Wilson Botanic Park

Starting from the visitor centre in Wilson Botanic Park (aka Berwick Botanical Gardens), this circuit walk gives you a comprehensive tour of the park, visiting Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower and Ben's Lookout along the way. Wilson Botanic Park, located 40 km southeast of Melbourne city centre, is a scenic park and the perfect quick escape for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The park features a picturesque, undulating and kid-friendly track that follows around the perimeter. There are heaps of seats to admire the views or have a picnic lunch. The park is also home to many animals, including exciting bird species, which you can look for via the bird hide. The picnic areas and playground make it an ideal spot for a family BBQ trip. Once an operational quarry, this place has become renowned for producing some of the highest-quality basalt in the Melbourne region. However, it can get crowded, so choose your time wisely. 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	(-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 95 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 35 m pass the artwork (25 m on your left). After another 15 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 turn sharp left.
	After another 115 m turn left. Then head up the steps (about 10 m long) After another 8 m veer left, to head along Quarry Road. After another 85 m continue straight, to head along Quarry Road.
	After another 105 m continue straight. After another 175 m come to the viewpoint (on your left). After another 100 m continue straight.
	After another 230 m continue straight. After another 25 m continue straight. After another 25 m continue straight.
	After another 45 m turn left.
	After another 60 m veer left. After another 25 m continue straight. After another 30 m come to the "Ben's Lookout" (25 m on your left). Then pass the shelter (25 m on your left). Continue straight. After another 8 m continue straight.
	After another 3 m veer left.
	After another 195 m turn left. After another 70 m come to the "Hoo Hoo Lookout Tower" (on your right).
	After another 10 m turn right. After another 55 m head down the steps (about 4 m long) After another 35 m continue straight. After another 20 m continue straight. After another 10 m pass the toilet (25 m on your right).
	After another 15 m turn left. After another 30 m pass the "Picnic Shelter" (5 m on your right). Then pass the BBQ (15 m on your right).
	After another 50 m continue straight. After another 60 m continue straight.
	After another 45 m turn right. 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.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Wilson Botanic Park

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	2.8 km
Time	45 min to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
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 (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 950 m apart with the largest gap of 2.1 km.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 950 m apart with the largest gap of 2.5 km.

Seat: There are 2 on route, on average they are 950 m apart with the largest gap of 1.9 km.

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	2.1 km	[shelter]
Toilet	2.5 km	[toilet]
Shelter	2.5 km	Picnic Shelter

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Dandenong Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers near the Otways, slight chance elsewhere. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures between 14 and 18.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 11:00am to 1:40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  6°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of frost near the Yarra Valley in the early morning. Slight chance of a shower near the Otways, most likely in the early morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the early morning then becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 19.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  5°C → 19°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  The chance of morning frost about the ranges. The chance of morning fog. Sunny afternoon. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 20.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  7°C → 21°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog in the east. The chance of morning frost near the Yarra Valley. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 22.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  10°C → 23°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  13°C → 25°C
  Sunny day. Possible late shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Sunny day. Possible late shower.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  13°C → 25°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  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