Seagulls On The Run

Arthurs Seat Trail Hike

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Arthurs Seat State Park is located on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia and as a State Park it and this trail hike do not meet the criteria for our RUN THE PARKS Challenge.
But we have chosen to include them as an additional ‘bonus’ park and hike as they are located in our back garden and we just love the trails.

A 20km Trail Hike in Arthurs Seat State Park starting on the Two Bays Walking Track from Dromana with a steep climb up Arthurs Seat rising to 305m (100ft) elevation. Taking in Kings Falls and Seawinds Gardens, the Matthew Flinders Cairn and the OT Dam circuit walk with fabulous views of the Mornington Peninsula and it’s coastline villages and hamlets,  across Port Phillip Bay to Melbourne CBD and the Bellarine Peninsula."

Click ‘attend’ 

This Trail Hike was coordinated by a local hiking and adventure group that I am a member of. The group is part of Meet Up - a social networking site that allows you to find and join groups related to your interests to ‘meet up’ and do more of what you love.  Through this group I have an opportunity to meet other people who share my love for adventure and the outdoors, join hikes to places I have not previously explored and discover new and interesting trails in places I thought I knew well.

When I received the notification about this hike I just had to click ‘attend’ and join in despite the torrential rain forecast for the late afternoon. As the saying goes there’s no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing, all the same I hoped we would make it back before the rains were at their worst!!

I LOVE the Mornington Peninsula and I can often be found running or hiking somewhere on it, but I couldn’t miss an opportunity to experience it as a ‘follower’ and immerse myself in the environment without having to be focused on the direction I was taking.  When out on my own I frequently have to backtrack as I get so absorbed in where I am that I miss where I am supposed to be. But on the plus side that does add to the adventure, the kilometers covered and the calories burned!!

AND as Arthurs Seat is a State Park it qualified as a BONUS hike for our RUN THE PARKS Challenge.

Fitness Level

The hike was described as requiring a reasonable level of fitness. It involved steps, steep inclines and declines and 305 metres (1000 ft) elevation to the summit. However there are lots of opportunities to take a breather to admire the spectacular views and flora and fauna along the way. And there are always those pesky shoe laces that continue to come undone and need refastening!

Equipment

It was recommended to take snacks, lunch, water, rain protection, hat and sunscreen.

Given the predicted weather conditions I thought it would be a great opportunity to try out some new gear I had purchased and was planning to use during a future multi day hike. Test here first and not in the middle of South America!

So the gear for this hike included my Vaude Wizard 30+4 backpack with integrated rain cover. And as I wanted to feel what it was like to carry it with weight I filled it with lots of additional clothing. And loads of food. Enough to ensure I would be fine for a week if I somehow managed to meander off the trails and get lost!!

Instead of my usual leggings and sports top, I selected full length stretch, water resistant trousers and moisture wicking, breathable t-shirt and long sleeved top with a sports bra underneath. On my feet I swapped my hiking boots for Altra trail runners - Lone Peak 3.5 with Injinji liners and Steigen socks.

I had my favourite waterproof jacket and cap for the rain and Goodr sunglasses for the sun. Well it is Melbourne and you have to be prepared for all weather! And with that in mind I also packed a padded body warmer, gloves, beanie and a THIR. But as it turned out I didn`t need them.

Starting point 

The trail hike into Arthurs Seat State Park was a circuit. Starting and finishing from the Latrobe Parade Car Park located on the corner of Latrobe Parade and Bunurong Track, Dromana.

It is a small dirt car park located near the start of the Two Bays Walking Track with 24 hour access and no parking restrictions. It has no amenities so you need to ensure you go before you get there or you will have to hold on until you get to Seawinds. Or the Mornington Peninsula Visitors Centre has facilities and is just 5mins down the road.

Warning: There has been some reported car break-ins in the area so avoid leaving valuables in the car and keep all items out of sight.  The parking spaces closest to the entry are a little less secluded and so more visible.

An alternative starting point would be parking at the Mornington Peninsula Visitors Information Centre  (359B Point Nepean Road, Dromana) and walking to the start along Latrobe Parade. This will add a further 4 kms round trip- see access by public transport below for more details.  

Getting to the start

Arthurs Seat State Park is located on the Mornington Peninsula about 90 kms, approximately a 1 hour drive south  of Melbourne.

By Public Transport

Due to the nature and vast openness of most parks their accessibility  by public transport is limited.

The Public Transport Victoria Journey Planner indicates the best way to access this particular hike from Melbourne would include a  2¼ hour journey by train and bus. Starting at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne and taking a train on the Frankston Line to Frankston. A short walk from the station to the bus terminal to catch the number 788 bus to Dromana and Mornington Peninsula Visitors Information Centre (359B Point Nepean Road, Dromana).

From here there would be a 2 km walk along Latrobe Parade, with just a little huffing and puffing to the Bunarong Track and the start of Arthurs Seat Park and the Two Bays Track.  

The 5 hour return journey would provide a great opportunity to catch up on your latest podcasts or book. If you don’t have a book on the go check out our Books on the Run for inspiration. And if there’s time between your bus and train connections, head over the road to Eeny Meeny (96 Young Street Frankston) for an awesome coffee.

At the time of writing this journey incorporates zones 1&2 and costs $8.60 for a daily fare. You will need a valid ‘myki’  and you can buy either a physical myki card or, if you have an Android phone, a digital myki called Mobile myki. 

By Car

If you don’t have a spare 5 hours and have access to a vehicle I would suggest you drive. The journey would still provide you with an opportunity to catch up with your podcasts or audiobook. But listening to your favourite playlist may be a little less distracting option. However the journey itself could prove to be a little distracting depending on the route you take-read on!!

The M1 Monash Freeway is pretty boring as you head out of Melbourne and through the ‘inner burbs’ but it does what it’s designed to do and gets you out of the city quickly. It’s when you reach the Eastlink and Peninsula Link that the journey livens up. As you drive these stretches you’ll be rewarded with large scale roadside artwork. An open air sculpture park viewable from the comfort of your car. Look out for the giant bird with a worm. A huge metal object lying by the roadside as if a discarded piece of agricultural machinery. A towering hotel, a ginormous Lego space station. The transmission tower collapsing under the weight of a meteor. And the ‘Colossus of Rhodes’ in the form of a giant chrome gnome guarding the entrance to the Peninsula.  

The views of the peninsula as you travel along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway are stunning. To the west (your right) is Port Phillip Bay and you get the odd glimpse of the crystal clear waters of the protected Bay. Off to the east are rolling fields and paddocks with cattle, race horses and deer, yes deer with full on antlers! The fields are soon replaced with bush covered slopes and Arthurs Seat dominates the vista in front of you giving you the first view of where you are about to hike.

Tolls 

Be aware the route does  contains toll roads. You would need to ensure you have an appropriate account or pass for the trip. 
Linkt provides an online toll calculator and an opportunity to pre purchase a pass that covers both toll roads for this journey. At the time of writing the journey from Kings Way & Power Street in the City to the end of Eastlink at the Peninsula Link costs $12.82 each way on a weekend.

If you don’t wish to take the toll roads there are alternatives options that will take a little longer. Check out a Map App for the best route to take on the day.

Getting Started 

The great thing about hiking in a group is the opportunity to meet a diverse range of people with a similar interest enjoying the outdoors and having time to chat as you navigate the trails. The negative is the time it takes to JUST GET GOING. Oh and toilet breaks can take a little while as the whole group just ‘pops to the loo’.

Two Bays Walking Track

The hike started at 10am from the car park and headed straight up the Two Bays Track, identified by a circular symbol displaying a Blue Wren, and which also forms part of the Mornington Peninsula Walk.

A little way up the track I realised I had forgotten to ‘start’ my watch to record the hike. And then it took an age for the GPS to connect. Lesson to self set up on the journey to enable the GPS tracking to ‘locate’ and then remember to ‘start’ at the start. With the shelter of the trees and the steep ascent it didn`t take long before I was removing the layers and I walked most of the trail wishing I had shorts on.

The winding trail to Seawinds is a little over 2km of steep inclines, steps and formed trail.  And the amazing views of the Peninsula and out to Port Phillip Bay provided much needed opportunities to stop to rest the legs and catch a breather on the way up. The birds were in full song as we progressed along the track but I didn`t catch a glimpse of any of those singing their hearts out, not that I would have known what they were even if I had.

Kings Falls Circuit

The need for a ‘quick’ toilet stop resulted in a slight detour from the planned route to progress up the gradual slope to Seawinds. Backtracking we then continuing along the bush track onto Kings Falls. More steep inclines/declines, steps and formed trails and the most amazing medicinal eucalypt smell.

The Kings Falls Circuit is a circular 1km trail with a series of interpretive signs and a boardwalk (now metal). It can be done in either direction and leads you to Kings Falls. A not so impressive waterfall at the time of this visit, but there was water if you look hard enough.

The view from the platform is spectacular and I was so absorbed with it and my quest to locate the waterfall that I had paused my watch then forgot to restart it as we set off. So my Garmin map has me teleporting as if by magic a few hundred meters up the track, Oops! Sorry if you were looking to upload and follow the route, but you should still be able to follow the path it is after all a circuit.

Seawinds

Backtracking again we headed to Seawinds for a lunch stop with the most spectacular Autumnal colours of the gardens as a backdrop. Each season would bring a different backdrop. Daffodils and flower trees and shrubs in Spring. And the contrast of the bare branches and the pine and cypress trees in Winter.

There were numerous BBQ shelters and plenty of picnic tables dotted around. We were fortunate that despite it being a little chilly the weather remained kind to us making for a pleasant picnic stop. We were also rewarded with some black cockatoos frolicking amongst the trees, a family of ducks passing by hoping for some left over crumbs and a mob of kangaroos.

The amenities block is lit by natural light, the toilets clean with decent paper and there is a tap and sink but you do need your own hand cleanser and drip dry your hands.   

Seawinds Gardens, William Ricketts sculptures, Matthew Flinders Cairn

After lunch the hike continued through the Seawinds Gardens to the lookouts. But the weather chose that moment to take a rapid turn for the worse with wind and rain and the normally spectacular views disappeared out of sight.

Onward to the Matthew Flinders Cairn. We passed the William Ricketts sculptures on the way, and as we did the weather started to improve providing a clearer view out to the Bay with spectacular skies and cloud formations. And we got our rewarded for the 305 meters of elevation that we had climbed earlier. In front of us were the most fabulous views of the Mornington Peninsula and it’s coastline and across Port Phillip Bay to Melbourne CBD and the Bellarine Peninsula.

"The best view comes after the hardest climb."

OT Dam Circuit

The way to OT Dam from here involved a road crossing and then walking along a short stretch of road. So take care on this section. At the summit we passed Arthurs Seat Eagle Chair Lift and Arthurs restaurant - providing a fabulous view to go with a coffee of a cold glass of Coldstream cider. Unfortunately there was no time to stop as we were on a mission to get to OT Dam and back before the predicted torrential rains. The path took a trail running alongside Arthurs Seat Road before heading away from the road and back into the Park and onto OT Dam via The Friends Track. Rather than taking the winding single trail we opted for the shorter wide gravel fire track and head straight down to the dam with steep inclines/declines. 

We quickly discovered this area of the Park with its wide open tracks and steep sections was home to another set of visitors, the mountain bikers who came thundering past us but were a little slower as they made their way back up the hills.

The OT Dam circuit is a 3km trail located in a deep gully of native bushland with Eucalyptus trees, with steps and a boardwalk that can be done in either direction to navigate around the dam. 

Returning to the start

The return journey involved steep inclines and declines to backtrack along The Friends Track and out along Arthurs Seat Road to the Summit. There is an amenities block here if required before re-joining the Two Bays Track down steep declines and steps on formed trail back to the car park. Thankfully we made it back relatively dry and before the worst of the weather.

Post Trail Coffee Awesomeness

No coffee good or bad is available at the finishing point and so a detour would be required. I would definitely have driven the 5 km to MY FAVOURITE coffee roasters at The Little Rebels Coffee Roastery had it not been closed. So instead I headed back home for a bubbly bath and an awesome coffee made with my own favourite Little Rebel coffee beans.

Seagull Top Tip

When ascending and descending steps alternate the take-off and landing feet to share the load and avoid one leg become the dominant one.

Fireside Chat: our review of Arthurs Seat Trail Hike

It was a challenging hike at times, along beautiful trails with awesome views.

The diversity of the Seawinds Gardens was a lovely contrast to the bush trails.

It provided an opportunity to see various fungi, flora and fauna.

Great place to stop for lunch with picnic tables and benches and clean amenities.

We missed the spectacular view from the summit lookouts due to the change in the weather. But that`s more reason to return.

There were a large number of visitors in certain areas, a result of the ease of access to the summit via Arthurs Seat Road and The Eagle. However there were less on the trails further ‘in’ to the Park, with the exception of the mountain bikers thundering down the descents around OT Dam.

Seagull Scoring System

Scenery ✦✦✦✧✧

Variety ✦✦✦✧✧

Reward ✦✦✦✧✧

Solitude ✦✧✧✧✧

Challenge ✦✦✦✧✧

Coffee ✧✧✧✧✧

Overall ✦✦✧✧✧

Seagulls on the Run acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, live and play. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging