Mt Juliet is among the highest peaks in the Yarra Ranges region, with a very steep and unmaintained walking track leading to the 1120m summit. The highest summit in the park is nearby Mount Donna Buang at 1223m.
The hike commences at Road Three, a parks management track off the Maroondah Highway (7 km east of Healesville), and follows this track east for approximately 2km to a junction of an incomplete 4WD track. The relentless foot trail starts at the junction of this road and Road Five. From there, it 4.5km in an almost direct line to the summit, where a stone cairn is located. The trail is steep, unforgiving and depending on the time of year, can often be overgrown in places. Expect this to be a challenging hike, especially after rain when the steep slopes will often have you crawling on all fours.
Mount Juliet is one of several trigonometric cairns remaining from the original Geodetic Survey of Victoria. The summit walk is among the most difficult in the Ranges, with a rise in altitude from 211m to 1120m, with the final section over rocks.
Grade 4 (Hard) -
Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the
AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
- The ascent to the summit from the junction of Road four is steep and arduous and requires a high level of fitness and stamina
- With a change in altitude of around 800m, do not expect this to be an easy hike as the trail is not well maintained and can often be overgrown
- There is a stone cairn at the top, built in the late 1800s to mark a geodetic survey point
- Don't expect any views due to extensive regrowth from the 1939 fires.
Total distance: 8771 m
Max elevation: 1116 m
Min elevation: 204 m
Total climbing: 913 m
Total descent: -913 m
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Getting to the trailhead: Yarra Ranges National Park.
Follow the Maroondah Highway through Healesville, to small car park signed Mount Juliet Track, about 2 km past the Graceburn Weir. Park near the gate
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
- 2WD Access
- Bitumen Road
- Small Car Park
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Belgrave, Emerald, Healesville, Lilydale, Marysville, Monbulk, Montrose, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Warburton
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.
Looking for more walks in or near Yarra Ranges National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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5 Reviews on “Mount Juliet Hike (8.7km)”
March 2026 – took it on for the first time; round trip from Maroondah Hwy gate was 10.1km – the first 1km is maintenance vehicle track, then right up the Mt Juliet walking track – first 2km are fairly easy, but shorty after the 3km mark – the walk becomes a climb, quite gruelling, easy to slip – slow going @35mins per km.
The descent is steep and thus challenging, easy to get disoriented.
Not for the faint of heart – but worth doing at least once for the physical challenge.
Thanks so much for the update on the track. Glad you enjoyed the physical challenge. It certainly is steep.
Challenging but excellent hike. There is very little respite from the steep incline, very fun! The recent storm damage/fallen trees have just today been completely cleared so all clear to reach the summit.
Would recommend for experienced and fit hikers but would advise one to bring walking poles for the descent.
Did this on 15/05/2021.
Was cold, wet, muddy, overgrown with lots of fallen trees across the track and even got snow at the top… Absolutely loved it!
😀
Will be back in a few months to have another go.
It’s a good training hike. Get ready to roll down?
Good challenge. No real respite the whole way up, and only gets harder the close you get to the top. Took about 3.5hrs return to the car.
Tough track and a great challenge! Strangely I noticed a small area, mid way up the track with leech activity. Found myself flicking many off my boots and pants. No signs down low near the road or near the top.
Great training hike for fast elevation gain. The post fire regrowth is starting to encroach on parts of the trail, as are the leeches – I wore shorts and regretted it. Trekking poles were handy on steep upper sections.