Explore
Braeside Park
Braeside Park is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Bunurong People. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Bunurong Traditional Owners have to these lands and waters, and we recognise their ongoing role in caring for Country.
Braeside Park is an oasis of parkland nestled amongst golf courses, urban development and busy roads. As you stroll through the park’s Red Gum grassy woodlands, heathland and around the wetlands, it's easy to forget you're surrounded by the suburbs.
This is a great park for a family day out. Cook up a feast on one of the free electric barbecues or enjoy a picnic on the lawn. Kids of all ages will love exploring the adventure playground. Modules are included for junior kids and disabled access, as well as older children.
Braeside Park offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities. It protects significant environmental and cultural heritage, from Aboriginal occupation to European settlement. Muralled art walls depict the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the area. Tree stump art carvings of local celebrities line Cypress Drive. Wander through the interactive community garden.
Get active and walk, jog or cycle along the multi-purpose trails. Walk where Phar Lap's hooves pounded the turf along the historic race course trail. Stroll through the park’s Red Gum grassy woodlands, heathland and around the wetlands. A series of complex and valuable environmental communities find their home here. Discover the diverse range of bird life, listen for frogs or search for an echidna.
Get involved in activities such as propagation, planting days, bird watching, water quality monitoring and the community garden with community groups including the Friends of Braeside Park, the Dingley Village Men’s Shed and the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre.
Opening hours
Braeside Park is open from sunrise to sunset. One-way spikes at the Lower Dandenong Road exit allow you to enjoy the park and leave at your leisure.
The Governor Road entrance closes at 4pm daily. The Visitor Centre is usually open on weekends and school holidays. For access outside of these times please call 13 19 63.
Things To Do
Walking
Adventure playground
Picnics
Braeside Park
This area is well known for its wildlife. Keep an eye out for:
Tours and adventure experiences in parks
One of the best ways you can get into nature is with a Licensed Tour Operator.
There are more than 400 Licensed Tour Operators across Victoria who are ready and waiting to help you experience and connect with Victoria’s spectacular parks and waterways.
Discover more than 60 different types of nature-based experiences including hiking, mountain biking, boating, four-wheel driving, indigenous culture tours, birdwatching, surfing, diving and so much more.
Licensed Tour Operators know all the best places to go and will plan and prepare your visit to ensure you are safe and can enjoy your nature-based adventure to the fullest.
How to get there
Braeside Park
Braeside Park is accessible from two entrances:
The Lower Dandenong Road entrance provides access to the Telford and Federation picnic areas, toilets, visitor centre, playground, park office and trails.
The Governor Road entrance provides access to the Red Gum Picnic Area, toilet, wetlands and trails.
When you're there
Download the Braeside Park visitor guide for more information about the park and a map.
Walking tracks:
Self-Guided Heathland Trail –1.2km, 30 minutes circuit
Get in touch with nature and discover the diverse range of birdlife along the Heathland Trail. Listen for frogs or search for an echidna. Braeside Park is a haven for native plants, such as Tiger Orchids, Wedding-bush and old River Red Gums.
Red Gum Trail –1km, 20 minutes one way
Before European settlement, Aboriginal tribes hunted, camped and gathered food in the area. Later it was used for grazing, market gardens and a sewage treatment plant.
The Phar Lap Track – 2km, 30 minutes circuit
Walk where Phar Lap’s hooves have pounded the turf along the historic racecourse trail.
Wetlands Trail – 4km, 1.5-hour circuit
Over 235 bird species have been recorded in the park, including the New Holland Honeyeater, Blue-billed Duck and Latham’s Snipe. The southern part of this track is only accessible in summer.
Need to know
Braeside Park
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
How we keep it special
The Braeside Park Visitor Experience Plan provides guidance on how the park is used and its assets protected, and was produced following input from more than 1132 people. Its focus is community access and visitor facilities as well as the conservation of environmental and cultural values.
The Western Port and South-east Melbourne Conservation Action Plan provides directions for environmental conservation management across the diverse landscape, including Braeside Park. This covers the varied ecosystems across the area which range from heathlands to woodlands, wetlands and other marine environments.