Maroondah Reservoir Park accessibility information

Maroondah Reservoir Park is located in Healesville and is accessible from the Maroondah Highway. 
Before visiting, check the park page on the website for the latest changes of conditions.

Facilities at Maroondah Reservoir Park are extensive and include several picnic rotundas, gas and wood fired barbecues, picnic tables scattered throughout the garden area, a children’s playground and an information shelter. The accessibility of picnic tables varies depending on location and design. They can be found both in the open and under rotundas.

Picnic tables and shelter

Barbecue and picnic tables

Rose Steps Rotunda and Ibis Rotunda

Parking

The main carpark is close to most of the picnic facilities. It is unsealed with a surface of compacted, medium-size gravel.  The carpark is subject to regular storm damage which can make it challenging for small wheeled strollers or wheelchairs. 

The main carpark accommodates approximately 40 vehicles, although individual parking bays are not marked. There is sufficient parking space for large buses or coaches. Four designated disabled parking bays are indicated by parking bay signs. 

Two of the designated disabled parking bays are located near the decommissioned kiosk. This section of the carpark is sloped, and therefore, not ideal for loading vehicles. The other two disabled carparks are located close to the Information Shelter. There is ample space for loading vehicles in the bottom section of the main carpark where it is more level and closer to the picnic facilities. 

Information shelter

The Information Shelter is located near the bottom of the main car park. Access is via a short path on a level compacted earth/crushed rock surface. The shelter has a solid, level paved surface and there is enough room under the shelter for strollers and wheelchairs to manoeuvre.

Information shelter at Maroondah Reservoir

Picnic facilities and playground

Rose Steps Rotunda

The most accessible rotunda in the park is the Rose Steps Rotunda. It contains five picnic tables on a level concrete slab. One of the tables is specifically designed for wheelchairs, with no bench seating. Two gas barbecues are situated close to the rotunda on a level and solid surface. Access to the rotunda from the Information Shelter is along an 80-metre path, which consists of reasonably level compacted gravel. Vehicles can also get close to the rotunda via a service road for loading and unloading. The Rose Steps Rotunda is close to accessible toilets and to the dam spillway viewing area. 

Rose Steps Rotunda

Ibis Rotunda

The Ibis Rotunda is located on the other side of the main carpark. Access from the carpark is via the lawn area which is reasonably level and solid most of the year. The rotunda has five picnic tables situated on a level concrete slab. The tables are open at the ends for wheelchairs and strollers, but do not have roll under ends. There are gas barbecues with lids close to the rotunda, which can be accessed by crossing the lawn.

Ibis Rotunda and main barbecue area nearby

Children's playground

The children’s playground is designed for young children and consists of a large sandpit, small slides and some miniature buildings for children to play in.  The playground is best accessed from the main carpark via a compacted gravel path. This path has some gentle slopes in sections with gradients no steeper than 1:14. There is limited inclusive playground equipment in this playground area.

Children's playground

Toilets

The Rose Steps toilets are located just off the path that leads from the Information Shelter to the Rose Stairway. These toilets are close to the Rose Steps Rotunda and are the most accessible of the three toilet blocks in the park.

Within the block there are male and female toilets and an accessible, unisex toilet.  The accessible toilet contains a change area with a bench seat located behind the entrance door. The cubicle can be accessed via the change area through a sliding door. Both the toilet entrance and sliding door are approximately 830mm wide. There is sufficient room for manoeuvring in the toilet cubicle. There is a vertical grab rail on one side of the toilet and horizontal grab rail behind the toilet. There is also a washbasin with a cold water tap with a turn style knob.

Unisex accessible toilet

Vanity in Rose Steps toilet

Henderson's Picnic Area

Parking

There are several small vehicle parking areas throughout Henderson’s Picnic Area. These are on level ground and are compacted gravel in most instances. There are no designated disabled parking bays in this area.

Picnic facilities

The Watts River Rotunda is in the Henderson Picnic Area.  Access from the car park is by crossing the lawn. The rotunda has picnic tables that are open ended, but do not have roll under ends. Access to the nearby gas barbecues and wood fired barbecues is by crossing the lawn. 

 Watts River Rotunda and barbecue area

Toilets

The toilet block at Henderson’s Picnic Area consists of separate male and female toilets. There is no unisex accessible toilet in this block. Access to the toilets is from either the Henderson carpark or by following a rough gravel path from the children’s playground. Rails have been installed in two toilet cubicles in both the male and female toilets. The toilet cubicles have insufficient space for manoeuvring a wheelchair and the door width is also very narrow at 820mm wide. The toilet washbasins are in a spacious area and have a roll under feature enabling wheelchairs or strollers to get close to the taps.

Toilet cubicles with grab railings

Vanity basins at Henderson's toilet block

Maroondah Dam Wall

Parking

Vehicles with disabled parking permits can access the dam wall via a service road. To access the service road, turn right at the ‘Authorised Vehicles Only’ sign after coming through the park entrance.

Service road entrance for access to the dam wall for vehicles with disabled parking permits

At the dam wall there is a rotunda and enough sealed parking for several vehicles. Within a few metres of the carpark, there is an accessible viewing area of the dam. The walk along the dam wall is also accessible, but views of the dam are limited if seated in a wheelchair or stroller, due to the dam’s concrete safety barrier.

Accessible platform and dam viewing area

Concrete safety barrier at the top of the dam wall

Maroondah Dam spillway

Water can be seen cascading down the dam spillway after extended heavy rainfall. The viewing area can be reached from the main carpark on a relatively flat path that has a compacted surface.

Dam spillway viewing area

Lyrebird Rotunda

Parking

The Lyrebird Rotunda is located near the top car park. The top car park at Maroondah Reservoir Park is small and is situated on a significant slope. This is not well suited for those who use wheelchairs or walking frames.

Picnic facilities

Access for wheelchairs and strollers is poor due to the steepness of the car park and the gradient of the path leading to the Rotunda.