1. Home
  2. Olinda Falls and Valley (14km)
olinda

  • Length: 14km

  • Duration: 4hrs

  • Grade: 3

  • Style: Circuit

  • Start: Woolrich Lookout

  • End: Woolrich Lookout

  • Location: Dandenong Ranges

  • Closest Town: Olinda

  • Distance from CBD: 46km

  • State: VIC

  • Latitude: -37.86000217

  • Longitude: 145.38156837

Keep the Trail Access info current...

2WD Access
Large Car Park
Gravel Road
Public Toilets
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities
Edit Access Conditions

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...

Gravel Path
Rough Trail
Scenic Viewpoints
Trail Running
Edit Trail Features

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

45
40

Olinda Falls and Valley is a 14km, grade 3 Circuit hike located in Dandenong Ranges Victoria. The hike should take approximately 4hrs to complete.

Summary

The Olinda Falls and Valley Circuit is a very picturesque walk through the Olinda Forest area. This is a highly varied walk through some really beautiful native bush, but the R.J. Hamer Forest Arboretum provides some highly varied introduced trees. It can almost feel like a walk around the world. This version includes a short side trip to the Olinda Falls. You’ll likely hear and see a lot of birdlife here as well, especially the Lyrebird.

Start at Woolrich Lookout, near the toilet block you’ll see the Dam Rd track, follow that then follow Sequoia, Rock, KC, Rifle Range Gully and then Bartlett to reach the road. Follow that briefly looking out for Cascade Track on the right. Follow this until you see the side track off to the Olinda Falls to the right. The falls are quite small, but a worthwhile short visit. Return back to Cascade Track to follow that north until you reach Barbers Road. Turn right and shortly you’ll see VW Track to your right. This is a fairly gentle walk uphill until you reach Barges. Take this left, follow to the junction to continue on Barges until you reach the junction with Georges. Continue along this, note it passes some junctions and eventually meets Eagle Track to take you to Valley Picnic Ground. From here you can take Black Hole Track, then Yallambee Way to join Matthias then back up to Woolrich Lookout.

Getting there

Make your way to Olinda, follow the Olinda-Monbulk Road for 900 metres approx, turn left onto Chalet Road. Look for the carpark at the lookout.

Tips

The area is a real maze of trails with many possible combinations to take. It is essential to take a map to ensure you don’t get lost.

  • There tends to be a lot of vandalism of signs, so don’t rely on these being there.
  • Leeches can be encountered so bring your favourite leech repellent/remedy.

 

Total distance: 14237 m
Max elevation: 508 m
Min elevation: 254 m
Total climbing: 1085 m
Total descent: -1087 m
Download GPX File   You need to be registered and logged in to download GPX Files. If you aren't you will automatically be redirected to the registration/login screen before being returned to this page to download the file. By downloading any GPX files from this site you agree its use, and reliance upon, is entirely at your own risk. I will endeavour to ensure the accuracy and currency of the data, but accept no responsibility in this regard, or the results of any actions taken, when using the digital route files. If you are a commercial operator, a member of a club, an online group, blogger or commercial website and wish to use these digital downloads, my eBooks, any information from this site or printed publications you are required to first seek written permission from the copyright owner. Please read the Terms of Use, Copyright and Title of Ownership information.

 

 

Previous
Bluff Knoll (6km)
Download Your Hiking Safety Guide

14 thoughts on “Olinda Falls and Valley (14km)”

  5. I agree – it is a lovely walk, very varied scenery and quite challenging with the regular elevation changes. Beautiful scenery at the start especially. A little confusing at the KC track as there were fallen trees and we somehow stumbled inadvertently onto the boundary track and got a little lost. All in all, lots of fun though. Definitely need a map/enable gps with the route to keep on track. Thank you for the recommendation!

  7. This hike is really nice- it’s mostly shaded and on a mix of wide, well packed tracks and small, winding almost overgrown ones. These directions are good but you’ll need a good map – I recommend Maps.me – it’s free and works offline and all the tracks are on there.
    You can easily mix it up by taking other tracks and just exploring the area. It’s very beautiful.
    No water or toilets at the Valley Picnic Ground btw.

  8. Very grateful for the GPX map as a few times I wasn’t certain which route to take.
    Completed mid May 2018 – there are sections of fire trail that were very slippery and sticky clay that you’ll benefit from trekking poles or a good stick.
    I enjoyed this a lot but my favourite sections were definitely the more narrow foot trail parts through forest and when I go back I’d modify my route to include more of them.
    The arboretum is quite lovely in Autumn with the deciduous trees being all sorts of colours and the leaf confetti underfoot.
    No leeches encountered, but many interesting fungi to be observed.
    Saw a deceased dunnart (?), or other native small animal near the falls (not a rat, long nose).
    Pretty tired after this one!

  9. Hi all, did this hike today, has become a new favourite. Great variety, and trails, though definitely need a map/nav. I used the ViewRanger app with my Apple Watch 3, works so well using the Gpx from here, thanks.

  10. Any way of posting photos on here from the hike? I tried it today. After the rains it was quite nice! Definitely a reminder I need to keep fit haha.

    1. Hi Mikaela. I used to have that facility but unfortunately spammers forced me to turn it off. You can always email me the pics so I can include them.



Northern Territory Short Walks Walks Kids Hikes Weather Leave No Trace Navigation Skills Jackets Hiking News Food Down Clothing ACT epic hikes Leading Hikes Gear Queensland Hiking Tips Boots bushwalking Socks Half Day Hikes Crampons iconic hikes Tasmania letsgohiking Planning hikingadventures trailhiking Safety trailhikingaust adventure New South Wales Maps Tents South Australia Victoria lovehiking Photography Cooking Bedding Poles outdoors walking Sleeping Mat Multi Day Hikes Packs First Aid Chairs Gloves hikinglife Australia Trip Reports

If you are a commercial operator, a member of a club, an online group, blogger or commercial website and wish to use any information from this site, my eBooks or printed publications you are required to first seek written permission from the copyright owner. Please read the Terms of Use, Copyright and Title of Ownership information here.