2-3 hours 2 km loop

Enter from the main carpark and start your descent into the Reserve. There are 4 trails that loop around the twin lakes and each other - so choose your path and just start exploring.

Allow 40 minutes to walk the trail and 2 to 3 hours overall for the activities and free play.

The map below shows where to look for water bugs, mosaics and other points of interest. There’s no set route.

Scroll down for Map, Extra activities, ID picture galleries.

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ID What You See. Picture Gallery

  • Water Bugs Gumnut Trails up close illustration

    Water Bugs

    Common water bugs you may find in our lakes, rivers and waterways.

    Picture Gallery 
  • Blue Wren Gumnut Trails illustration

    Bird Bingo

    Get to know our feathered friends. Common birds in our Melbourne Parks and waterways.

    Picture Gallery 
  • Girl with binoculars illustration

    ALL PICTURE GALLERIES

    Birds, bugs, rockpool secrets, rocks and fossils, animal traces and more.

    All Galleries 

Extra Activities

Fishing Wizards Get Ready

Make a fishing wand with what you can find lying around the trails. Long stick for your rod and a reed for your fishing line.

Tie them together and find your perfect fishing spot. Sit quietly and see who floats by to say hello - a fish, turtle, swan?!?

Who did you see on the lakes today? Did you find a perfect spot to sit?

Duck, Duck, Ibis

Birdwatchers have counted 85+ different bird species here - can you spot 10 different birds out today?

Black Swans, Moorhens, Purple Swamphens, Superb Blue Fairy Wrens, and…?

Did you spot 10 different birds? Who was out and about today? (see ID bird guide above).

Come Along To A Friends Group Event.

The local Friends of Newport Lakes group have lots of free events and activities for families to get involved with. Walk and talks, tree planting, bird watching, weed pulling -see their website for more information.

Join an activity run by the local Friends Group!

Ideas? Feedback?

What did you enjoy? What would you change? Was there anything missing or out of date on the trail?