Arthurs Seat Summit Circuit Walk (Arthurs Seat)
A super walk which is one of our favourites. A fairly easy 2km walk with great views across Port Phillip Bay in parkland with few changes in elevation. The 30-60 minute walk includes the Matthew Flinders Cairn, Seawinds Gardens, William Ricketts sculptures, the Seawinds Nursery Volunteers Indigenous Garden and a number of scenic lookouts. The entire walk is well sign-posted with plenty of direction signs and maps along the route.
This walk loop walk begins and ends (point #1 on the map) at the Arthurs Seat Eagle, a very popular attraction on the Mornington Peninsula. There is a cafe serving a range of food and drinks inside the Arthurs Seat Eagle building. Outside the building are toilets, shelter with tables and BBQs. Heat bead BBQs, wood fired BBQs and campfires are not permitted.
The oversized Arthurs "Seat" at point #2 seems to have been removed.
At the Arthurs Seat Viewing Platform / Summit Lookout (point #3) you can get nice, but obstructed, views over Port Phillip Bay and also see the Arthurs Seat Eagle soaring downhill.
Point #5 is the Matthew Flinders Cairn which was erected in 1914 as a tribute to Matthew Flinders who stood on this spot in 1802.
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At point #7 is a wall featuring five ceramic sculptures by Melbourne born artist William Ricketts (our favourite is the sculpture of Indigenous children with a baby emu). The Travers family, who owned and developed the Seawinds Gardens from 1946-1975, purchased these sculptures from William Ricketts. For many years, William Ricketts lived with the Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte people in the the Northern Territory, gaining insights into the Aboriginal way of life. Through his work, William interpreted the Aboriginal attachment to the land, often including himself within the sculptures. The sculptures are based on aboriginals from central Australia.
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On the wall there is also a tablet which commemorates. the BUNURONG people, land holders of the Westernport region from time immemorial, who were among the first Aborigines in Victoria to experience contact with Europeans. The presence of sealing and whaling crews from the 1820s, and of permanent settlers from the 1830s, brought diseases fatal to the Aborigines and began disintegration of traditional tribal life.
Next to the wall is a small pond with another sculpture which is usually frequented by some ducks.
The next section has lovely views from the Seawinds Northern Lookout (#8) and Seawinds Bay Lookout (#9).
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Then, through the small rose garden (#10) to an open grassy area where there is a good chance of seeing kangaroos, especially early and late in the day and the lovely Seawinds Gardens Playspace which is a fun playground for younger kids. Next to the playground are tables, BBQs and toilets.
Then back through some lovely gardens and trees with a duck pond (#13) and Seawinds Nursery Volunteers Indigenous Garden (#14) before heading back to the Arthurs Seat Eagle.
Access for Dogs:
Dog are not permitted.
Photos:
Map Credit: Walking Maps
Location
795 Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat 3936 Map
Web Links
→ Arthurs Seat Walk (Walking Maps)
