Point Cook combines trails through native grassland with coastal activities and the history of Australian aviation. At Point Cook Coastal Park, you’ll find walking and cycling trails, picnic and barbecue facilities, playgrounds, and a beach that can be explored at low tide. Other highlights include the Tower Walk to the lookout tower, the Bay Trail and experiences at Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary. This gives you a range of ways to shape your visit, whether you’re looking for outdoor exercise, wildlife or cultural history.
Trails and views at Point Cook Coastal Park
The Tower Walk passes through native grassland to the lookout tower, with views of the Cheetham Wetlands. The tower is reached via a 1.5-kilometre gravel track each way; the track is wheelchair accessible. The route therefore has a clearly named destination and a stated length. At the beach, by contrast, the tide is the deciding factor: it can be explored at low tide.
The Bay Trail offers a continuous, car-free route from Williamstown to Point Cook Coastal Park. You can walk, run or cycle along it. The southern section of the Skeleton Creek Trail is a different route: it starts at Boardwalk Estate in Point Cook and runs along both sides of Skeleton Creek to the Cheetham Wetlands. Check local conditions before setting out. The three trails offer different highlights: a lookout tower, a continuous route between two named locations, or a path along the creek.
There are several ways to take a break in the park away from the trails, too: picnic and barbecue facilities are available alongside playgrounds. If you’re planning a beach visit, take low tide into account. You can choose activities based on what you’re looking for, without assuming that every route offers the same kind of outing.
Marine Sanctuary, wildlife and Bunurong Country
At Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary, you can enjoy beach walks, birdwatching, sightseeing, diving and snorkelling. Wildlife is also part of what makes this protected area special: groups of bottlenose dolphins visit the sanctuary, and swarms of jellyfish move across the reef in late summer. These sightings are not guaranteed; the seasonal detail about jellyfish specifically refers to late summer.
Point Cook Coastal Park is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Bunurong People. Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary lies within an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong People. These connections also place the nature experiences in a cultural context: the park and sanctuary are each connected to Bunurong Country, with Sea Country specifically identified for the marine area.
Aviation history and Point Cook Homestead
The RAAF Museum in Point Cook offers insights into more than 100 years of Australian air force history. Point Cook is also regarded as the birthplace of military aviation in Australia. Aviation enthusiasts will find a different focus here than on the coastal park trails or at the Marine Sanctuary: the story of the Australian air force takes centre stage.
Point Cook Homestead, a historic bluestone house built in 1857, is also located in Point Cook Coastal Park. The homestead is boarded up until further notice. The homestead buildings, café and toilets are currently closed, but the grounds can still be crossed on foot. Check the current status with Parks Victoria before visiting. This helps you distinguish the grounds, which remain accessible on foot, from the buildings and facilities that are closed.
Point Cook offers several distinct themes to help you plan your visit: a grassland route with views of the Cheetham Wetlands, trails for walking and cycling, activities on the water, and aviation history. When choosing a particular trail, check its route and conditions; checking local conditions is specifically recommended for the southern Skeleton Creek Trail. At Point Cook Homestead, it is also important to distinguish between the grounds, which can still be crossed on foot, and the buildings, which are currently closed.
Discover more destinations: Eltham, Ferntree Gully, Fawkner, Beaumaris, Box Hill, Emerald, Coldstream, Lilydale.
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