Emerald to Cockatoo Walk

Starting near the car park next to the Emerald Tourist Railway Board on Kilvington Drive, Emerald, this walk leads to Cockatoo following roughly along the Puffing Billy train track. The walk starts in Emerald, taking in the magnificent Nobilius Gardens and Emerald Lake Park, then heads through the towering gums of Wrights Forest before descending gently to Cockatoo. Emerald Lake Park is a popular destination for a picnic, with a playground, cafe and toilet facilities. The walk is on a flat track and is ideal for families with children, prams, cyclists, and dog walkers. Distinct yellow arrows mark the track, making it easy to follow. The trail crosses over the road at times, and you can see farms with horses and alpacas. The trail finishes by the Puffing Billy Station, where there's a small playground, picnic areas and good eating spots. If you go on a weekend or a school holiday, you can catch the Puffing Billy back from Cockatoo. 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	(-37.9339459,145.4408855)
Mode	Car Train
Directions	From Burwood Highway, 26 Turn on to Belgrave - Gembrook Road, C404, C412 then drive for 120 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Bayview Road and drive for another 105 m Keep left onto Stoney Road and drive for another 500 m Turn slight left onto Belgrave - Gembrook Road, C412 and drive for another 1.5 km Keep right onto Selby-Aura Road and drive for another 3.9 km Turn right onto School Road and drive for another 70 m Keep left and drive for another 20 m Turn slight left onto School Road and drive for another 45 m Turn right onto Belgrave - Gembrook Road, C412 and drive for another 2.1 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Belgrave - Gembrook Road, C412 and drive for another 1.8 km At roundabout, take exit 4 onto Kilvington Drive and drive for another 150 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Kilvington Drive and drive for another 80 m Turn left and drive for another 15 m
Finish	(-37.9357308,145.4900839)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car Train

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 30 m continue straight. Puffing Billy Park (about 25 m back from the start). After 30 m pass the car park (on your left).
	After another 20 m continue straight, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail. After another 260 m continue straight, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail.
	After another 50 m (at the intersection of BMX track & Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail) continue straight. After another 40 m continue straight, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail. After another 155 m pass a seat (on your left)., has a backrest. After another 170 m head into the "Pepi's Land".
	After another 15 m turn left, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail.
	After another 75 m (at the intersection of Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail & Beaconsfield - Emerald Road) continue straight, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail.
	After another 125 m (at the intersection of Crichton Road & Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail) turn right, to head along Crichton Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 90 m continue straight, to head along Crichton Road.
	After another 95 m (at the intersection of Nobelius Track & Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail) veer left, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail (a highway\|cycleway).
	After another 105 m (at the intersection of Pine Track & Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail) turn left, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail.
	After another 75 m (at the intersection of Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail & Link Track) continue straight, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail.
	After another 610 m (at the intersection of Wishing Well Track & Fern Gully Track) turn left (a footpath).
	After another 80 m turn left. After another 110 m head into the "Emerald Lake Park".
	After another 3 m continue straight, to head along Emerald Lake Road. After another 90 m pass the toilet (9 m on your right). Continue straight, to head along Emerald Lake Road.
	After another 175 m continue straight, to head along Emerald Lake Road.
	After another 15 m veer right.
	After another 135 m continue straight, to head along Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail. After another 850 m cross the bridge (about 75 m long)
	After another 40 m (at the intersection of Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail & Wright Road) continue straight, to head along Wright Road (a residential road).
	After another 330 m (at the intersection of Dalzeill Road & Wright Road) turn left, to head along Wright Track (a vehicle track).
	After another 6 m (at the intersection of Wright Track & Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail) continue straight, to head along Wright Track. After another 15 m head through/around the gate. At the intersection of Banksia Track & Wright Track continue straight, to head along Wright Track.
	After another 520 m (at the intersection of Wright Track & Bridge Track) continue straight, to head along Wright Track.
	After another 250 m (at the intersection of Olearia Track & Wright Track) veer left, to head along Wright Track.
	After another 110 m (at the intersection of Wright Track & Blue Track) continue straight, to head along Wright Track. After another 15 m (at the intersection of Yellow Track & Wright Track) continue straight, to head along Wright Track.
	After another 245 m (at the intersection of Wright Track & Boundary Track) turn sharp left, to head along Boundary Track.
	After another 125 m (at the intersection of Red Track & Boundary Track) turn right, to head along Boundary Track.
	After another 55 m (at the intersection of Boundary Track & Hailebury Track) veer right, to head along Boundary Track.
	After another 450 m (at the intersection of Boundary Track & Tetratheca Track) continue straight, to head along Boundary Track. After another 15 m continue straight. After another 20 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 40 m (33) continue straight, to head along Moola Road (a residential road). After another 110 m head through/around the gate. After another 235 m head through/around the gate.
	Turn left.
	After another 155 m continue straight.
	After another 640 m turn right.
	After another 40 m come to the end. About 20 m past the end is a car park. About 30 m past the end is a toilet. About 145 m past the end is a playground .

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Emerald to Cockatoo Walk

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	6.8 km
Time	2 h to 3 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.3 km apart with the largest gap of 4.7 km.

Seat: There is one 560 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	560 m	[seat]
Toilet	2.2 km	[toilet]
Toilet	6.8 km	[toilet]

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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Mount Dandenong Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Saturday 14 September
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Snow possible above 500 metres. The chance of a thunderstorm in the east. Possible small hail. Winds southerly 25 to 35 km/h decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h in the late evening.
  
  Sunday 15 September
  
  1°C → 9°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost in the east. Slight chance of a shower. Snow possible above 600 metres. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h turning west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 9 and 13.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:10am to 2:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 4 [Moderate]
  
  Monday 16 September
  
  3°C → 9°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  1 → 5mm
  
  Cloudy. Areas of frost about the ranges in the early morning. Very high chance of showers in the east, medium chance elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 14.
  
  Tuesday 17 September
  
  4°C → 13°C
  Morning shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog about the ranges. Medium chance of showers in the east, slight chance elsewhere. Patches of morning frost about the ranges. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h increasing to 20 to 30 km/h during the day then turning northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 17.
  
  Wednesday 18 September
  
  4°C → 15°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers near the Otways, medium chance elsewhere. Winds northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 20.
  
  Thursday 19 September
  
  5°C → 11°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 6mm
  
  Showers.
  
  Friday 20 September
  
  5°C → 12°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Saturday 21 September
  
  7°C → 13°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 8mm
  
  Showers.
  
  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