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Cardinia Dam & Messmate Track
This walk starts near La Perouse Park on Cardinia Reservoir Access Road, Emerald, looping along the Cardinia Reservoir via the Messmate Track and the Tea Tree Trail. Enjoy a leisurely walk on this easy-going track that winds along the waterside, with stunning views of the Cardinia Reservoir and the surrounding hills, and a variety of other landscapes that unfold as you explore the track. There is also a picnic area where you can stop for a lunch break. The track is mostly flat, well signed and well formed with very few obstacles, being suited for prams and bicycles. 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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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.
Start (-37.9748829,145.3999346 ) Mode Car Directions From Burwood Highway, 26, Wantirna.Turn on to 5 then drive for 860 m At roundabout, take exit 3 onto Glenfern Road, 5 and drive for another 770 m Continue onto Lysterfield Road, 5 and drive for another 4.2 km Turn left onto Wellington Road, C413 and drive for another 4.6 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Wellington Road, C413 and drive for another 1.5 km Turn right onto Berwick Road, 61 and drive for another 1.3 km Turn left onto Boundary Road and drive for another 3.9 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Red Hill Road and drive for another 530 m Turn left onto Cardinia Reservoir Access Road and drive for another 450 m Turn sharp right and drive for another 75 m
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start .
After another 85 m
turn right , to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
After another 35 m turn right .
After another 9 m
continue straight .
After another 55 m head through/around the gate.
After another 1.7 km head through/around the gate.
Continue straight .
After another 105 m pass the car park (8 m on your right).
Continue straight , to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
After another 40 m
continue straight , to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
After another 10 m turn left .
After another 15 m
turn right , to head along Tea Tree Trail.
After another 175 m pass the car park (on your right).
After another 660 m (at the intersection of Tea Tree Trail & Northern Exit Road) continue straight , to head along Tea Tree Trail.
After another 140 m (at the intersection of Messmate Trail & Tea Tree Trail) turn right , to head along Messmate Trail.
After another 440 m (at the intersection of Messmate Trail & Duffys Park Access Road) continue straight , to head along Messmate Trail.
After another 90 m come to the "Duffys Lookout" (20 m on your left).
After another 115 m pass the car park (30 m on your left).
After another 30 m
continue straight , to head along Messmate Trail.
After another 295 m pass a seat (on your left).
After another 110 m pass a seat (on your right).
After another 205 m turn right .
After another 105 m pass the "Crystal Brook Picnic Area" (20 m on your right).
After another 9 m pass the BBQ (30 m on your right).
Turn sharp left .
After another 45 m pass the shelter (15 m on your left).
After another 15 m pass the playground (30 m on your left).
After another 35 m head through/around the gate.
After another 2 m veer left .
After another 40 m pass the toilet (20 m on your left).
After another 60 m turn right , to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
After another 35 m
turn left .
After another 60 m continue straight .
After another 115 m pass a seat (about 5 m ahead)., has a backrest.
Turn right .
After another 70 m pass a seat (6 m on your left)., has a backrest.
Turn right .
After another 90 m continue straight .
After another 325 m turn right .
After another 9 m
turn left , to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
After another 35 m
turn left .
After another 85 m come to the end.
Cardinia Dam & Messmate Track
Grading
Class 3/6
Length
5.2 km
Time
2 h 45 min to 4 h 30 min
Quality of track
Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient
Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure
Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (2/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)
Some facilities on route Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.7 km apart with the largest gap of 4.3 km.
Toilet: There is one 4.4 km from the start.
Seat: There are 4 on route, on average they are 1 km apart with the largest gap of 3.8 km.
Order of key facilities on route
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Bushwalk
2 h 45 min to 4 h 30 min
1 h 15 min to 2 h 15 min
Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.7 km apart with the largest gap of 4.3 km.
Toilet: There is one 4.4 km from the start.
Seat: There are 4 on route, on average they are 1 km apart with the largest gap of 3.8 km.
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After another 85 m turn right, to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
After another 9 m continue straight.
After another 55 m head through/around the gate.
After another 105 m pass the car park (8 m on your right).
After another 9 m pass the BBQ (30 m on your right).
After another 15 m pass the playground (30 m on your left).
