Saddleback & Branding Yard Circuit

Starting from Turntable carpark, You Yangs Regional Park, this circuit walk gives you a more comprehensive tour of the park. This particular track is popular amongst trail runners as it has a nice mix of gradient, surfaces and environment. Expect some great views of the surrounding landscape from different parts of the track. The fauna here is interesting as 200+ bird species, kangaroos, echidnas and koalas reside in the area. You can also see hakea flowers and golden wattles throughout the journey. The car park at the start has BBQs, picnic tables and toilets. Come early to avoid the crowd. Let us begin by acknowledging the Wadawurrung people, 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	(-37.9589783,144.4264768)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Princes Freeway, M1, Avalon. Turn on to then drive for 700 m Keep right and drive for another 55 m Turn right onto Beach Road and drive for another 980 m Turn left onto Old Melbourne Road and drive for another 1.2 km Turn right onto McIntyre Road and drive for another 2.2 km Turn left onto Mill Road and drive for another 75 m Turn right onto Windermere Road and drive for another 2.4 km At roundabout, take exit 3 onto Forest Road North and drive for another 4.9 km Turn right onto Branch Road and drive for another 140 m Turn left onto Turntable Drive and drive for another 2.2 km Turn left onto Turntable Drive and drive for another 100 m Turn sharp left and drive for another 25 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the picnic table at the start. Find the seat at the start. Find the gate at the start. After another 7 m pass the water tap (20 m on your left). After another 15 m pass the toilet (20 m on your left). Continue straight. After another 15 m pass the BBQ (20 m on your right). After another 130 m continue straight.
	After another 660 m veer right.
	After another 1.4 km turn right.
	After another 335 m (at the intersection of Saddleback Track (very steep!) & Northern Range Walk) continue straight, to head along Saddleback Track (very steep!) (a walking track).
	After another 890 m (at the intersection of Branding Yard Trail & Saddleback Track (very steep!)) turn left, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 45 m continue straight, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 25 m pass a seat (4 m on your right). After another 280 m continue straight, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 95 m pass the "Bunjil Geoglyph" (25 m on your left).
	After another 620 m veer right, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 295 m cross the bridge (about 35 m long) After another 15 m veer right, to head along Branding Yard Trail.
	After another 530 m continue straight, to head along Branding Yard Trail.
	After another 270 m turn right, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 90 m continue straight, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 15 m pass the sign (4 m on your right).
	After another 200 m turn left, to head along Branding Yard Trail.
	After another 75 m veer right, to head along Branding Yard Trail. After another 295 m continue straight, to head along Branding Yard Trail.
	After another 35 m turn right. After another 30 m turn left. After another 20 m pass the sign (on your right). After another 9 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Saddleback & Branding Yard Circuit

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	6.5 km
Time	2 h to 3 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 50 m from the start.

Seat: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.2 km apart with the largest gap of 3.6 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	15 m	[seat]
Toilet	50 m	[toilet]
Seat	3.6 km	[seat]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Avalon Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Monday 28 April
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Showers increasing.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 10mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 19.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:50am to 1:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  11°C → 18°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers near the Otways, medium chance elsewhere. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 18.
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  10°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the southwest, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 19.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  8°C → 19°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  The chance of morning fog. Sunny afternoon. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching around 18.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  7°C → 22°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  8°C → 24°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  12°C → 26°C
  Sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  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