Casey Fields Lakes Track
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Casey Fields is a 76 hectare sports and outdoor facility and home to the Melbourne Demons AFL Football team, but it's not just for the sports fans. As well as five ovals, two rugby fields, a criterium (bike circuit) track, an athletics track, a number of netball and tennis courts and a three hectare play space and village green there are also a wetlands comprising two lakes, backed by a bushland verge and surrounded by a shared use track. So no matter your fancy, sports, walking, jogging, cycling, birdwatching or fishing, the Casey Fields is the place to be.
The Lake Path is 760 metres long, is relatively flat and presents as an easy walk. Start your walk from the playground car park and keeping the lakes to you right, take the path that leads back towards the main entrance. There are picnic tables and seats on the lawns and a BBQ area with covered seating.
As you approach a wooden bridge that crosses the wetlands you are likely to see purple swamp hens nonchalantly picking about in the grass. They seem at ease with passers-by.
At the entrance to the bridge is a map of the Lake Path and of the longer Premier Path. On either side of the bridge, reed covered wetlands are home to water fowl and judging from the noise, a significant number of frogs. I also spotted a little black cormorant sunning itself on a rock.
Across the bridge follow the track. This takes you past the VFL oval on your left and a treed area on your right and leads to the lakes. As the path turns you will pass some more of the wetlands and then with the bushland verge to your left you will come to the first and largest of the lakes. There are bench seats along the way so rest if you need to or just sit a while and take in the calming scenery. A 'Beware of Snakes' sign is a warning to watch out for our reptilian friends during the warmer weather. Do keep your distance should you spot one.
The track follows the lake to its end and then crosses between this and the smaller lake. A young man was fishing from the lakes edge when I visited. At the turn an emergency post marks the spot. This is location CAS105 of the emergency network. From here you can see the birds nest swing atop the hill and the children's playground beyond.
Follow the path around the lake and before long you will arrive at an overhanging jetty. Many of the lake's ducks and water fowl are in this area and the jetty is a great place to view them.
Watch the ducks sitting beneath the trees, swimming, diving for food with their bottoms in the air, flying above or coming in to land. Swallows flit above the water snapping up tiny insects and I spotted ibis flying overhead. Lean on the barrier and take in the views or perhaps practice your photography.
From the jetty a path through a closely planted tree stand, with small winding side paths, leads to the play space, village green and BBQ areas and to the car park. Don't worry if you have forgotten your water bottle you will find water fountains in this area. There are also public toilets here.
Casey Fields is at 160 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Cranbourne East. Once you have entered the complex follow the road until you arrive at the Play Space and Village Green car park. It is well signed. Further information can be obtained by phoning the City of Casey on (03) 9705 5200 or from their
website . A map of the site layout at Casey Fields is available
here . There are public toilets, water fountains and BBQ's near the Play Space and there is parking at the Play Space and elsewhere within the complex.
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179298 - 2023-06-15 21:57:01