Brisbane Ranges Loop is a 13.4km, grade 4 hike located in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 5 hrs to complete.

Length: 13.4km

Duration: 5 hrs

Grade: 4

Style: Circuit

Start: Steiglitz Court House

End: Steiglitz Court House

Location: Brisbane Ranges National Park

Closest town: Steiglitz

Victoria

From state capital: 93km

Longitude: 144.1781920194626

Latitude: -37.87708066622635

Leave a review

Organise this hike as an event

Check the weather

Warning

Tarnook Track is now closed. This closure is from Alliance Track to the bridge at Sutherland Creek. Please follow the route in the GPX file below. Use the Steiglitz Durdidwarrah Road to complete the circuit and avoid Tarnook Track. Use caution on the open public road.

Hike overview

From the Court House walk across Steiglitz Road and head down a gravel track onto Durdidwarrah Road. As soon as cross New Chum Bridge turn right onto Hay Track, a clearly defined walking trail.

Continue along Hay track until you reach the trail junction of School Track, Hay Track and Durdidwarrah Road. Turn right onto Durdidwarrah Road and walk a short distance across Hut and Alliance Tracks until you reach Mulrooneys Track on your left opposite the Pines Carpark.

Follow the Mulrooneys Track down into Yankee Gully. After a few hundred metres you will reach a section of The Burchell Trail on your left. (You can shortcut the trail at this point by taking The Burchell trail through to Native Youth Track.) Keep to your right and continue along Mulrooneys Track up to Yankee Gully Road.

From this point you have a few options. Turn left and walk along Yankee Gully Road for approximately 500m until you reach Native Youth Track on your left. This hike continues across Yankee Gully Road and picks up a foot trail through to Kinglock Mine. This was one off the last working mines in the area, closed during World War 2.

From Kinglock Mine continue along Yankee Gully Road for approximately 300m and turn left onto Native Youth Track. Continue along Native Youth Track until you reach The Burchell Trail junction. Turn right at The Burchell Trail and follow the trail down into the gully at the Crossing Picnic Area. A good spot for morning tea or lunch.

From the picnic area follow the gravel road out of the gully until you reach its end at Steiglitz Road. On the opposite side of the road you will see the Deadmans Loop Track. Take this track and follow it through open woodland down into Sutherland Creek.

From this point you can continue across the creek and return to the trail head via Deadmans Loop Track. The continuation of this hike follows Sutherland Creek downstream for two kilometres before leaving the creek at Miners Track. You'll need to pick your way carefully along the creek as the trail is not defined. Your choice of route will depend upon eater levels and in dry weather you may find it easier to simply walk in the creek bed.

Leave the creek at Miners Track and simply follow the track back to South Steiglitz Road. Turn left onto Wrixon Street then right onto Stawell Street returning to the Court House Carpark.

History

Situated between Geelong and Ballarat, Steiglitz is almost a ghost town today but in the 1860s and 1890s it was a busy goldmining township with hotels, shops, churches and a population of over 1000. At the height of the 1860s gold rush, Steiglitz township had more than 1500 residents, four hotels, a newspaper, a variety of shops and even an undertaker.

Now most of the town and its surroundings are included in the Steiglitz Historic Park. Enjoy a pleasant bush walk relax with a picnic or pan for gold. Of course, a trip to the park wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Steiglitz Court House, with its display of photographs, maps and relics of gold year. The court house is open on Sunday and public holidays, and at other times by arrangement.

Route and GPX file

Total distance: 13154 m
Max elevation: 341 m
Min elevation: 177 m
Total climbing: 375 m
Total descent: -375 m

Download file: Brisbane-Ranges-Loop .gpx

Tips

The Sutherland Creek section can be avoided by continuing along Deadmans Loop Track. Another shortcut can be completed by linking Native Youth Track to the Pines Carpark via The Burchell trail.

Suggested items to pack: Day Pack with Picnic Lunch

Trail location

Getting there

Get directions

Access conditions

2WD Access

Gallery

About the region

Steiglitz Historic Park and the Brisbane Ranges National Park is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Wadawurrung Peoples.

Little more than an hour's drive from Melbourne and set in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, Steiglitz Historic Park is a window back in time to Victoria's Gold Rush of 1850-90s.

Situated between Geelong and Ballarat, Steiglitz is almost a ghost town today but from 1860 to 1890s it was a busy goldmining township with hotels, shops, churches and a population of over 1000. At the height of the 1860s gold rush, Steiglitz township had more than 1500 residents, four hotels, a newspaper, a variety of shops and even an undertaker!

Now most of the town and its surroundings are included in the Steiglitz Historic Park. Enjoy a pleasant bushwalk, relax with a picnic or pan for gold. Of course, a trip to the park wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Steiglitz Court House, with its display of photographs, maps and relics of gold year. The court house is open on Sunday and public holidays, and at other times by arrangement.

Make sure you visit Steiglitz and wander the ghost-town discovering its past from the information boards located there. Please note that private property and dwellings should not be entered. There are some great picnic spots and several walks from the town centre to explore the area.

Suggest an edit

Does this hikes information need updating? Sometimes the route, trail features or access conditions change.

Reviews

Leave a Review. Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Similar trails

Gear to consider

My planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Everyone, and every hike, is different, so customise your outdoor kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.

The HiiKER app helps you to find 1,000’s of the best bushwalking and hiking adventures, with reviews, photos, and great places to stay. I’m excited to have partnered with HiiKER to offer members of Trail hiking Australia Community an exclusive deal to help you get outdoors with extra confidence with premium mapping, planning and tracking features. Claim your offer here.

Let someone know

Let someone know where you’re going and when you plan to return. Fill in an online trip intentions form to privately send important details about your adventure to your emergency contact. They can then inform emergency services if you don’t return on time.

Weather

Acknowledgement of Country

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

Warning