Explore dry forest and woodland on this family-friendly bushwalk at Lysterfield Park, or hop on your bike and go for a pleasant ride.
The Lake Circuit Trail is Lysterfield Park's most popular trail for walkers, runners and families, with a mostly flat wide gravel surface and two short hills. You will find distance markers every 1km making navigating this trail easy. This trail (5.5km circuit - 1.5 hour walk) is also suitable for bicycles and off-road prams.
One of the best places near Melbourne to see kangaroos and wallabies in the wild, you might also see koalas and echidnas if you're lucky. Visit close to dawn or dusk for the best chance to see wildlife.
Cross the dam wall and enjoy panoramic views of Lysterfield Lake. As you wander deeper into the forest, you'll catch glimpses of the sparkling water peeking through the trees.
Take a peaceful break at the three jetties along the trail. Enjoy scenic views of the tranquil lake and see if you can spot any waterbirds. Lysterfield Lake is a haven for a variety of species such as the Eurasian Coot and Eastern Swamphen. You might even be treated to a special visit by the migratory Japanese Snipe.
The Lake Circuit Trail links to a vast network of walking and cycling tracks in Lysterfield Park, which connects to neighbouring Churchill National Park. For a more adventurous bushwalk, follow the Granite Peak Trail as it climbs uphill to Trig Point, where you can admire 360-degree views of Melbourne.
Things to do

Picnic areas in Lysterfield Park
Lysterfield Lake
Mountain biking at Lysterfield Park
How to get there
Lake Circuit Trail
Facilities
Need to know
Lake Circuit Trail
Accessibility
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
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Notices Affecting Multiple Sites
Mountain Bike Trail Open Status
With persistent heavy rainfall and strong winds during the second half of 2022, Lysterfield Park's mountain bike trails sustained severe water logged conditions and significant tree damage. This was exacerbated by illegal riding in wet conditions which led to damage and unsafe ruts and gaps on some trails. Accordingly several mountain bike trails at Lysterfield Park remain closed until repair works can be completed. This is a necessary decision to protect the safety of visitors and maintain the integrity of the trails.As trails are repaired and assessed as safe they will be reopened. In the meantime please respect the trail closures and only ride open trails.The following trails are open for riding (in addition to management vehicle trails):State Mountain Bike Course 6.4kmAneurysm 1.5kmUpper Blair Witch 2.0kmLower Blair Witch 2.4kmSnipe 0.7kmPump Track (Jump Park)Skills ParkTrailmix 1.0kmRedgum Trail 1.2kmHug trail 1.5kmThe following trails are closedLower Buckle 2.4kmUpper Buckle 0.7kmFollow Me 1.2kmGranite Link 0.2kmMiddle 1.9kmFollow Me 1.2kmBuckle Down 0.3kmDog Pound 0.6kmHumping Hound 0.6kmLil Shawty 0.2kmThank you for your continued patience and understanding.Updated 27 January 2023.