About the Walking Trail

Enjoy exploring a flooded mangrove forest on an elevated walkway that meanders through tidal salt marshes, mangroves and sea grass channels to a lookout that has scenic views across the Barker Inlet.

The trail begins from Mangrove Street in southern St Kilda. The walk is open daily between 9am and 4pm (except Christmas Day). Entry is free, but you need to obtain an Access Gate Key from the kiosk (Tackle & Tucker) near the Adventure Playground. You need to leave a $20 key deposit, or leave something else of value (such as a Medicare card). Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Depending on tides, the boardwalk can be wet. Beyond the entrance gate there are toilets and an Interpretive Centre – although most of the info in the centre is also available on the many excellent interpretive signs along the way. Unfortunately, about half of the boardwalk is closed, however the remaining section out to the Lookout is well maintained with excellent signage.

Samphires form dense meadows on slightly elevated areas on the landward edge of mangrove forests. The meadows continually trap debris washed in by the tide. The debris is slowly broken down by bacteria, worms and crabs, raising the level of the saltmarsh floor.

Mangrove forests are one of the most productive plant communities on Earth. Millions of green leaves use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into tonnes of plant matter that forms the centre of the food web of the Barker Inlet.