Point Cook Coastal Park accessibility
Before visiting Point Cook Coastal Park, check the park page for the latest changes of conditions.
Beach Picnic Area
Parking
Parking is available in three main car parks. Between each carpark is a toilet block, with an information centre located between the two toilet blocks.
Each carpark has a marked disabled parking space in the corner nearest the toilet block of approximately 3 metres wide. The surface is asphalt and gives direct level access to the path to the toilet block and the central park and playground area. Please note that the car parks and path can be subject to wind-blown sand from the beach.
Car parks located next to the toilet facilities
Compacted gravel path leading to the toilet facilities
Toilet Facilities
The paths to the toilet blocks are a hard packed earth and gravel surface. Both blocks have an identical unisex disabled toilet and baby change room located between the male and female entrances. They have a wide (80 centimeters) sliding door requiring light effort to open.The door is fitted with a vertical handle and can be opened without finger dexterity. The handle is fitted low on the door at approximately 85 centimeters from the floor. There is a rotating lock on the inside (95 centimeters tall) with a “wing” type handle that can be operated with minimal finger dexterity.
The toilet is 45 centimeters high and is fitted with side and rear grab rails (85 centimeters high). There are exposed water pipes on the wall, but these carry cold water only. It should be noted that the toilet roll holder is beyond reach from a seated position. The flush buttons are 1.2 meters high and require some finger dexterity to operate. There is space beside the toilet for a wheelchair.
The hand basin (85 centimeters high) has space underneath it (20 centimeters) and none of the exposed piping contains hot water. The tap (95 centimeters high) is a push down type and does not require finger dexterity to operate. There are disposal bins within the cubicle.
Accessible toilet facilities at Beach Picnic Area
Playground
There is a large open grassed area with a partially accessible playground in the middle. There is a hard packed fine gravel path from behind the toilet block to the playground. The playground has both a grassed surface and a rubberized surface to its main features. There are several features of the playground that are accessible to children using a wheelchair. Wheelchair using parents can get to all parts of the playground to watch their children.
Compacted gravel path providing access for wheelchairs to the playground
Partially wheelchair accessible playground
Beach Access
There are four beach access points, one on either side near the respective picnic pavilions and two in the centre of the park. The two middle paths are sandy tracks to the beach. The paths near the picnic pavilions are hard packed gravel right to the beach through the dune area. The paths are flat and wide (over 2 meters wide) with a smooth surface. The paths end right at the beach with only a short distance (approx 20 metres) of sand to cross to the water’s edge. The total distance from the car park to the water is 200 metres.
Wide sandy path providing direct access to the beach front
Picnic Pavilions
On either side of the park near the beach are two picnic pavilions. Both areas have a mixture of covered and open picnic areas with electric barbecues. They are fitted with large tables that have a full open side that allows wheelchair users to sit front facing at the table or those requiring back support to bring their own chairs and sit at the table. The electric barbecues and tables are all on one large concrete slab. There is a lip to the concrete of approximately 25 to 50 millimetres. The working height of the barbecues is 1 metre tall.
Picnic pavilion and barbecue facilities
Wheelchair accessible picnic tables
Bird Hide and Spectacle Lake – Currently Closed
There is one marked accessible parking space at the end of the car park next to the path leading to the bird hide. The space is only the standard 2.7 metres wide but it has the clear space of the 1.8 metre access path beside it to serve as a loading zone. There are no raised barriers between the car park and the entrance path. The car park surface is asphalt and the path to the hide, including the section next to the car park, are a fine hard packed gravel.
Bird hide and Spectacle Lake carpark and gate
The gate to the path is over a metre wide and has a chain “farm” type latch. Finger dexterity is required to lift the latch off its post and to feed the chain through the gate to close it.
RAAF Lookout
The Point Cook Airfield is the oldest operating airbase in the southern hemisphere and is active by both civilian operators and the RAAF. On the main entry road to the park (within the Point Cook Coastal Park) are two car parks that overlook RAAF Lake and the airfield. Both of these car parks have designated disabled parking spaces, and both give a great view of both runways and airport activity. The aircraft movements can be viewed from your car. There are no toilet facilities at these car parks, the nearest being at the beach access park.
RAAF Lookout and Identification Board
Point Cook Homestead
The Homestead and Cheetham Wetlands park entrance is located 5 minutes’ drive from Point Cook Coastal Park (along Point Cook Homestead Road).
The Homestead buildings, café and toilet facilities are currently closed but visitors can still access the grounds to walk through.
Wayfinding sign for Cheetham Wetlands and Point Cook Historic Homestead
As the Homestead is currently closed, the closest parking is at Cheetham Wetlands adjacent to the Homestead site. When the Homestead is open, parking at the Point Cook Homestead is on a gravel area near the cafe and picnic area. There are no marked disabled parking spaces. The surface of the car park is level and is a gravel road base.
Access gate to the Point Cook Homestead
The Homestead – Currently Closed
The homestead and outbuildings can be reached from the cafe across a flat grassed area, the distance is about 250 metres. Once at the homestead there are a series of concrete paths to explore the outside of the buildings. Entry to the public areas of the homestead is from the bay side of the buildings. Entry is first via the sunroom. There is a step of 2 inches to negotiate. The wide sliding door needs considerable force to open. From the sunroom, two further 150 millimetre steps need to be negotiated. The remainder of the homestead has wide doors and corridors.
Point Cook historic homestead buildings
Beach access at Point Cook Homestead
Cheetham Wetlands
Parking
Just beyond the entrance to the homestead is the car park to the Cheetham Wetlands. This is a gravel parking area with no designated disabled parking spaces.
Gravel carpark and access gate at Cheetham Wetlands
Wetlands and Observation Tower
The key attraction at the Cheetham Wetlands is the observation tower built as a dedication to “Migration and Aspirations”. The track to the tower is 1.5 kilometers each way but is flat throughout. The track starts at the gate and follows the formed access road. Pedestrian entry is through a 1 metre wide gate. It is a “farm” style gate with the chain type closure (1 meter high). The latch must be lifted over its post which requires it to be turned and aligned. Finger dexterity is required to both open the gate and to feed the chain back through it to close it again.
Wayfinding signage to the Cheetham Wetlands and Observation Tower
800 metres down the path there is a junction. The wetlands walk follows the left-hand branch through another small “farm” type gate. It is 1.2 metres wide and has the same latching method as the gate at the entrance. This path is narrower at about 1.5 metres wide. It crosses a boardwalk constructed of horizontal wooden planks. The boardwalk is 1.3 meters wide and edged with timber strips 75 millimetres high. The gaps between the timber boards no do exceed 13 millimetres.
Path to Cheetham Wetlands
The road that continues straight ahead at the junction brings you out at the observation tower without going through the wetlands or across the boardwalk. The road alternative is 200 metres longer.
Ramp access to the Observation Tower
Observation Tower Deck
The tower is situated on the edge of the wetlands and gives a commanding view over the former salt production pans which are now being reclaimed as a natural wetland. The tower is fully ramped to the main observation deck. There is a final section on the top that is accessed by circular staircase only. The ramp’s slope is 1 in 14, is fitted with handrails on both sides and has level rest areas.
Its surface is timber planting with the gaps between the timbers less than 13 milliliters. The final section of the tower is almost level across to the observation deck and is made of an expanded metal deck.
View of the Cheetham Wetlands from the Observation Tower