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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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	(-37.9748829,145.3999346)
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

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 85 m (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) turn right, to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
	After another 35 m (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) 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). From the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road continue straight, to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road. After another 40 m (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) continue straight, to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road.
	After another 10 m (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) turn left (a footpath). After another 15 m (from the Tea Tree Trail) 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 (from the Messmate Trail) 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 (from the Messmate Trail) 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 (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) turn right, to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road. After another 35 m (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) turn left (a footpath).
	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 (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) turn left, to head along Cardinia Reservoir Access Road. After another 35 m (from the Cardinia Reservoir Access Road) turn left.
	After another 85 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cardinia Dam & Messmate Track

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
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

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	3.8 km	[seat]
Seat	4 km	[seat]
Shelter	4.3 km	Crystal Brook Picnic Area
Shelter	4.3 km	[shelter]
Toilet	4.4 km	[toilet]
Seat	4.7 km	[seat]
Seat	4.7 km	[seat]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Dandenong Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Monday 28 April
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  11°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
  
  9°C → 18°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  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
  
  7°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% 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
  
  5°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 → 21°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  8°C → 23°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  12°C → 25°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