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Length: 6.2km
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Duration: 2hrs
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Grade: 2
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Style: Circuit
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Start: 10 Mile picnic area
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End: 10 Mile picnic area
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Location: Mt Donna Buang
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Closest Town: Warburton
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Distance from CBD: 88km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.713023
Longitude: 145.687292
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Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...


Mt Donna Buang...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
The Mount Donna Buang and Mt Victoria hike is on well-maintained tracks, medium grade, 6 km long and will take most people a bit over 2 hours. The first half hour has some moderately steep sections, although they should not be too much bother if you take a few rests.
The track leaves the car park and climbs north for 400 metres through mountain ash and tree ferns to a junction. Turn left and continue past the ruins of an old ski lodge before a steeper section beside a former ski run leading to the treeless summit area. In addition to a toilet block, there is a 21 metre high observation tower, picnic tables and a large but basic shelter hut without doors. The view from the tower is breathtaking. There are endless forested mountains in most directions, while to the west, Melbourne's office towers are just visible.
After you have had a look around, head back down the track to the junction and instead of returning to the carpark, take the left hand track. The route undulates through mixed species forest to Mt Victoria, (which is barely a knoll), before descending to a telephone tower. Then walk down a gravel road 500 metres before joining the main sealed road and walk 800 metres back to 10 Mile picnic area.
Getting there
Drive through Warburton until the highway, B 380, crosses the Yarra River. Shortly afterwards turn left onto The Acheron Way, C 507. The road climbs steadily for 7 km to the Cement Creek junction. Park here and spend 15 minutes inspecting the impressive Rainforest Gallery, a 350 metre walking circuit that starts high in the canopy before descending to the forest floor. Then drive up the Donna Buang Road, C 505, for 6 km to the 10 Mile picnic area and park. This is the most attractive place on the road and much nicer than the rather bleak summit area.
Background
Mt Donna Buang (1250 metres) is the nearest snowfield to Melbourne. The tall ash forests on it's slopes were harvested at the turn of the 20th century and the timber was moved by a network of tramlines and cable haulages. The industry took off in 1901 with the completion of the railway to Warburton.. Before the Second World War, Doona was also a minor ski resort with cleared runs, a huge ski jump and four ski lodges. In 1935 12,000 watched ski races on Donna. However the snow was never terribly reliable and after the war, two of the lodges that survived the 1939 fires were moved to the more dependable snowfield at Mt Buller, while the ruins of another can be seen at the foot of an old ski run.
Today most of the mountain is parkland. It is a accessed by a sealed road and is a popular tourist destination. In winter it attracts families to play in the snow. There is a 21 metre high lookout tower on the summit accessed by a strange double helix staircase. From the top there are impressive views of the mountains and forests, as well as the farmlands and towns of the Yarra Valley.
While you can drive to the top, there are a number of walking tracks up the mountain. One is a long day hike from Dom Dom Saddle, another begins at the aptly named Martyr Road in Warburton while a third starts half way up, near the Cement Creek Rainforest Gallery. There is also an easier option of a scenic walk near the summit.
GPX File
Max elevation: 1252 m
Min elevation: 1026 m
Total climbing: 263 m
Total descent: -262 m
Hikes Nearby
2 thoughts on “Mount Donna Buang and Mt Victoria (6.2km)”
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Tip.. wear gaiters and expect leeches.
Currently closed. As is Redwood.