Grade 1

Mount Donna Buang Hike (18km)

Warburton

Victoria

18km

7 hrs

Grade 4

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Hike at a glance

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Quick overview: Experience the exhilarating Mount Donna Buang Walking Track, just an hour from Melbourne. This challenging 18km return trek, graded hard (Grade 4), offers a steep climb through lush mountain ash and ancient myrtle beech trees, culminating in panoramic views from a 21m viewing tower. Perfect for hill training or a leisurely bushwalk, the track is an outdoor gem, immersing hikers in a forested wonderland with a mystic touch when the mist rolls in.
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Length

18km

Duration

7 hrs

Difficulty

Grade 4 (Hard)

Trail type

Return

Route details

Max elevation: 1260m
Min elevation: 152m
Total Ascent: 1181m

Start: Warburton Main Street
End: Warburton Main Street
Location: Warburton
State: Victoria
Nearest town: Warburton
State capital distance: 92km
Latitude: -37.70664386
Longitude: 145.6813819

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.

About this trail
Difficulty
Planning
Safety
Getting there
The region
Photos
Weather
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About this trail

Hike summary

Whether you're training for a seriously steep overseas trek a la Kokoda or Kilimanjaro or just want to complete the best mountain climb close to Melbourne, the Mount Donna Buang Walking Track is for you.

Donna Buang boasts enough natural beauty in its own right to guarantee it is a bushwalking gem that can be done at a leisurely pace. However, shooting up 1170-vertical metres in 9km, the Track comes into its own as a hill training venue.

Located only an hour (80km) from Melbourne's CBD, the sheer slopes of the mountain deliver an ascent profile that gets lungs bursting and thighs burning, making it prime training ground, especially for hikers heading to Kokoda in Papua New Guinea or to overseas mountain summits. Indeed, Donna Buang's jungle-like environment make it the perfect Kokoda preparation.

Those tackling its length rise up through towering mountain ash and ancient myrtle beech trees, pushing on into a dense rainforest jungle populated by gigantic tree ferns. The trail reaches Mount Victoria before nearing Donna's summit (1245m), the prior saddle featuring a mystic atmosphere, especially when the mist rolls in, as it often does.

The finale is stepping up the viewing tower, a 21m rise that on a clear day delivers views across the Upper Yarra Valley.

For more information about this trail go to Visit Warburton

Trail notes

More information

For more information about this trail go to Visit Warburton

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Trail difficulty

Grade 4 (hard) badge

Grade 4 (Hard)

Steep, rough, and demanding
These are challenging walks suited to experienced hikers. Expect sustained climbs, rough and uneven terrain, and longer distances.

Tracks may be less defined, and signage can be limited, so navigation awareness is important. These walks require good fitness, confidence on difficult terrain, and the ability to manage fatigue over time.

Safety note: Fatigue, poor navigation, or a sudden weather change can turn a hard walk into a serious situation.

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Planning information

Preparation matters: Plan your day hike well and bring the right gear, weather-appropriate layers, food and plenty of water. Before you head out, read up on bushwalking safety and use this day hike planning guide to make sure you're ready. Need help getting started? Check out the full hike preparation guide.

Trail tips

Best completed in summer and shoulder season; muddy, slippery, potentially snowbound and difficult going in winter; car shuffle required if walking one way.

For more information about this trail go to Visit Warburton

Walk features

Map and GPX file

Mount Donna Buang Hike (18km)

Total distance: 9239 m
Max elevation: 1260 m
Min elevation: 152 m
Total climbing: 1181 m
Total descent: -76 m
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GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Alternative Trail

For an easier, shorter walk that does not require a car shuffle, drive to the summit car park. Walk back along the trail towards Mount Victoria, eventually popping out on Mount Donna Buang Rd. Walk roadside uphill for approximately 1km until you reach the 10 Mile Picnic Area. Pick up the linking trail at the rear of the car park taking you back on to the main Donna Buang Walking Track you came down on. Walk back to the summit. Approximately 6km.

Total distance: 6513 m
Max elevation: 1253 m
Min elevation: 998 m
Total climbing: 290 m
Total descent: -290 m
Login to Download GPX

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

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Safety and preparation

Think safety first

Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. The Hiking Safety Systems and planning calculators are designed to help you identify and close those gaps before you leave home. Work through the Interactive Safety Scenarios to see how incidents unfold, then use the tools to build your plan and make sure a trusted contact has your trip details before you head 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 →

Heading somewhere remote, off-track or overnight? Use the comprehensive trip intentions form instead — your emergency contact will need more detail. Register your trip plan 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.

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Getting there and where to stay

Warburton

From Melbourne City to Yarra Valley (via Eastlink Tollway) - Make your way onto the Eastern Freeway and travel towards Ringwood. The Eastern Freeway turns into the Eastlink Toolway after Springvale Road. If you have an Eastlink or Citylink pass, continue on the Eastlink Tollway and go through the Mullum Mullum tunnel - make sure to stay in the left lane as the turnoff is straight after the tunnel ends. Turn left after exiting the tunnel towards Ringwood. Turn left onto the Maroondah Highway towards Lilydale. Once past Lilydale, turn right at the Warburton Highway turnoff to explore the Warburton Valley. Pass through the villages of the Warburton Valley, arriving at Warburton, about 40km from Lilydale. The Donna Buang walk can be commenced from anywhere within the Warburton township, and is reached by walking up Martyr Road, beside the golf course.

By Public Transport Public Transport Victoria has regular trains heading to Lilydale Station. From Lilydale Station, catch a Martyrs bus to travel to Warburton .

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.

Accommodation →

Or search accommodation in nearby towns: Gladysdale, Launching Place, Millgrove, Reefton, Warburton, Wesburn, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction

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Explore the region

About the region

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Photo gallery

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Weather on the trail

Warburton

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

10 Reviews on “Mount Donna Buang Hike (18km)”

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Acknowledgement of Country

Mount donna buang hike (18km) 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:
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