Morley Walking Track is a 9.4km, grade 4 hike located in Black Range State Forest, Victoria. The hike should take around 3.5 hours to complete.
Hike overview
Victoria's tall Mountain Ash grow to a height greater than 90m and are the world's tallest flowering plants. They are easily visited being little more than an hour's drive from Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Their high canopy provides an ideal habitat for an understorey of shade-tolerant trees and shrubs that thrive in cool, moist gullies. This dense, mixed forest of wattles, tree ferns and blackwood permits little of the hot sun to permeate to the forest floor, consequently providing cool walking during the hot summer months.
Some of the best of this Mountain Ash forest is protected within Melbourne's water catchments and public access is generally not allowed. One of the exceptions is Morleys Track. Although within Yarra Ranges National Park, this walking track also passes through a water supply catchment. Please respect National Parks regulations and keep to the foot track so that access to this magnificent forest can continue to be enjoyed by all.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 675 m
Min elevation: 221 m
Total climbing: 272 m
Total descent: -589 m
Tips
- 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.
- Management vehicle tracks and pedestrian pads through forest
Trail location
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Getting there
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.
Gallery
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About the region
Black Range State Park is a state park 340 km northwest of Melbourne, Australia, near the town of Cavendish. It covers an area of 117 square kilometres. In addition to natural flora and fauna, the park protects Australian Aboriginal art and occupation sites of the Jardwadjali people. The area's steep, rocky terrain meant it was never cleared by pastoralists, and has essentially remained in its natural condition.
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Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Let someone know
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
Gear to consider
My free 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. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
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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.
3 Reviews on “Morley Walking Track (9.4km)”
Josh
Susan Hackett
Oliver Bonaccorso
track is so overgrown with ferns and blackberry bushes, we had to turn back 3-4kms from Fernshaw because it was so thick the track disappeared so you couldn’t see if there were snakes around and risked getting (even more) sliced up by blackberry thorns. Only recommend this track with long pants and a machete.
Shannon Maes
Most of this track was destroyed in 2009 fires. Was closed for years, so now it is MUCH tougher than a grade 3 hike! DId this on the weekend, 8 hours – 22km in and back from Dom Dom Picnic Ground (very poorly maintained no water, loos are shocking,) to Fernshaw. This trail is very steep up and down, trail is hardly visible but for tree markers in parts, lots of big trees to get over and slippery as hell. Good luck!
Tahnia Mcdonaldd
Piet Bywater before 100km, let’s time ~18km return.. Dea Sani will be first aid