Anniversary & Basalt Lakes

Starting from the visitor centre in Wilson Botanic Park (aka Berwick Botanical Gardens), this circuit walk pivots around Anniversary and Basalt Lake, passing by Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower and Alex Macleod Bird Hide along the way. Anniversary and Basalt Lakes offer a family-friendly trail through Wilson Botanic Park (aka Berwick Botanical Gardens). The mostly unsealed tracks provide stunning views of natural scenery. Along the track, there are plenty of turtles and rabbits, and the bird hide allows you to spot some exciting water birds. Additionally, there are toilets, a café, a playground with heaps of shade, and water fountains available to visitors. With a variety of track options, visitors can spend hours exploring without backtracking once. This haven in the city is a perfect escape for those looking for a scenic walk or a place to relax and unwind with family and friends. 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.

Downloads GPX PDF

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	(-38.0278875,145.3373697)
Mode	Bus Car
Directions	From Monash Freeway Turn on to Princes Highway Off Ramp then drive for 420 m Keep left onto Monash Out - Princes Ramp Of and take A60 toward Berwick and drive for another 80 m Turn left onto Princes Highway and drive for another 1.2 km Turn left and drive for another 205 m Keep right and drive for another 90 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is a car park (about 35 m back from the start). After 70 m pass the toilet (6 m on your left). After another 20 m pass the car park (35 m on your left).
	After another 30 m turn right. After another 30 m continue straight. After another 35 m continue straight.
	After another 20 m continue straight. After another 55 m continue straight. After another 20 m pass the cafe (on your left).
	After another 40 m continue straight. After another 80 m pass the BBQ (9 m on your left). After another 10 m pass the water tap (10 m on your left). After another 35 m pass a seat (20 m on your left). After another 50 m pass the waterfall (9 m on your left). After another 30 m continue straight.
	After another 30 m veer left. After another 90 m cross the bridge (about 90 m long)
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to Alex Macleod Bird Hide. To start this optional side trip turn sharp right here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 45 m continue straight. After another 225 m pass a seat (on your right). After another 75 m continue straight. After another 65 m continue straight.
	After another 35 m turn right, to head along Lakeside Walk.
	After another 5 m (at the intersection of Lakeside Walk & Pinetree Walk) continue straight, to head along Lakeside Walk. After another 225 m pass the shelter (on your right). Then pass the toilet (15 m on your right). After another 20 m pass the picnic table (15 m on your left). Continue straight, to head along Lakeside Walk.
	After another 35 m continue straight, to head along Lakeside Walk.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip taking you to Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 80 m continue straight, to head along Lakeside Walk. After another 15 m pass the artwork (5 m on your left). Turn right. After another 40 m continue straight. After another 20 m continue straight. After another 35 m continue straight.
	After another 30 m turn left. After another 90 m come to the end.

This little side trip takes you to Alex Macleod Bird Hide.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 35 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 35 m to the main route.

An optional side trip taking you to Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 35 m turn right. Then head up the steps (about 30 m long) After another 45 m pass the toilet (about 40 m ahead). Then pass the "Picnic Shelter" (about 50 m ahead).
	Turn sharp right. After another 35 m head up the steps (about 4 m long)
	After another 55 m turn left. Then come to "Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower". The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 190 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Anniversary & Basalt Lakes

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	1.7 km
Time	30 min to 45 min

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

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 650 m apart with the largest gap of 1.4 km.

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 490 m apart with the largest gap of 1.3 km.

Seat: There are 2 on route, on average they are 580 m apart with the largest gap of 760 m.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	35 m	[toilet]
Seat	420 m	[seat]
Seat	980 m	[seat]
Shelter	1.4 km	[shelter]
Toilet	1.4 km	[toilet]
Toilet	1.5 km + 110 m	[toilet]
Shelter	1.5 km + 110 m	Picnic Shelter

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Dandenong Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  13°C
  Showers.
  95% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. Late snow falling above 600 metres. Possible small hail from late this morning. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning westerly 15 to 25 km/h in the late morning. Daytime maximum temperatures between 8 and 13.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  5°C → 12°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  1 → 7mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about the ranges. Very high chance of showers in the east, medium chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 600 metres. Possible small hail. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h turning southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 5 with daytime temperatures reaching between 8 and 12.
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  5°C → 13°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers in the east, medium chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 800 metres. Patches of frost and the chance of fog about the ranges in the morning. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 9 and 13.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  6°C → 14°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about the ranges. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 5 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 13.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  3°C → 14°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  2°C → 14°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  3°C → 16°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Parks Victoria Alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check Parks Victoria closure website for anything that may impact on your plans.

Weather Forecast

Alerts