The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve Loop

Starting from the carpark on Ballarto Road, Frankston, this walk loops within the The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve via the Milkwort, Panorama, Hakea Ridge and Sword Sedge tracks. If you like natural bush, then a walk through here is a must. The area is very large, and you could easily spend hours exploring the network of walking tracks. The reserve is ideal for activities such as nature studies, photography, dog walking and family picnics. It is a very important area for native fauna, particularly small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Echindas, wallabies, possums, bandicoots, foxes and rabbits can all be found in the reserve along with Eastern Brown, Tiger and Copperhead snakes. The tracks are made of gravel and sand, and there are signposts at the intersections. Dogs are allowed on-lead in the reserve. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-38.1158613,145.1765823)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Dandenong Bypass, 49 Turn on to then drive for 11.1 km Keep left onto Peninsula Link On Ramp and drive for another 1.9 km Keep left onto Frankston - Dandenong Road Off Ramp and drive for another 350 m Continue onto Frankston - Dandenong Road Off Ramp and drive for another 135 m Turn right onto Frankston-Dandenong Road, 9 and drive for another 600 m Turn sharp left onto Ballarto Road and drive for another 1.7 km Turn right and drive for another 90 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 65 m pass the car park (8 m on your left). After another 10 m head through/around the gate. After another 25 m pass the shelter (6 m on your left).
	From the Riparian Track continue straight (a highway\|cycleway). Then cross the bridge (about 10 m long) After another 8 m (from the Orchard Track) continue straight.
	After another 135 m (from the Peninsula Link Trail) veer left, to head along Peninsula Link Trail. After another 185 m (at the intersection of Peninsula Link Trail & Lomandra Track) continue straight, to head along Peninsula Link Trail. After another 115 m (from the Peninsula Link Trail) continue straight, to head along Peninsula Link Trail.
	After another 235 m (at the intersection of Wetland Track & Peninsula Link Trail) continue straight, to head along Wetland Track (a vehicle track). After another 150 m head through the tunnel (about 50 m long)
	After another 345 m (from the Wetland Track) turn left.
	After another 20 m (from the Link Track) continue straight, to head along Link Track (a highway\|cycleway).
	After another 450 m (from the Link Track) turn right (a walking track).
	After another 170 m (at the intersection of Milkwort Track & Trigger Plant Track) veer right, to head along Milkwort Track (a vehicle track). After another 345 m (at the intersection of Boundary Track & Milkwort Track) continue straight, to head along Boundary Track (a highway\|cycleway).
	After another 120 m (at the intersection of Boundary Track & Panorama Track) continue straight, to head along Panorama Track (a vehicle track).
	After another 65 m (from the Panorama Track) veer left, to head along Panorama Track.
	After another 50 m (at the intersection of Sheoak Track & Panorama Track) continue straight, to head along Panorama Track.
	After another 235 m (from the Panorama Track) continue straight, to head along Panorama Track.
	After another 60 m (at the intersection of Panorama Track & Heathland Track) continue straight, to head along Panorama Track.
	After another 275 m (at the intersection of Hakea Ridge Track & Panorama Track) veer left, to head along Hakea Ridge Track.
	After another 100 m (from the Hakea Ridge Track) turn right.
	After another 210 m (from the Warrawee Circuit Walk) continue straight.
	After another 60 m (from the Boundary Track) veer left, to head along Boundary Track. After another 285 m (at the intersection of Boundary Track & Hakea Ridge Track) continue straight, to head along Boundary Track.
	After another 260 m (at the intersection of Boundary Track & Link Track) continue straight, to head along Link Track. After another 205 m (from the Link Track) continue straight.
	After another 140 m (from the Hakea Ridge Track) veer right, to head along Hakea Ridge Track.
	After another 95 m (at the intersection of Mannagum Track & Hakea Ridge Track) turn sharp right, to head along Mannagum Track.
	After another 165 m (from the Mannagum Track) turn left.
	After another 225 m (at the intersection of Sword Sedge Track & Heathland Track) turn right, to head along Sword Sedge Track.
	After another 155 m (at the intersection of Dune Track & Sword Sedge Track) continue straight, to head along Sword Sedge Track.
	After another 60 m (at the intersection of Sword Sedge Track & Trigger Plant Track) veer right, to head along Sword Sedge Track.
	After another 230 m (at the intersection of Link Track & Sword Sedge Track) turn left, to head along Link Track (a highway\|cycleway).
	After another 185 m (at the intersection of Link Track & Swamprat Track) turn right, to head along Swamprat Track (a walking track).
	After another 540 m (from the Swamprat Track) turn left (a vehicle track).
	After another 205 m (from the Link Track) turn right.
	After another 20 m (from the Wetland Track) turn right, to head along Wetland Track.
	After another 550 m (at the intersection of Peninsula Link Trail & Wetland Track) continue straight, to head along Peninsula Link Trail (a highway\|cycleway). After another 235 m (from the Peninsula Link Trail) continue straight, to head along Peninsula Link Trail. After another 115 m (at the intersection of Peninsula Link Trail & Lomandra Track) continue straight, to head along Peninsula Link Trail.
	After another 185 m (from the Peninsula Link Trail) veer right.
	After another 135 m (from the Orchard Track) continue straight. After another 8 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long) From the Riparian Track continue straight (a vehicle track).
	After another 55 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve Loop

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	7.5 km
Time	2 h to 3 h 30 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There is one 100 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Shelter	100 m	[shelter]

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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Cranbourne Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  Clear.
  
  Clear. Light winds.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  6°C → 21°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of fog and frost near the Yarra Valley in the morning. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 22.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: High
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 11:00am to 1:40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  8°C → 22°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds northerly 25 to 40 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 19 and 23.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  12°C → 24°C
  Wind easing. Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northerly 30 to 45 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  15°C → 24°C
  Sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h turning northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning then decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Wednesday 7 May
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 8 May
  
  8°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Friday 9 May
  
  9°C → 19°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Parks Victoria Alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check Parks Victoria closure website for anything that may impact on your plans.

Weather Forecast

Alerts