Traveller safety information

Parks Victoria works with the Department of Sustainability and Environment to improve the fire preparedness of our parks in the greater Melbourne area. Preparedness works include a combination of planned burns and improving the network of fuelbreaks. A map of proposed works for 2010-11 within this park can be viewed by clinking the link below:

2010-11 draft fire preparedness works - Cardinia Reservoir Park

Visitors who view the huge expanse of Cardinia's water by the morning light will understand why this is one of Melbourne's most popular outdoor destinations. The open parklands, picnic and barbecue areas, and native bushland areas abounding with wildlife and natural flora are sure to enthral all visitors.

• Have a picnic among the trees.
• Watch the Eastern Grey Kangaroos feeding at dawn or dusk, or basking in the sun along the kangaroo viewing trail.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the park from the many lookouts and vantage points.
• Walk across the dam wall.
• Play on the playground at Crystal Brook Picnic Area.

• Crystal Brook picnic area has parking, barbecues, shelter and toilets.
• Duffy's picnic area has barbecues, shelter and toilets.
• Kangaroo Flat picnic area has barbecues, shelter and toilets.
• All picnic areas (except Kangaroo Flat) have access and toilets for Visitors with limited mobility.
• Baby changing facilities

The site chosen for Cardinia Reservoir was Cardinia Creek, a few kilometres south of Emerald. Here, among small but well defined hills, the building of one large embankment and smaller saddle dams filled gaps in the hills to create a vast basin. The huge water storage area was completed in 1973, and took four years to fill, receiving water from Silvan Reservoir. An allocation of $1 million was provided to landscape the surrounds and create a major recreation area.

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

The picnic areas are a haven for kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, wombats and reptiles. Parrots and honeyeaters and less common wedge-tailed eagles can be seen from the picnic areas. Towards dusk, kangaroos and wallabies move out to the grassy flats to graze.

The bushland changes with the seasons. The stringybarks (some with Drooping Mistletoes), Swamp Gums, Blackwoods and the understorey of shrubby Hakea, Tea-tree and other flowering plants delight the senses at any time of the year.There is a wetland conservation area near Crystal Brook Picnic Area.

• Dogs are allowed at Crystal Brook and Duffy's but must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Portable gas barbecues are allowed, but portable barbecues using solid fuel or wood are not permitted in the park.

This park has been assessed to have a high level of bushfire risk and will be closed for public safety on days of Code Red (Catastrophic) Fire Danger Rating.

• Duffy's picnic ground may close on days of Total Fire Ban. Please call Parks Victoria on 13 1963 to confirm if you plan to visit on a day of Total Fire Ban
• Emergency markers points are located in this park to help pinpoint your exact location in the case of an emergency. In an emergency call 000 and quote the emergency marker code. Further information about emergency markers is available here.

The Park is only 45 km from Melbourne, situated on Duffy's Road, off Wellington Road at Narre Warren East (Melway ref: 126 C11).

Cardinia Reservoir Park is open every day of the year. Opening and closing times vary according to daylight savings. For up to date information on park closing times call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.

Picnic Areas

Of the three picnic areas in Cardinia Reservoir Park, Crystal Brook Area has the best level of access. Parking is good, and there are clearly defined pedestrian paths to the picnic facilities. The other picnic areas have a reasonable level of accessibility, but have gravel paths. None of the toilets in this park meets current access standards.

• Auravale Lake
• Bunyip State Park
• Dandenong Ranges National Park
• Silvan Reservior Park