Grade 1

Organ Pipes Trail Walk (3km)

Organ Pipes National Park

Victoria

3km

1.25 hrs

Grade 2

Circuit

Save
Compare

Bookmark

Compare

Favourite

Hike at a Glance

Find Accommodation

Quick overview: Experience the beauty of Victoria's Organ Pipes National Park on this easy, 3km circuit trail. Starting and ending at the Visitor Information Centre, the trail is just 20km from Melbourne's CBD and near Calder Park. Discover the park's unique basalt columns, the Organ Pipes, formed by cooling lava, and traverse the expansive Keilor Plains, one of the world's largest lava flows. Along the way, enjoy bird watching, photography, and picnicking opportunities amid revived native plant life.
Length:
3km
Duration:
1.25 hrs
Grade:
2
Style:
Circuit

Max elevation: 123m

Min elevation: 55m

Total Ascent: 131m

Start: Visitor Information Centre
End: Visitor Information Centre
Organ Pipes National Park
Victoria
Nearby town: Calder Park
From state capital: 20km
Latitude: -37.66726574328341
Longitude: 144.76614832356475
8 Reviews
Overview
Map
Gallery
Similar
Region
Weather

16,414 views

Hike overview

The Organ Pipes Trail commences at the Visitor Information Centre and follows the walking track to explore the many wonderful features of the park. The Organ Pipes, a set of basalt columns formed by the cooling and cracking of molten lava, are the parks best known feature. Visitors can enjoy the fantastic range of picnicking, walking, bird watching and photography opportunities available.

1. Keilor Plains
Walk through the small gate to the two viewing platforms. All around you are the basalt Keilor Plains, one of the world's largest lava flows. These plains, formed by lava which came from volcanoes near Sunbury, are fairly flat except where streams, like Jacksons Creek below you, have cut deep valleys.

2. Native plants revival
As you walk down to the Organ Pipes look closely at the trees and shrubs. In 1972 this area was covered with weeds, mainly thistles and boxthorn. Each year since the weeds have been removed more native trees and shrubs have established. The task of re-establishing native grasses and herbs has been more difficult, but there is now a substantial field of Kangaroo Grass (themeda triandra) on the north side of the track.

3. The Organ Pipes
About a million years ago, molten lava flowed over the Keilor Plains from Mount Holden and other nearby volcanic hills. It filled the depressions and valleys of the former land surface, then cooled and solidified into basalt. Here at the Organ Pipes, it is believed that the lava filled a river valley running at right angles to Jacksons Creek and was perhaps 70 metres thick. Once a surface crust had formed, the lava beneath cooled very slowly. During cooling, the lava contracted and surface cracks developed (as they do in a drying mud puddle). As it continued to harden, the cracks lengthened until the basalt mass was divided into columns.

Over the million years since the lava flow, Jacksons Creek has cut a deep valley through the basalt and revealed the Organ Pipes.

4. Sandstone Bedrock
Walk down the stream for 200 metres, past wellestablished trees and you will see yellowish rocks across the creek. These are sandstones and mudstones, sedimentary rocks laid down under the sea. Fossils in these old rocks suggest they were formed about four hundred million years ago. The old river valley now filled by the Organ Pipes was cut in this sedimentary bedrock.

5. Rosette Rock
Now walk back upstream. About 400 metres past the Organ Pipes, look across the creek to see Rosette Rock, a radial array of basalt columns like the spokes of a wheel.

6. Tessellated Pavement
Three hundred metres further on is the Tessellated Pavement, which consists of the tops of basalt columns 'filed down' by Jacksons Creek.

7. Scoria Cone
You can now return to the car park by the shortcut path shown on the map. The carpark is on an eroded scoria cone - a small volcano that ejected molten volcanic rock called scoria. Scoria is reddish-brown and light in weight; it has many airholes because it was full of steam when ejected.

Track grade

Grade 2 (Easy) - A Gentle Introduction to Inclines: Grade 2 on the AWTGS represents easy walking tracks that offer a slightly more challenging experience compared to Grade 1. Similar to Grade 1, no prior bushwalking experience is required. The track surface is typically hardened or compacted and may have gentle hill sections or occasional steps. The total distance of a Grade 2 walk is typically no greater than 10 kilometers. These walks are still suitable for families with a bit more experience or those seeking a gentle introduction to some inclines.

Practical information

Access to the Organ Pipes, Rosette Rock and the Tessellated Pavement is via a sealed but very steep path. Just below the picnic area the slope reaches a gradient of 1 in 4. This walk should only be undertaken by fit, surefooted visitors.

Walk map and GPX file

Organ Pipes Trail Walk (3km)

Total distance: 3310 m
Max elevation: 123 m
Min elevation: 55 m
Total climbing: 244 m
Total descent: -243 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.

Explore safely

Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.

Leave a trip plan

Register your plans

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.

Planning 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

Getting to the trailhead: Organ Pipes National Park.

Organ Pipes National Park is just off the Calder Freeway about 20km north-west of Melbourne.

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

Get there with Google Maps

Access conditions

  • 2WD Access
  • Bitumen Road
  • Speed Bumps
  • Large Car Park
  • Public Toilets
  • Picnic Shelter
  • Picnic Table
  • BBQ Facilities

Accommodation nearby

Find Accommodation

Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.

Nearby towns: Airport West, Calder Park, Essendon, Gladstone Park, Keilor, Tullamarine

About the region

The Organ Pipes National Park is located at the eastern-most edge of one of the world's largest ancient volcanic lava flows, stretching 350 kilometres from the edge of Melbourne to the western border of Victoria.Towering above charming Jacksons Creek, the impressive basalt columns that resemble organ pipes were formed about a million years ago when huge quantities of molten lava were ejected from volcanoes near what is now Sunbury and flowed over the Keilor Plains. These plains are fairly flat except where streams such as Jacksons Creek have cut deep valleys over the years.

Similar walks nearby

Looking for more walks in or near Organ Pipes National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.

Inner circle rail trail 600x337
Grade 1

Inner Circle Rail Trail Walk (4km)

Melbourne Region
Victoria
7 Reviews
4km
1.5 hrs
One Way
Sandridge railway trail 600x400
Grade 1

Sandridge Railway Trail Walk (5km)

Melbourne Region
Victoria
7 Reviews
5km
1.75 hrs
One Way
Lerderderg gorge walk to grahams dam
Grade 1

Lerderderg Gorge Walk to Grahams Dam (3.5km)

Lerderderg State Park
Victoria
10 Reviews
3.5km
1.5 hrs
Return
Rosstown railway heritage trail 600x400
Grade 1

Rosstown Railway Heritage Trail Walk (9km)

Melbourne Region
Victoria
3 Reviews
9km
3 hrs
One Way

Gallery

Got any photos from this hike? Your photos can help others plan. Share shots from along the trail so fellow hikers know what to expect.

Click to add your photos >>


Suggest an edit

Notice something different about this trail? Whether it’s a new feature, a route change, or a closure, share your update so we can keep our info accurate and helpful for fellow hikers.

Click to suggest edits >>


Reviews

Organ Pipes Trail Walk (3km)

8 Reviews on “Organ Pipes Trail Walk (3km)”

Overall rating

Leave a Review.

Acknowledgement of Country

Organ pipes trail walk (3km) 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:

Trail Hiking Australia Logo

Trail Hiking Australia is a free, independent resource for finding hikes, bushwalks and trail runs across Australia. It provides reliable trail information, safety guidance and practical planning tools to help people explore the outdoors and return safely. Community support keeps the site independent and accessible. Support Trail Hiking Australia here.

Tips and advice

Preparing to hike

Health & hygiene

Hike safety

Hiking skills

Navigation

Leading Hikes

Food for the trail

Get involved

Submit a trip report

Add a new trail

Subscribe for Updates

Support Trail Hiking Australia

Work with Me

About

Darren Edwards

Trail Hiking Australia

In the media

Bushwalking blog

Online route planners

Leave a Google review

Subscribe for Updates
Leave No Trace

Some links and ads on this site are affiliate links. Purchases made through them may earn a small commission that helps fund Trail Hiking Australia, a community-run public resource.

© 2013-2026 Darren Edwards - All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Principles | Independence