The best running trails in Lysterfield Park

Lamberts Track is a wide gravel path running through open eucalypt forest, forming part of the park’s main walking and running network. The track is relatively flat with a gentle gradient, making it one of the easier sections to move through. It has a more open feel compared to narrower bush tracks, with long sightlines ahead and fewer obstacles underfoot.

Trig Point Lookout sits at one of the higher points in the Lysterfield and Churchill park area, with elevated views across Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges, Arthur’s Seat, and Western Port Bay on clearer days. The climb to the lookout follows a steeper gravel track through eucalypt forest, with kangaroos and birdlife commonly seen along the route. The lookout itself is relatively open compared to the surrounding bushland, creating wider sightlines across the landscape.

Granite Peak Trail climbs through open eucalypt forest toward rocky outcrops at one of the higher points in the park. Parts of the route follow the line of an old tramway used during construction of the reservoir and nearby quarries. The track is designated for walking and running, with a steady climb and rougher, rockier sections closer to the top.

Running through Birdsland Reserve, Blackwood Walk is a short multi-use trail linking into the wider network toward Lysterfield Park. The track is shared by walkers, runners, and mountain bikers, and connects easily into longer loop routes across the reserve.

Birdsland Reserve spans around seventy-five hectares of open hills, small lakes, and sections of bushland along Monbulk Creek. The landscape shifts between exposed grassy slopes and more sheltered creekside areas, with birdlife active around the water and occasional kangaroos in the open sections. Tracks range from flatter paths near the lakes to steeper climbs across the hills, with wider views across the surrounding area.

Located within Birdsland Reserve, this retarding basin is a broad, open floodplain designed to manage water flow along Monbulk Creek. When dry, it forms a wide grassed space with open sightlines and a more exposed feel compared to the surrounding forested tracks. The creek runs through the basin, with changing water levels depending on rainfall. After wet periods, sections can become muddy or hold water, altering access across the area.

Glen Track is a lovely shared-use route within Lysterfield Park that winds through open woodland and bushland near the park’s central area. The track is wide and relatively flat, making it ideal for walking, running, and cycling. Connecting with other tracks in the park network, it’s an easy, accessible route perfect for an extended walk to explore more of the beautiful surrounding landscape.

Boys Farm Heritage Walk is a short interpretive path within Lysterfield Park that explores the history of the former boys’ farm established on this site. The walk passes through remains and signage that highlight the property’s agricultural and social history, nestled within open parkland and beautiful bush surroundings. It’s an easy, well-marked route that’s a brief, informative detour while exploring the wider park pathway network.