Arthurs Seat State Park (Arthurs Seat)
Rising above the Mornington Peninsula, Arthurs Seat is the most familiar of all Port Phillip Bay landscape features. It's 314 m summit, reached by road or foot, gives spectacular views of the bay and Port Phillip Heads. On a clear day the view extends as far as the city skyline, the You Yangs and Mount Macedon.
The lookout and statues walks at Seawinds are a highlight of a visit to this site.
Things to Do
- Take the pleasant one hour circuit walk to Kings Falls.
- Enjoy a view of the bay and city skyline from the summit.
- Visit the delightful Seawinds Garden which contains several sculptures by William Ricketts.
Facilities
Picnic tables, electric barbecues, water and toilets are provided at Seawinds and the Arthurs Seat summit.
Mountain Bike Riding
Arthurs Seat State Park which has a combination of bushland and steep rocky terrain is an exciting mountain bike destination. All skill levels are catered for on a combination of trails and management vehicle tracks. The Trail network is a joint partnership with the Redhill Riders and Parks Victoria.
Walks
There are many walking tracks across Arthurs Seat State Park for visitors to explore and appreciate its wide variety of scenic views, natural features, and flora and fauna.
Arthurs Seat Summit Circuit Walk - 2.0km, 1 hour circuit
A great short walk suitable for most visitors, this loop guides visitors to major interest points including the Seawinds Gardens, Matthew Flinders Cairn, William Ricketts sculptures, lookouts and the Seawinds Nursery Volunteers Indigenous Garden. The formed track is moderately difficult with some steps.
Kings Falls Circuit Walk - 1km, 1 hour return
This short walk begins from the Kings Falls carpark on Waterfall Gully Road. Stroll past grass trees, through casuarina forest and into damp fern-lined gullies. View the waterfall which can be seen flowing during the wetter parts of the year. The formed track is moderately difficult with some steps and hills.
OT Dam Circuit Walk - 3km, 2 hours return
Best accessed from Arthurs Seat Road near Main Creek Road, this walk offers views of OT Dam. Located in a deep gully surrounded by native forest, it was originally constructed by the OT company to water their crops. Moderately difficult, formed track with hills.
TC McKeller Walk - 1km, 45 minutes circuit
This loop track starts from the Seawinds Gardens information shelter. The wide, shaded walking track showcases some of the best remnant vegetation in the park.
Two Bays Walking Trail - 26km, 8 to 10 hours one way
The Two Bays Walking Trail enables people to walk from the Dromana foreshore on Port Phillip to Bushrangers Bay near Cape Schanck. The full trail can be undertaken by experienced walkers over two days. Parts of the trail can be completed in smaller sections that intersect with roads. This formed track is moderately difficult, with some steps and hills.
Heritage
Matthew Flinders was the first European to climb Arthurs Seat after his ship entered the heads while making his circumnavigation of Australia in 1802.The first owner of Seawinds was Mr Chapman, a gardener at a nearby homestead. The garden was developed by Sir Thomas and Lady Travers in the 1940s who planned to build a house there. This ambition was never achieved and the area was declared a state park in 1975.
Fauna
The park is a protected habitat for many species of birds and animals including koalas, kangaroos, ringtail and brushtail possums, honeyeaters, lorikeets and eastern rosellas.
Vegetation
Vegetation varies from sheoak and messmate woodland on the northern slopes to manna gum and swamp gum forests. Unfortunately some areas have been invaded by environmental weeds such as boneseed, pittosporum and Western Australian bluebell creeper. Strategies developed to deal with weed eradication have benefited from a high level of support from Friends Groups and volunteers.
Access for Dogs
Dogs, horses and other pets are not permitted in the park.
Opening Hours
There is 24 hour access to the park
Seawinds Garden is open to vehicles at 10:00 am and closes 4.30 pm weekdays and 5:00 pm weekends.
Note: Photos from Parks Victoria
Location
Cnr Arthurs Seat Road and Purves Rd, Arthurs Seat 3936 Map
Web Links
→ Arthurs Seat State Park (Parks Victoria)
→ www.redhillriders.com.au
→ Red Hill Riders Mountain Bike Club on Facebook
→ Arthurs Seat State Park (Trailmate)
→ Arthurs Seat State Park - Seawinds Gardens (PDF)
→ Arthurs Seat State Park - Visitor Guide (PDF)
→ The Mornington Peninsula Walk (PDF)
→ Arthurs Seat State Park - Mountain Bike Factsheet and Trail Map (PDF)
