Explore
Maroondah Reservoir Park
The impressive 41-metre high dam wall offers a scenic lookout over formal gardens, forested slopes and the broad, peaceful reservoir lake. Construction on this grand piece of engineering took place from 1920-1927, and the Maroondah catchment is still an important source of Melbourne’s water. You can still see the historic valve houses in the gardens, built in a classical domed style.
The gardens were created gradually after the completion of the wall, and include a sundial and the stone-paved Rose Stairway lined with rose bushes and Golden Pencil Pines. The gardens feature towering native eucalypts as well as many exotic deciduous trees with beautiful Autumn colours.
Picnic in the park amongst the old eucalypt stands or the exotic trees and play in the open grass areas. The park features six rotundas, one shelter, six barbecues (gas and electric) as well as picnic tables scattered around the gardens, perfect for visitors to barbecue or just sit and enjoy the scenery. If you're looking for a quieter spot, head for the area near the Watt's River Rotunda in Hendersons Picnic Area.
There are a number of easy and moderate walks around the park. Take a short walk through the forest on the Maroondah Forest Track. If you would like a longer walk you can then follow the Henderson’s Hill Track up the slope for another 1.4km. From here you can choose to extend your walk to Donnellys Weir in Yarra Ranges National Park.
If cycling is more your thing, ride your bike across the dam wall to Donnellys Weir and then challenge yourself to ride up to Mount St Leonard along the start of the Bicentennial National Trail.
Walk to the bottom of the dam wall to observe the grandeur of the wall from below and then climb the Rose Steps (or walk the circular track to avoid the stairs) and walk across the top of the dam wall to view the expansive reservoir and parkland.
When the dam overflows across the spillway once or twice a year, the Falls Lookout provides a spectacular view of the waterfall. Water can also cascade over the lower rockface when Melbourne Water intermittently release water from the dam via the lower outlet.
The spillway waterfall is spectacular when it is running. Keep an eye out on the Parks Victoria Facebook page and Twitter, but if the Melbourne Water dam levels website says the dam is 100% full then there's a good chance water is flowing into the spillway and over the waterfall.
Things To Do
The Falls Lookout
Have a picnic or barbecue
Dog walking
Maroondah Reservoir Park
The tree collection at Maroondah Reservoir Park offers a large number and range of species and some outstanding individual specimens. There are old stands of Manna Gum and Swamp Gum in Hendersons Picnic Area. Many unusual or exotic trees are found throughout the park, including the Smooth-barked Apple, Strawberry Tree, Cypress Pine, Cedar, Upright Monterey Cypress, Smooth Arizona Cypress, Spruce, Himalayan Pine, Golden Pencil Pine, Cottonwood, Douglas Fir, and Californian Redwood along with the deciduous Ash, Maple, Cannonball Tree, Birch, Liquidamber, Cork Oak, Lombardy Poplar and Elm. Many of these exotic trees were planted in the late 1920s. There are also a number of unusual palms, including the Canary Island Date Plum and Chinese Windmill Palm. Keep an eye out for the Autumn blooms of the Fried Egg Tree.
Expect to see Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, King Parrot, Corellas, Kookaburras, Ibis and Rosellas playing in the trees. Other birds seen intermittently include Grey Fantail, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Forest Kingfisher, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, White-faced Heron and the Southern Boobook (owl). 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
Maroondah Reservoir Park
When you're there
Enjoy the park's walking tracks:
The Lookout Track
Start at the carpark and climb the ‘Rose Stairway’ to reach the 41m high dam wall, which offers spectacular views.
Scenic Views Track
Wander through grassed areas with large exotic trees and views of the surrounding mountains to reach the top of the dam wall.
Hendersons Hill Track
A 1.4km track climbing from the Picnic Area to the top of Henderson’s Hill, connecting to other walks from Donnelley’s Weir. This walk is moderately steep.
Maroondah Forest Track
A pleasant, moderately steep 800m forest walk connecting the Lookout to Henderson’s Picnic Area.
Need to know
Maroondah Reservoir 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. Maroondah Reservoir Park was assessed for accessibility in June 2020, providing information about the accessibility of the picnic facilities, toilets and car parking, and photos.
If you need car or bus access to the top of the dam wall, please contact the park rangers to make arrangements.
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.
Safety
A moderate level of fitness is required to tackle the 82 stairs on the Rose Steps. If you are concerned, stick to the flat areas at the base of the dam wall, or call ahead and ask for permission to park near the Big Bell Rotunda at the top of the dam wall (these parking spaces are limited for disability access only).
Be mindful that the Rose Steps are smooth and a little slippery in wet weather.
There are no bins at the reserve, so please take all rubbish home with you for disposal and recycling.
Keep your dog on a lead at all times, and be mindful that dogs are not allowed north of the Watts River, including along the dam wall.
Please do not disturb the native plants or animals, including feeding birds or other wildlife.
Keep an eye out for ‘No Public Access’ signs.
Access to the nearby Maroondah Water Supply Catchment Area is prohibited, to protect the high quality of Melbourne’s drinking water from pollution.
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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Henderson's Picnic area (Maroondah Reservoir Park, UNKNOWN)
Henderson loop toilet block closed
Henderson loop toilet block is closed until further notice. Maroondah Reservoir Park’s other toilet blocks are located at Rose Step and Pin.