The Mornington Railside Trail currently links Baxter with Moorooduc and may soon reach Mornington, where it will connect with other new and existing trails to a variety of parks, historical areas and towns on the Mornington Peninsula

Access Points

• Baxter: The Baxter Central carpark, near the railway station, on Baxter-Tooradin Rd (C781)
• Moorooduc: Mt Eliza Regional Park on Moorooduc Hwy has car parking, play equipment and toilets. There’s also some on-street parking in Eramosa Rd West and at The Coolstores shopping centre
• Tanti Park: Access and facilities to be decided
• Mornington:  Access and facilities to be decided

For public transport options go to ‘GET AROUND’ below

Baxter to Moorooduc (4 km)

• From the Baxter Central car park turn right along Baxter-Tooradin Rd on the shared path. In some places you may need to use the two-way service road.
• Before you reach the Mornington Peninsula Fwy, turn left across Baxter-Tooradin Rd onto the Peninsula Link Trail access path. If there is heavy traffic or you have children, head north on the other access path, then south on the Peninsula Link Trail
• At Frankston-Flinders Rd you cross to the other side of the freeway
• You’ll catch a glimpse of the tree-lined railway corridor as you pass the freeway bridge over the Barakee Reserve Outfall Drain.
• After looping around the roadhouse, you’ll spot part of the railway underpass on your left, which was built for the tourist railway to extend its service to Baxter. Then you’ll cross the railway embankment and tracks.
• Soon you’re on the tree-lined railway easement to Moorooduc, travelling next to the disused line
• This is a pleasant 2 km stretch with lots of shade. There are pedestrian traffic lights at the Moorooduc Hwy. The trail currently ends in the railyard, with Mt Eliza Regional Park to your right.
• Baxter has a wide range of shops, including two bakeries. Moorooduc has a cafe and restaurant in The Coolstores Shopping Centre near the corner of Eramosa Rd West.

Moorooduc to Mornington Station (6 km)

• This component is part of the Peninsula Trails project being undertaken by Mornington Peninsula Shire, with state and federal backing, to fill gaps in the region’s shared paths and create a network of 170 km of trails for walkers, runners and riders to explore the area. With the blessing of the Mornington Railway Preservation Society, which operates its tourist trains on this section, it could pass through the bush near Mount Eliza Regional Park.
• After crossing Wooralla Dr, it would run through open pasture, before entering newer subdivisions around Tanti Park, which is the site of an old station.
• This section would end at the “new” Mornington Station, which was built for the tourist railway near the corner of Yuilles and Watt roads after the remainder of the corridor had been sold.
• It would provide safer travel to local schools, shopping centres, sports precincts, the Mornington Botanical Rose Garden and Melbourne’s wider trail network via the Peninsula Link Trail

Mornington Station to Mills Beach (2 km)

• The potential exists for an extension of the shared path to Mornington’s main shopping area and Port Phillip Bay, but there are obstacles. The rail corridor behind The Bays Hospital remains clear but the Mornington Central shopping centre was built on the site of the original railyard. There’s a plaque and station board outside the main entrance to the shops in Railway Grove
• The trail may involve a shimmy route along quieter streets and easements to Shire Hall Beach
• Mornington has a surprisingly large range of shopping, dining and accommodation options

CONNECTING PATHS

• Harraps Creek Walkway (7 km): Runs south from Mornington via Dallas Brooks Park and Mornington Botanical Rose Garden to The Briars Historic Homestead and park.
• Frankston to Baxter Trail (7.5 km): This is being extended 4.6 km from north of Baxter (Golf Links Rd) to Somerville as part of the Peninsula Trails project. You’ll then be able to ride or walk from Melbourne to Moorooduc or Bittern on shared paths. The gap from Moorooduc to Mornington is the next scheduled part of Peninsula Trails.