Mount Macedon - Sanatorium Lake Walk
Sanatorium Lake was purpose built to provide a water source to a hospital specialising in the treatment of tuberculosis, which was never built. Now the lake is a beautiful setting for a number of self-guided walking and horse-riding trails. Swimming is not permitted in the lake.
A 250 metre walk from the car park along the Eco-Tourism Walking Trail takes visitors to an information shelter and the adjacent lake. Other picnic areas and walking trails are located near the lake.
Sanatorium Lake is a great place for families, with many natural features and an easy walk with abundant wildlife and natural bush land. There is signage along the walk as well as a display board at the lake which provides information on the forest environment.
The walk is about 2.5km and passes through several vegetation types, including tall eucalypt forests and a wet fern gully. Access and parking is available at Days Picnic Ground (along Lions Head Road), Lions Head Road carpark (along Lions Head Road) and Sanatorium Picnic Ground (off Barringo Road).
The trail links with the 29 kilometre Macedon Ranges Walking Trail, which incorporates most of Mount Macedon's other scenic highlights, including Camels Hump, Memorial Cross and lookouts with outstanding views to Port Phillip Bay, the You Yangs and the Dandenong Ranges.
Route Description and Map
There are a number of possible routes depending on where you start. We started at the Lions Head Road carpark and there is a short walk down to the lake. From the lake we headed south along the Eco-Tourism Walking Trail. The track passes the direct route to Days Picnic Ground (use that on the way back) to where the track is joined by the track from the Sanatorium Picnic Ground (off Barringo Road). Head uphill to the Days Picnic Ground through lovely forest. To get back, you can either walk beside / along the road from Days Picnic Ground back to the Lions Head Road carpark (750m) or retrace your steps and follow the signage back to Sanatorium Lake.
Route Description and Map (Walking Maps)
The Sanatorium Lake Walk on Walking Maps starts at the Sanatorium Picnic Ground, passes through tall mountain rainforest to Days Picnic Ground, across to Sanatorium Lake and then back to the Sanatorium Picnic Ground.
Murmuring Walk at Sanatorium Lake
Murmuring Walk is a multi-layered audio guided walk at Sanatorium Lake on Mt Macedon. It is an audio-guided walk reflecting the environment, birdlife and natural rhythms of Sanatorium lake, Mount Macedon, which is on Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land. Participants are invited to wear headphones connected to their personal device and enter a contemplative space as they are led by a sublime multilayered vocal and poetic soundtrack.
The birds, grasses, ferns, trees and all the abundant life join with the audio track to become one sublime experience. A truly blissful way to experience the nature of Mount Macedon.
The audio guided walk is free and can be done at any time. This walk starts from the Lion's Head Road Car Park. The audio files covers two sections of Sanatorium Lake: The lake walk and the extended loop walk . We recommend allowing approximately one hour for the whole experience, though you are welcome to pause and take your time along the way.
Print out the Murmuring Walk Map Guide and download the audio files before arriving since phone reception in the area is limited.
The walk is close to Camels Hump.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Photos:
Location
Lions Head Road, Mount Macedon 3441 Map
Web Links
→ www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/sanatorium-lake (Parks Victoria)
→ Murmuring Walk at Sanatorium Lake
→ Sanatorium Lake and Days Picnic Ground, Mount Macedon (Walking Maps)
