OT Dam Walk, Arthurs Seat State Park - February 2021

Early evening at OT Dam.

It had been a particularly humid and warm in Melbourne this week so come Saturday Sam and I were looking for a short walk with a swimming option. After a bit of a think I figured that we could head on down the Mornington Peninsula and walk out to OT Dam. This dam was built back in 1934 by the OT Cordial Company and now days this quiet spot in the Arthurs Seat State Park makes a nice place for a walk and if the weather co-operates, a swim. Motoring down the Mornington Peninsula Freeway this evening it looked like our run of warm weather was about to come to an end though, as Main Ridge was cloaked in cloud. 

It almost looked like it might of been a sea mist rolling across Main Ridge tonight as at times we could glimpse the blue sky above.

Arriving at the trail head beside Arthurs Seat Road the overhead conditions were indeed grey and gloomy however it wasn't really cold, I'm thinking that it was more of a sea mist rolling through and not a cold front. Leaving the ute we dropped down the wide gravel 4wd track through the gloomy early evening light, avoiding the many single track mountain bike tracks along the way. We only descended the gravel track for 15 minutes or so, however in spots this track is a little loose and slippery so it pays to be a bit careful. After avoiding an un-signposted track off to the right (which would be our return route) we soon arrived at the sign posted side track down to the dam and around 5 minutes later we were at the western end of the dam - yes, this isn't a long walk!

Apart from the animals the bush was pretty well deserted tonight.

We dropped down this gravel 4wd track towards the dam.

I'm guessing this is a young one?

Easy walking down the 4wd track.

It's mostly Stringybarks in Arthurs Seat State Park.

OT Dam is coming into view through the trees.

I was still keen on going for a bit of a swim so Sam and I set off to circumnavigate OT Dam now to try and find the best spot to access the water. The western end of the dam tends to be fairly reedy so we followed the good walking track around the southern shoreline along some nice boardwalks to get to cross the old spillway and arrive at the dam wall. The dam wall looked like it was going to be the best spot to get in the water tonight and after checking out the southern shoreline we did indeed head back to the wall for a swim. The go here is probably to come prepared with Teva's or something similar if you want to swim as the entry and exit is a fairly muddy/rocky experience. Once I was in the water though the experience was good, being late summer the water was cool without being cold and floating around the large dam surrounded by native bush was pretty sweet.

There are some nice boardwalks along the southern shoreline.

Early evening at the deserted OT Dam.

I'd come prepared tonight with sandals.

OT Dam.

We crossed over the old spillway.

With the remaining daylight fast running out we decided that we'd better make a move back towards the ute. After pulling on my clothes we retraced our steps back across the dam wall and crossed over the spillway, retracing our steps for a few metres along the southern shoreline. Just before our outward route dropped down a staircase back to water level we veered left up an un-marked old 4wd track and started climbing. This old track is a much better way of getting to and from the dam I reckon as it climbs (or descends) fairly gently for the most part. Around 15 minutes after leaving the dam we arrived back at the main access track, turned left and shortly there after arrived back at the ute, just as the last of the days light faded away.

Now that looks painful!

Early evening at OT Dam - time for a swim.

The Feral swimmer;)

The dam wall makes for probably the best spot for a swim I think.

OT Dam, Arthurs Seat State Park.

The Dirt.

As you may ave guessed already this is a pretty short walk, according to my GPS this easy stroll came in at around 3.5 kilometres along with about 110 metres of climbing. The main route from the car park on Arthurs Seat Road is easily followed (it's a gravel 4wd track) and the turn off down to OT Dam is signposted. Once at the dam arguably the best spot for a swim is off the old earthen dam wall at the eastern end, although the water is also accessible from spots on the northern shoreline as well. I used Meridians old Mornington Peninsula topo map along with my GPS topos although to be honest there are a lot of tracks criss crossing the bush around here and most of them aren't mapped so you can really just make up your own adventure - although stay off the dedicated mountain bike tracks (they are generally signposted). 

Relevant Posts.

Friends Track Walk, Arthurs Seat State Park, 2018.

OT Dam to Eatons Cutting Walk, Arthurs Seat State Park, 2016.

Climbing back up to the ute we took the un-signposted left hand fork.

This track makes a more enjoyable way to and from the lake in my opinion.

Back on the main access track.

When the Strawberry (?) farm appeared though the trees we knew we didn't have far to go.

The photo doesn't show it well however it was pretty well dark now. There is room for quite a few vehicles around here although it gets busy with mountain bike riders on the weekends.