Hike at a glance
Length
Duration
Difficulty
Trail type
Route details
Max elevation: 676m
Min elevation: 89m
Total Ascent: 1045m
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
Trail difficulty
Uneven terrain and steady climbs
These walks require a reasonable level of fitness and confidence on rough ground. Expect hills, rough surfaces, and sections with steps or short, steeper climbs.
While not technically difficult, these tracks are no longer "easy" and can feel demanding over distance, especially in heat or with a pack. Some bushwalking experience is recommended, particularly for managing footing and pacing. Distances can extend up to 20km.
Worth knowing: Many hikers underestimate Grade 3 when conditions change or fatigue sets in.
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.
Map and GPX file
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.
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.
Getting there and where to stay
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here →
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.
Or search accommodation in nearby towns: Boolarra, Churchill, Gormandale, Mirboo North, Moe, Tanjil South, Thorpdale, Toora, Trafalgar, Traralgon, Traralgon South, Welshpool, Yarram, Yinnar
Explore the region
About the region
Explore nearby hikes
Photo gallery
/Mack's-Creek-Loop-Hike_8.jpg "Mack's Creek Loop Hike (25.2km)")
/Mack's-Creek-Loop-Hike_1.jpg "Mack's Creek Loop Hike (25.2km)")
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/Mack's-Creek-Loop-Hike_2.jpg "Mack's Creek Loop Hike (25.2km)")
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/Mack's-Creek-Loop-Hike_3.jpg "Mack's Creek Loop Hike (25.2km)")
Do you have any photos from this hike?
Your photos can help others plan. Share shots from along the trail so fellow hikers know what to expect.
Weather on the trail
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
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.
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.
11 Reviews on “Mack's Creek Loop Hike (25.2km)”
Maddi Shae
Renee Magor
Wayne
Phillip Meek
Shane Mervin
Tania Nilsson Natalie Krutop how about a weekend away?? My cousins live out this way its beautiful
LizandDave Friswell Megan Donohue
Erin
Fiona Butterworth
Good choice Bev, I have done a walk there a while back and really enjoyed it. There is a track from Morwell NP to Tarra Bulga that I’ve been wanting to try …
Haha good one
I am currently having development done on my site to display the state and location when hikes are shared with this Facebook page. Hopefully that will be a welcome addition
I was visiting Australia (from Denver, Colorado, USA) for the first time earlier this month (September 2017) and decided on trying this hike out as my second hike. My first hike was in Wilson’s Promontory, so I wanted something completely different….which this was. I did most of the loop in one day, 09/11/17, but I started too late in the day and had to turn around near the Balook trail-head. The lat and long coords took my close to Mack’s Hall, where I parked, and to echo other hikers, I did the loop counter-clock wise.
Compared to others, I found the trail decently easy to follow, there must have been work done on the trail since the last reviewer. There were only a few places where the path was overgrown, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. The only times I got off trail was when I was not paying attention, but there are trail markers and pink ribbons tied to trees every so often to let you know you are going the right way.
It poured rain the first part of the morning, but I was prepared for that. Was not prepared for the stinging nettle plant that bit me at the first river crossing. The ones in the states feel like a bee sting, but this one made my entire right leg feel like it was on fire for a few hours. The second time I sat down to ring out my socks is when I noticed the leeches…holy fright!! I read about them in the reviews, but I didn’t think they would be that bad. That first time, I had about 6 on each leg. For the next several hours, I had to stop every 10 minutes and remove another batch of them from my legs. It’s not that they hurt or are dangerous, it’s mostly just an uncomfortable gross feeling, knowing they are there. The leeches stopped appearing after I got onto Old Balook Yarram Road.
Even with the nettles and leeches, I did enjoy the hike and will always remember it, just wish I could have completed it. Based on my Fitbit tracker I did 25.6km in 8 and ½ hours, and I also definitely recommend bringing your poles.
I wish
Im sure we can plan well in advance Tania Nilsson leave early sat morn home sunday arvo
In vic?
It looks really lovely …. It could be fun
Jaimi McNair, add it to the list!
Jake Dominiak Ash Benson Gus Granger Jye Rae one day we gotta do this ?
Jessica Mitchell thoughts?
Kate? Nice day trip
Laura Shillito Sylvia Gad
Lets do it!!
Lets do it!!
Lets do it!!
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