowering.

There is a large car park outside P A Burns Reserve Fenced Dog Park.

Route Map

Walk Directions

1. Park your car at the large car park for the P A Burns Reserve Fenced Dog Park. This is off Altona Road, just south of the Pines Scout Camp. There is access to the Altona dog beach which is off leash all year round. Around low tide mark a huge area of sand flats are uncovered. After a splash and play, put the leash back on and join the trail which follows the bay before curving inland to enter the Altona Coastal Park.



2. At the entrance to the Altona Coastal Park, there are some interesting information boards with pictures of the birds which live in the Park. Continue straight ahead (don't go on the track heading to the left) and enter the wetlands area where there are more information signs beside the track. Follow the loop around past Kororoit Creek and the racehorse sculpture, keeping Racecourse Road on your right.



3. There is a track leading to Cherry Lake at the next T-junction (with a sign 'Turn off to Cherry Lake'). Cross over Racecourse Road, then go over the pedestrian crossing of the train track and walk along the path beside the wetlands.

4. When you reach busy Millers Road, turn left along the footpath for 50 m then cross over at the designated crossing zone. Look out for the reddish concrete path which is the start the Cherry Lake circuit walk. Continue along the northern side of the lake. Dogs must be on leash in the Cherry lake Reserve since the area is a conservation zone.

5. North of the lake beside the path is the "New Beginnings Forest 2021". This area was revegetated in May 2021 with native trees and plants by staff from Melbourne Water to celebrate a 'new beginning' following an incredibly challenging year in 2020. Their people grew and nurtured many of the seedlings and came together to plant this 'New Beginnings Forest' which is a positive and hopeful symbol and a reminder of what we have endured as a community. The area supports one of the most significant population of the threatened Altona Skipper Butterfly. The butterflies rely on Chaffy Saw-sedge as habitat.



6. After 1 km, on the western edge of the lake, there is a short boardwalk which leads out to a bird hide set among native bulrushes. A little bit further along a bridge crosses Cherry Creek where it enters Cherry Lake.



7. The circuit path continues around the southern part of the lake past sporting fields, exercise stations, toilets, fishing areas, water taps and a playground.

8. Just past the playground, there is a boardwalk detour across the edge of the lake. Continue on along the path around the eastern end of the lake, parallel to Millers Road.

9. Just before the wooden footbridge over the lake outlet drain on the eastern side of the lake, turn right and walk across the grass and cross over busy Millers Road, and through the gates into the HC Kim Reserve. Note: If the gates are closed, you can walk along the grass to the right (south) of the drain/ canal and along the fence line of the reserve. There is a fence opening back into the soccer reserve at the end of the fence where the canal widens out. Don't be tempted to walk along the north side of the drain/ canal since that is blocked by a tall wall near the railway track.

10. Walk beside the fence, past the soccer pitches and straight ahead at the end of the reserve into residential Cambridge St. Stay on the left-hand side footpath which brings you to a path across the grass and the train tracks. You can now cross Altona Road and walk back to the carpark or across to the beach for a run along the sand.

Photos:

Location

Pines Scout Camp Road,  Altona 3018 Map

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Web Links

→ Tide Predictions for Victoria

→ Melbourne Tide Times (Tides Chart)

→ Altona Beach Dog Off Leash Area


Altona Dog Beach and Cherry Lake Walk (Altona)Pines Scout Camp Road,, Altona, Victoria, 3018