Tucked between Moorabbin and Heatherton and right beside busy Warrigal Road and the hum of the South Road extension is Karkarook Park. The Park offers a quiet pause between the suburbs and features indigenous vegetation. The lake is quite scenic and ideal for picnic, walking, canoeing, kayaking, and sailing (no powered boats allowed).
You can also do fishing here. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout and redfin, and you’ll often find quiet figures along the banks casting a line at dawn.
The park has a 6 km trail network for walking, jogging, or cycling, including the Lake Trail and Wetlands Trail, perfect for birdwatching. Visitors can enjoy picnics with electric barbecues, a playground, and an observation tower at the Dragonfly Picnic area.
Dogs are welcome but must stay on a leash except in designated areas.
Spend some time at the Dragonfly Observation Tower that offers a stunning view of the whole park. It easy to walk and wheelchair accessibile. The lake walk circles the lake and has a total distance of 1.8 kilometres.
For us, this park became more than a place during the long months of lockdown. We were then living in Bentliegh and when movement was limited and the world felt smaller, Karkarook Park offered space to breathe. We spent countless hours here talking walks around the lake, watching the swans glide in pairs, and learning how silence could heal in its own way. Those walks, those small daily escapes, stitched calm back into restless days. We still visit the park but not as much as we would want to.


Close to the Sheoak Picnic Area is a small boat or canoe launching area. Karkarook park is a permitted fishing zone as well. Once a sand mine, it now supports diverse bird species and fish like Rainbow Trout and Murray Cod.

Explore more nearby
DFO Morrabbin: is a shopping destination that offers a variety of brand-name outlets, including Bonds, Fossil, Lululemon, Oroton, Polo, and Tommy Hilfiger. The center features regular promotions, sales, and special events. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Location & Distance Guide
For parking you may choose either the Sheoak Carpark or the Butterfly carpark.
Location: Warrigal Road, Heatherton (entry via Fairchild Street)
Moorabbin: 3.5 km
Bentliegh: 6.6 km via South Rd/State Route 14 and Jasper Rd/State Route 17
McKinnon: 8.2 km via South Rd/State Route 14 and Jasper Rd/State Route 17
Oakleigh: 6.1 km via Warrigal Rd/State Route 15
Melbourne: 20 km
Images Copyright – Author’s Own
