Summary

This lovely bushwalk is a great way to discover the diverse bird species of the wonderful Churchill National Park in Melbourne's south east. Make sure you carry binoculars and keep your eyes open.

Description

Churchill National Park is an excellent place for bushwalking, relaxing and native vegetation, wildlife and birdlife observation. This return walk offers the lot with emphasis on spotting some of the 150 species of birds found here. Make sure you carry binoculars. Hope to see birds from Thornbill size to huge Powerful Owls and Wedgetails.

The endangered Southern Toadlet (Pseudophryne semimarmorata) can be heard along the park waterways.

The park has the great advantage of being right on the doorstep of Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs and easy to get to for a large chunk of the population. The area is part of the traditional Country of the Bunurong People.

Once the police corps headquarters for blacktrackers and providing grazing land for police horses, it was known as Police Paddocks. Later the State Electricity Commission cleared much of the site for a power line easement. In 1941 it became a National Park. The Channel Track follows an old aqueduct once part of the water supply for Dandenong.

The walk as mapped may be accessible to some mobility aid users and is part of Parks Victoria’s Guided Park Walks. Slopes are minor. However, all tracks may not be accessible to everyone. See the photos for more details to determine if it will suit you. Alternatively, try the section of the walk mapped as “The Channel Accessible Walk”. This section is fully accessible.

The adjoining picnic ground also offers accessible features for everyone to enjoy. There are facilities such as an accessible picnic and BBQ shelter, an accessible toilet and large car parks where loading and unloading with mobility aids can be easy. The only connection between them is across the grassy slope of the picnic ground or along the roadway.

Start the walk at the service road gate to the end of the top car park above the picnic ground. Rangers can open the gate with prior arrangement. Turn right at the intersection sign to the Channel Track. The track is quite flat. Follow the track to the intersection with Bayview Track and return to the turnoff. From here follow the sign pointing to the northwestern arm of Channel Track. There is a small dam at the return point. The track can be walked all year round. However, it isn't always smooth, firm and wide along the southeastern section, particularly after wet weather.

Pets are not permitted. Assistance dogs are welcome.

There is no public transport.

There are 4 car parks on site. Spaces are unmarked. None have designated accessible parking.

Other walks nearby
The Channel Accessible Walk
Lysterfield Park walk

95 Views

Points of Interest

1. Start your walk or roll

Start your walk or roll at the service road gate at the end of the top car park. The gap to the left of the bollard is 1.65 meters.

2. Birds of the picnic ground

You don't have to be on the track for bird observations. The picnic ground offers many foraging birds to see, such as this pair of colourful Rainbow lorikeets.

3. The Channel Track intersection ahead

Take the right turn to the south and east to travel The Channel Track to the Mistletoe area. On your return take the left Channel Track north west to a small holding dam.

4. Native vegetation

It is worthwhile to observe the vegetation as you walk. More than 12 eucalypt species, wattles and native orchids support each other and the local wildlife.

5. The Channel Track southeastern section

Head under the powerlines and into enchanting woodlands.

6. Carry binoculars

If you want to make the most of this walk make sure you carry binoculars for looking into the distance. There are many small birds to be found.

7. The aqueduct

The aqueduct was originally built for carrying water to Dandenong. The Channel Track follows the old aqueduct along a gradual gradient. This is why this particular walk is flat amongst the hills.

8. Wildlife

There are plenty of animals to spot, such as Eastern grey kangaroos, Swamp wallabies, Echidnas and reptiles.

9. The track surface

The south eastern section of Channel Track is of bare earth with intermittent grassy ingrowths and puddling areas. It is generally flat, but not always firm or smooth across its varying width if wet.

10. Mistletoe area and first return point

Return from this intersection - Bayview Track is steep and eroded. Here a bird attracting concentration of mistletoe is found. Mistletoebirds propagate the plant by excreting seeds. Photo Ian Kitchen.

11. The Channel Track northwest section

The northwest section of the Channel Track has an entirely different surface. It is of firm, generally smooth, flat and wide compacted gravel.

12. Electricity towers

From before its gazetting in 1941 the park has been home to an easement for these enormous electricity towers that deliver power to Melbourne.

13. Bird observations

Fewer bird observations are reported on the northwest section of the track, but you can still rely on the presence of an Australian magpie to brighten your day by sight or in song.

14. The second return point

The second return point is marked by an old sluice gate on the aqueduct before it enters a small holding dam. Another steep, uneven slope lies beyond.

Features

Picnic spot

Seating available

Public toilets

Historical interest

Nature trail

Lake, creek, river

Park / Garden