Hike at a glance

6,426

Quick overview: Explore the picturesque Monda Track, an 18.1km circuit trail nestled in the stunning Yarra Ranges National Park, Australia. This moderate Grade 3 hike takes you through lush Mountain Ash forests and offers breathtaking views from Archer Lookout. Starting from the South End car park, the trail navigates firebreaks, access roads, and the serene Dom Dom Creek Road, leading up to the scenic Archer Hill. Remember to be cautious when walking along the highway and crossing at Black Spur Caravan Park. This 5-hour adventure is a must for any bushwalker in search of great natural beauty.

Hike length

18.1km

Average duration

5 hrs

Trail Difficulty

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Hike Type

Circuit

Technical details

Max elevation: 960m
Min elevation: 386m
Total Ascent: 831m

Start: Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Ground

End: Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Ground

Location: Yarra Ranges National Park

State: Victoria

Nearest town: Healesville

State capital distance: 80km

Latitude: -37.59212296

Longitude: 145.64278542995456

Check current conditions
Track conditions, access and closures can change quickly due to weather, fire, maintenance or safety concerns. Always check the relevant land manager’s website before you visit. Trail Hiking Australia does not provide real-time track and closure monitoring, and land managers remain the authoritative source for current alerts, closures and access restrictions.

Hike details

Difficulty

Planning

Safety

Getting there

The region

Nearby hikes

Weather

Trail details

Hike summary

The Monda Track is a very picturesque track following various access roads and tracks, plus firebreaks, through the Yarra Ranges National Park. There are many very beautiful segments where you are surrounded by great specimens of the Mountain Ash.

The track begins just before the access gate at the South End of the Carpark. Follow the road to your left, then take Dom Dom Creek Road to your left after roughly 400 metres. After approx another km you will see Hermitage Walking Track to your left (not signposted). Follow this to the highway.

You will need to walk along the highway until you see Black Spur Caravan park. Be very careful along the highway as traffic moves fast. Cross the highway then head uphill on Rough Road (the signs say Rouch Road!?).Keep following this until you hit the junction (roughly 8km since beginning). You'll then need to take a couple of lefts until you are on Lookout Spur Road. Keep following this until you arrive at Archer lookout. This is a good lunch spot, it is recognisable by having large stones placed.

After this follow Monda Track and continue along this and then downhill. You will come to a gate which you will need to climb over. You can then take the firebreak to Archer Hill and then righ and downhill where you will join Road 9. Keep following this downhill and eventually you will arrive at the road. The section from Archer Hill back to the road is the most scenic.

Track difficulty

Grade 3 (moderate) badge

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Uneven terrain and steady climbs
These walks require a reasonable level of fitness and confidence on rough ground. Expect hills, rough surfaces, and sections with steps or short, steeper climbs.

While not technically difficult, these tracks are no longer "easy" and can feel demanding over distance, especially in heat or with a pack. Some bushwalking experience is recommended, particularly for managing footing and pacing. Distances can extend up to 20km.

Worth knowing: Many hikers underestimate Grade 3 when conditions change or fatigue sets in.

Planning essentials

Practical Information:

You may encounter leaches on this hike. Make sure you have a good map as there are many different roads passing through and it would be easy to take a wrong turn.

Map and GPX file

Monda Track (18.1km)

Total distance: 18174 m
Max elevation: 960 m
Min elevation: 386 m
Total climbing: 831 m
Total descent: -835 m

GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Safety and preparation

Planning this hike?

Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Interactive Safety Scenarios. Then refer to the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.

Let someone know

Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take, and it only takes two minutes..

Let someone know your plans →

Planning something more serious? The comprehensive trip intentions form is designed for remote, overnight, and off-track trips where your emergency contact needs more detail. Register your advanced plans here →

Free checklists

Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.

Getting there

Yarra Ranges National Park

Make your way to Healesville, then continue on the Maroondah Highway for roughly 18km until you see the entry to Dom Dom Saddle Carpark on your right. Be careful as it comes up quickly, but there is a sign notifying of picnic area 300 metres beforehand.

Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here →

Get there with Google Maps

Accommodation nearby

Find hotels, cabins, and campgrounds near the trailhead. Click the button below to open an interactive map automatically centred on this hike's location — no searching required.

Find Accommodation

Or browse accommodation in nearby towns: Belgrave, Emerald, Healesville, Lilydale, Marysville, Monbulk, Montrose, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Warburton

Discover more

About the region

Situated between Melbourne and the Victorian Alps, the Yarra Ranges National Park is a place of epic views, majestic rainforest scenery and fun-packed snowplay. Enjoy the panorama from Mount Donna Buang, or go deeper into the park on the Black Spur Drive, and wind through towering Mountain Ash forests to Lake Mountain.

The Yarra Ranges spans an extensive, mountainous area of cool temperate forest around the three towns of Marysville, Healesville and Warburton. This national park is home to the world's tallest flowering tree, the Mountain Ash, which towers over lush tree ferns and mossy Myrtle Beech. Dark gullies are home to clear streams which feed the Yarra River and major reservoirs from which Melbourne draws its drinking water.

The Yarra Ranges boasts some stunning lookouts, one of the best being Mount Donna Buang. From here you can see awesome views of Westernport Bay and Port Phillip - or walk the Rainforest Gallery and see the Mountain Ash from a different perspective. In the winter, Mount Donna Buang is Melbourne's closest winter playground. Many Melburnians have enjoyed their first sight of snow here through the years.

Healesville is the start of the Black Spur Drive, a short but beautiful scenic car journey. The road winds through majestic Mountain Ash forest to Narbethong, passing a number of pleasant walking trails and picnic areas, such as Donnelly's Weir, Dom Dom Saddle and Maroondah Reservoir Park.

Explore nearby hikes

Photo gallery

Weather on the trail

Yarra Ranges National Park

The map below shows the rain forecast for the trail area. Tap the toggle in the top right corner to explore other layers including wind, temperature, UV index, thunderstorms, fire danger, and weather warnings — all useful for planning a safe hike.

Trail Reviews

5 Reviews on “Monda Track (18.1km)”

Overall rating

Al Morkans

I saw a post that suggested sections of the track are now heavily overgrown.

I used to love that walk, but have not done it for a while.

03/02/2024, 17:19

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1. Trail Hiking Australia
  
  Al Morkans seems to be the way with a lot of trails these days. Not enough funding or volunteers to keep all the tracks maintained.
  
  03/02/2024, 18:05
  
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Acknowledgement of Country

Monda track (18. 1km) trail hiking australia

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.

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

February 25, 2025

Hike at a glance

Technical details

Trail details

Hike summary

Track difficulty

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Planning essentials

Map and GPX file

Safety and preparation

Planning this hike?

Let someone know

Free checklists

Getting there

Accommodation nearby

Discover more

About the region

Explore nearby hikes

Morley Walking Track (9.4km)

Mount Dom Dom Hermitage Track (13.5km)

Mount Juliet Hike (8.7km)

Donnellys Weir Mt St Leonard Hike (25.3km)

Photo gallery

Weather on the trail

Trail Reviews

5 Reviews on “Monda Track (18.1km)”

Leave a Review. Cancel reply

Notice something different about this trail?

Acknowledgement of Country

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

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