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Change of Conditions
Works are currently underway on a section of the Bay Trail through Point Cook Coastal Park. Construction is expected to be completed in November 2009. This key section of trail will run along the far western boundary of Cheetham Wetlands from the Lower Skeleton Creek Bridge to the spillway.
Further information is available from the Point Cook Coastal Park & Cheetham Wetlands - Bay Trail park note.
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Point Cook Coastal Park features abundant birdlife, a historic bluestone homestead, intertidal sand banks and a Marine Reserve. Located 20 km southwest of Melbourne, it is a popular destination for birdwatchers, nature lovers and family groups.
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Things to Do
- Enjoy a barbecue or picnic by the beach.
- Explore the area via the many tracks located in the park.
- Watch birds from the tranquil Spectacle lakes birdhide, or from the Cheetham Wetlands Tower.
- A favourite activity at Point Cook is watching vintage airplanes operating from the nearby Point Cook RAAF base.
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Facilities
- Picnic shelters, free gas barbecues, two playgrounds, change rooms and clean toilets are provided. Barbecues under wooden shelters are provided for the use of all and may not be reserved.
- A viewing tower overlooks the Cheetham Wetlands, which provide a refuge for birds migrating to Victoria to escape the northern hemisphere winter.
- Hard surfaced trails allow wheelchair access from the beach car park to the picnic grounds and the edge of the beach. Disabled toilets and parking spaces are available at the beach car parks. The Spectacle Lake bird hide is also accessible by wheelchair.
- Baby change facilities.
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Heritage
The series of ponds that now make up the migratory bird habitat and conservation area called Cheetham Wetlands were constructed in the 1920s by Cheetham Salt Pty Ltd. Sea water was fed into the shallow ponds and allowed to evaporate. Dried salt was then harvested form the floor of the lagoons. This operation continued until the early 1990's, when the site was purchased by the Victorian Government. The more environmentally important bayside part of the original saltworks now comprises Cheetham Wetlands and the higher, western section is being developed privately.
Point Cook was once part of the huge pastoral estate belonging to the Chirnside family, who built Werribee Park Mansion. The Homestead, stables, and outbuildings were the original Chirnside family home from 1857, before Werribee mansion was built, and are classified by the National Trust and included on the Government buildings Register of Historic Buildings. Restoration of the grounds and buildings was begun by the former Board of Works in 1978. Aboriginal Traditional Owners Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria
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Fauna
Over 250 fauna species have been recorded at Point Cook Coastal Park. During the Victorian summer, visiting migratory birds move between the wetlands and saltmarsh at Point Cook, the beach sand flats and Cheetham Wetlands, depending on the tides. The endangered Orange-bellied Parrot is known to feed in the saltmarsh at Point Cooke. The Double-banded Plover flies from New Zealand to spend the winter in Australia, and the Eastern Golden Plover migrates here from Siberia and Alaska.
The Marine Reserve was declared in 1982 to help preserve the diverse flora and fauna of the reef. It is one of the last relatively unspoiled reef ecosystems in the bay and is an important feeding ground for sea birds and a refuge for marine life.
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Vegetation
Point Cook is a low rainfall area and the soil has a relatively high salt content. The natural vegetation at the time of European arrival comprised scattered clumps of trees, grasses and shrubs, frequently burned by the Aboriginal inhabitants. Extensive areas of saltmarsh vegetation grew in wetter areas close to the coast. There was a band of bush, probably wattles and shrub species, inland from the beach. This was known as the Point Cook forest and was felled as the area was settled.
The present day vegetation of Point Cooke is largely remnant basalt plains grassland, with areas of coastal salt marsh, grassy wetland and sedgeland. There are several natural waterbodies in the park supporting aquatic species. A notable plant found on the shores of the highly saline RAAF Lake at Point Cooke is the Chaffy Saw-sedge, which provides habitat for the rare Altona Skipper Butterfly. Selected sites in the park are now being planted with trees grown from seed collected from remaining natural specimens.
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Looking After the Park
- All native plants and animals in the park, including snakes, are protected.
- The Marine Reserve is a protected shellfish habitat and collection of marine flora or fauna is not permitted.
- Fishing on the reef is not allowed within 200 metres of the shoreline high tide mark; this boundary is marked by yellow posts set in the seabed.
- Snorkeling and SCUBA diving are allowed, but spearfishing is prohibited.
- Open fires are prohibited for safety reasons; the park's gas BBQs are free and may be used at any time.
- Dogs, cats and horses may not be brought into the park.
- Vehicles and motorbikes must keep to the paved roads.
- Point Cook Coastal Park does not supply rubbish bins, so please take rubbish with you.
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Precautions
Emergency markers are currently installed in locations around in this park. More information regarding emergency markers can be found here.
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How to Get There
Point Cook Coastal Park is located 20 km southwest of Melbourne. Cross the Westgate Bridge and exit the Princes Freeway at the Point Cook Road sign, 12 km from the western end of the bridge. The park entrance is approximately 6 km south on Point Cook Road (Melway ref: map 207 ref K12, and map 198 ref K1). The park gates are open from 8:30am seven days a week all year round.
From April to October 2009 the gates are locked at 5.00pm.
In November 2009, February 2010 and March 2010 gates are locked at 6.00pm.
In December 2009 and January 2010 gates are locked at 7.00pm.
At the Tower Parking Lot gates are locked one hour before the Point Cook Coastal Park closing time.
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Special Needs Access
Beach Recreation Area
The beach recreation area at Point Cook Coastal Park is serviced by a sealed parking area, and has wide pedestrian paths over flat ground. There is beach access, and also a coastal walk. The designated accessible toilet does not meet all current access standards, but facilities at this site are generally of a good standard. Homestead
The homestead site at Point Cook includes a functions building with an accessible entry and spacious interior. Paths are unsealed and can be poorly defined around this site. Steps restrict access within the homestead building. The Homestead is now open on weekends from 9:00am to 5:00pm and the Cafe from 10.00am to 4:00pm. The Homestead Restaurant is open weekdays from 6.00pm. The Restaurant is not open Saturday or Sunday. For more information please visit the Homestead website. The beach recreation area, another site in this park, has generally better access.
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Nearby Parks
- Cheetham Wetlands
- Port Phillip
- Westgate Park
- Weribee Mansion Park
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Publications
Brochures 1.
Guide To the Bays (1.66MB)
2.
A new guide to Victoria's Parks: Parks Discovery
Park Notes / Maps 1.
Point Cook Coastal Park & Cheetham Wetlands - Visitor Guide
2.
Point Cook Coastal Park - History
3.
Point Cook Coastal Park & Cheetham Wetlands - Bay Trail
Management Plans & Strategies 1.
Point Cook Coastal Park and Cheetham Wetlands Future Directions Plan (PDF 2.8MB)
Books & DVDs 1.
Victoria's National Parks
2.
Melbourne's Great Outdoors
Victoria's Heritage Stories 1.
Point Cook - Thoroughbred Territory
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