About the Walking Trail

Totness Recreation Park is a tale of two parks. The popular section to visit is the northern section, which we have detailed below, where there is a short pleasant 1.2km loop / 20 minute walking trail around a dam.

The southern section of the park is larger and more rugged, and we’ve detailed two loops in it, but that section of the park is hard to access by car and some trails are harder to follow.

This park is remnant vegetation including stringybark, blue gum and manna gum woodlands. The dam was constructed in 1884 to supply water for steam locomotives, the water piped 2km down to the railway station in Mt Barker. In the late 60s and early 70s the South Eastern Freeway was constructed, severing what was to become the park into the two sections we have today. In 1970 the park was declared a reserve, later becoming a national park reserve.

The sound of traffic on the freeway is always nearby, but the forest and dam certainly make up for that, and you cannot see the freeway despite how close it is.

From the entrance gate, Gate 1, walk down the main fire track (not either of the perimeter tracks) until you reach the dam. To walk clockwise around the dam, take the walking trail off to the left. If you’re unsure, it’s easy enough to continue along the fire track you’re on and walk anti-clockwise around the lake. The walk crosses the dam wall, giving glimpses of rural farms and livestock, before looping back along a boardwalk.

If it has been particularly wet, there is a short section near the end of the fire track, before it turns into the boardwalk, that might get muddy.

Whilst the trail is pretty easy, there are sections that are narrow, and some short sections that have slope across the trail. The trail route is not marked with arrows, but easy enough to follow, as the park here is reasonably small, and the park perimeter nearby.

There are no picnic tables, benches or toilets in the reserve.

You can walk your dog in this park, provided it remains on a lead and you pick up your dog’s faeces and take them home.

Getting there: Access the park from the carpark at the end of Milne Road, off Mt Barker Road. There are no signs to the park on Mt Barker Road, and Milne Road is only a small lane, but watch out for turn just after Bus Stop 60 and before house number 2416. It’s a 400 metre drive along Milne Road, it’s bitumen, but narrow and a bit rough, and watch out for vehicles at the engineering business. The carpark at the end of the road is also a bit rough, approach with a bit of caution if it has been wet.