These are field notes, one place to an entry, each written from the page of whoever looks after it. Rules about dogs differ from one place to the next, so each entry says what its owner says.
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Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park
Crusoe Road, Kangaroo Flat · City of Greater Bendigo
The council describes 210 hectares surrounded by the Greater Bendigo National Park and valued for its landscape, native vegetation, cultural heritage and recreation. There are wide shared paths, accessible toilets, tables and seating, and parking.
The jogging and cycling tracks are measured, signposted and colour-coded: 3.3 km around Crusoe Reservoir, 1.4 km around No. 7 Reservoir, and 1.4 km for the link between them.
Crusoe Reservoir can be used for swimming, canoeing, small-scale sailing and fishing, and VICSWIM runs lessons there in January. No. 7 Reservoir is a conservation area with no fishing; it is home to the freshwater catfish, which the council notes is classified as vulnerable in Victoria.
Dogs: not permitted, except assistance animals as defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and law-enforcement dogs.
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The Bendigo Creek Trail
Starts at Crusoe Reservoir · City of Greater Bendigo
The trail for walkers and cyclists runs north-east from Crusoe Reservoir past natural bush and historic landmarks to Bendigo Pottery in Epsom. Landmarks the council names along the way include Rosalind Park in central Bendigo, Lake Weeroona at North Bendigo and the botanic gardens at White Hills, with nineteenth-century miners’ cottages in between.
The council says there are sites along the creek where you can picnic, watch birds “or even pan for gold”, and that the sacred kingfisher can occasionally be spotted.
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Kangaroo Flat Reserve and Botanic Gardens
11 Camp Street (also called Camp Street Reserve) · City of Greater Bendigo
A large open park and garden space, partly shaded by trees, with a sheltered barbecue area and toilets. The council takes casual bookings for events in its parks and gardens.
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Allingham Street playspace and dog park
238 and 250 Allingham Street · City of Greater Bendigo
The council lists a neighbourhood playspace at 238 Allingham Street and, at number 250, a fully fenced dog park with a separately fenced small-dog retreat.
Dogs: off lead inside the fence, except greyhounds. The council explains that section 27 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 rules out exercising a greyhound off lead in any of its off-leash parks or areas.
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Greater Bendigo National Park
Surrounds Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park · Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and Parks Victoria
Parks Victoria opens its page with “Womin-Dji-Ka (Welcome)” and describes the park as one of six Aboriginal Title parks in Central West Victoria, part of the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung People. It protects high-quality box-ironbark forest, and its wildflowers are at their best between August and October.
From the One Tree Hill area there are walking tracks and views over Bendigo, and a walk up to the Big Hill Lookout gives rural views to the south.
Dogs: on lead, and only on specified roads and trails in the One Tree Hill section. Aboriginal artefacts are protected by law, and disturbing them in any way is prohibited.
A worked example
Say you want a loop at Crusoe that uses all three measured tracks: round Crusoe Reservoir, along the link, round No. 7 and back along the link. Using the council’s figures:
| Around Crusoe Reservoir | 3.3 km |
|---|---|
| Link track, out | 1.4 km |
| Around No. 7 Reservoir | 1.4 km |
| Link track, back | 1.4 km |
| Total | 7.5 km |
That assumes the link is walked both ways and the loops start and finish where they meet it. It is an illustration of the arithmetic, not a signed route.
Signs to look for
Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park is one of the council’s Nature Discovery Trail stops, each marked by a Discover Nature sign about what to look for there. Among the plants and animals the council says a trail walker might find are the yellow-footed antechinus, kangaroo grass, the eastern bearded dragon and sun orchids, which open fully only on warm, sunny days.
At Crusoe itself the council points to revegetation and habitat work: frog ponds, stormwater harvesting, nest boxes and native grass lawns. The Friends of Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park help look after the area.
