Valley and Eagle Nest Loop is a 7.9km, grade 3 hike located in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 3 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
The Valley and Eagle Nest Loop is a superb walk on well-maintained tracks through the lush forest. Situated in the newest section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, not far from Silvan Reservoir.
It is, possibly, the most remote of all the walks in the Dandenong Ranges. A number of trails branch off this track and walks can be extended. This variation is an extension of the standard 3km circuit.
This walk is a few minutes drive from the Olinda Falls carpark. It is not marked but you can easily follow the path/road signs to complete the circuit. There is a good uphill section and finishes with a very narrow walkway.
Walk past the toilets onto eagle nest road until you reach eagle nest picnic ground. Turn left onto Hermons track and then right on Georges track (possums track on map). Follow this until you see Barges track, turn left here. Stay on this past Bartlett track (which you'll cross twice) then straight ahead you'll find rifle range gully. You will come to a fork and you want to take the left track called black hole track (unmarked).
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 463 m
Min elevation: 239 m
Total climbing: 587 m
Total descent: -587 m
Trail location
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Getting there
Olinda falls is easy to navigate to and can be typed into google maps. From here you follow Falls road past the National Rhododendron Gardens then onto Chalet road past the R. J. Hamer Arboretum. Take a left onto Silvan road then left onto Boundary road. Follow this until you reach the picnic ground.
About the region
The forested slopes of the Dandenong Ranges are a place of tranquil forest walks, quaint hilltop towns and charismatic animals such as lyrebirds and wallabies. Conquer the famous 1000 Steps, discover Olinda Falls and enjoy commanding views over Melbourne and the Yarra Valley.
The Dandenong Ranges is a rainforest getaway on Melbourne's doorstep. A short drive or train ride from the city you will find steep volcanic hills covered in stands of the world's tallest flowering tree, the Mountain Ash. Living among the greenery are wallabies, lyrebirds, wombats and the Powerful Owl so please ensure you leave your dogs at home to avoid disturbing the local wildlife.
The mountains of the Dandenong Ranges offer stunning views across Melbourne. Waterfalls are also a feature of this cool temperate rainforest. Olinda Falls and Sherbrooke Falls are best after rain. Just don't forget to wear hiking boots.
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Gear to consider

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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.
0 Reviews on “Valley and Eagle Nest Loop (7.9km)”
We also got confused at the start of the walk as we could not find the toilet (I think they decided to remove it) so we walked past a vehicle gate onto a road called boundary track, we walked down this until a ‘T’ intersection, turned right and followed the above instructions.
We also have the same issue on rifle range gully, we did not see the track that went off to the right so it must be a small track?