100 Steps Altona : The Best Guide to Truganina Coastal Parklands

I bet you’ve heard of the 1000 steps in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges, but have you heard of the 100 steps Altona? As well as having a beautiful beach and iconic pier, Altona is also home to over 300 hectares of spectacular grass fields, wetlands, bush and one of the best Melbourne city lookouts.

And at only 15km from the Melbourne CBD, you can feel like you’ve escaped to the country, with just a short trip in the car.


ESCAPE THE CITY AND EXPLORE TRUGANINA COASTAL PARKLANDS


Not to be confused with Truganina the suburb in Melbourne’s outer west, Truganina Coastal Park lies between the beachy suburbs of Altona and Point Cook. The coastal park was formed by repurposing and combining industrial and existing parklands to form a diverse and expansive park with a focus on coastal preservation and recreation.

How to get to Truganina Coastal Parklands

The easiest way to get to the coastland parklands is to navigate to Altona. If you’d like to explore on foot, park at Apex park cycle or walk along the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail. Cross the bridge at Laverton Creek and you’ll arrive at Truganina Park.

Alternatively, you can take buses 411, 412 or 415 from Laverton station or park at the 100 Steps Carpark on Andrew Park Drive, Altona Meadows.

Truganina Coastal Parklands Zones

The Truganina Coastal Parklands are broken up into a number of unique zones. Some are open freely to the public and others such as the golf course and treatment plant require planned access.

Truganina Park

Truganina Park is a 25-hectare coastal park created when the old Altona Landfill Tip closed in 1998. The park has been cleverly landscaped to make the most of the natural environmental features.

Access to Truganina Park is via the Hobsons Bay Coastal trail or via the car park on Andrew Park Drive.

Location: Andrew Park Drive, Altona Meadows

Opening Hours: The parkland is open 24 hours a day, however, the car park opens and closes with the sunrise and sunset seasonally.

100 Steps of Federation

The most well-known attraction at Truganina Park is the 100 steps of Federation. Often known as the 100 steps Altona, this easily walked hill is one of the best Melbourne lookout spots and is popular with families, runners and bike lovers. From the peak, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city, St Kilda and beyond. It’s a great spot to watch the shipping tankers and ferries come in. The 100 steps lookout is the tallest point between Melbourne and the You Yangs and is truly spectacular on a clear day.

You can reach the top by taking the 100 step stone staircase made of basalt rock recycled from when the site housed clean fill. If you’ve got a pram or bike, there is a gravel path with an easy incline too. The peak features bench seating, a viewing platform and the iconic Time Beacon sculpture by Cameron Robbins.

The rolling grassy hill is popular with mountain bikers and families alike.

Hobsons Bay Wetlands

The Cheetham wetlands are an area of natural and man-made lagoons along the coast of Port Phillip Bay. Previously a salt works, the Hobsons Bay wetlands are now a haven for local flora and fauna. Spanning from Laverton Creek, Altona Meadows to Sanctuary Lakes in Point Cook, the wetlands can be explored by foot (watch out for snakes in the summer months!) or enjoy them from the bike trail.

The main wetlands visitors centre is housed at Truganina Explosives Reserve, however, there is plenty to see if the Explosives Reserve is closed.

Key highlights include spotting the rusted out cards in the wetlands walk (west of the 100 steps) and the salt flats that can be accessed by the gate at the foot of the 100 steps to Federation hill.

Keep to the paths when exploring the Hobsons Bay wetlands as some areas are closed for rejuvenation and conservation.

Laverton Creek, Bike Tracks and Bushland

To the east of the 100 steps, the landscape gets a little more rugged. In amongst the copse of bushland, you’ll find a series of BMX paths popular with local riders young and old! The paths are lots of fun to ride and make a great place for little ones to run around between the trees.

This scrubby bushland area runs alongside Laverton Creek, near the Laverton Creek Bridge, which connects you to Altona. It can be accessed by taking the eastern trail from the car park (to the left of the 100 steps hill) or by parking at the sports centre and riding or walking down the paved path that runs alongside Laverton Creek.

Truganina Park Facilities

The Truganina Park facilities include, electric BBQs, a sheltered rotunda and plenty of shady and grassy areas for picnics. The park itself does not have public toilets. The closest public toilets are located in the Altona Sports Stadium car park at the entrance of Andrew Park Dr.

Truganina Explosives Reserve

Location: 274 Queen Street Altona Meadows

Opening Hours: Check out their Facebook Page for opening days and times

Truganina Swamp

Apex Park

Doug Grant Reserve