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Length: 28km
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Duration: 8-9hrs
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Grade: 3-4
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Style: One Way
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Start: Birdsland Reserve cnr McNicol Rd and Apsley Rd Belgrave
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End: Mount Evelyn Football Ground (Tramway Rd)
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Location: Dandenong Ranges National Park
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Closest Town: Belgrave (closest to start)
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Distance from CBD: 43km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.918408
Longitude: 145.341501
Keep the Trail Access info current...

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...

Dandenong Ranges National Park...
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
This walk attempts to follow the proposed RidgeWalk: Exploring art and landscape in the Dandenongs. The official RidgeWalk won't be ready until around 2022 and will be approximately 26km in length. This hike however this will give you a taste of what to expect.
It is predominately a bush walk, but there are suburban sections and main road sections (Mount Dandenong Tourist Road). It passes through several townships in the Dandenong Ranges and follows several major tracks, in order: Belgrave, Hillclimb Track, Hackett Track, Sassafras, Olinda, Dandenong Creek Track, Channel 10 Track, Zig Zag Track (v. steep), passes Burkes Lookout, Kyeema Track, passes Five Ways and Wols Track. It would be slightly easier to do the walk in reverse from Mount Evelyn to Birdsland, as you would be going down the steeper hills, but my description is for the other way.
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.
Getting there
You could take a train to Belgrave from Melbourne and walk or catch a bus to the start. There is good parking at the start, so going by car is easier.
Tips
When I did the walk, I was working from my Melways, which is not totally accurate, so I lost the trail a few times and this is shown on the GPX file route. It should be relatively simple for you to identify these errors and pass these obvious dead-ends.
Take your GPS and download the file. The GPX file is very useful. But I have dropped the GPX file onto google maps here and made it public so you can see the exact track and road names.
See where the Ridgewalk will take you when completed: Yarra-Ranges-Council_Ridgewalk.
Hike contributed by Fred Tropp-Asher
GPX File
Max elevation: 603 m
Min elevation: 110 m
Total climbing: 1861 m
Total descent: -1864 m
Hikes Nearby
32 thoughts on “RidgeWalk Exploration (28km)”
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Beck Barnes Can you pls organise this walk??
Leona Xu why me? Sounds more like your kind of walk ?♀️?
Beck Barnes well it is one way and needs a car shuffle ??♀️??♀️??♀️
OMG I’m keen!! I love a good car shuffle. X
Phil Garside when are you doing the walk ?
Let me check dates! I have a busy few weeks but ASAP!
Leona Xu you are more than capable
Beck Barnes but I don’t wanna do the work ?
Hahahahahaha!!!
Jade Hutchinson should we add this one to the list?
Stacey Eley just keep adding
Peter Gill
Oh Laurel King yes please
Tracey Gibbins 9hrs one way or all up? Would be an early start ?
Laurel King 7-9 hours for the hike. As it is a one way hike (requiring a car shuffle)
Jaki, lets do this one
Craig Ward ok when snake season is over.
Jaki Crow ?? ok but I’ll be in Africa by then. It’ll have to be winter.
Angela Mellerick
Hilary Lawson yes
Derena Carroll
Sam Stephenson stop sending be stuff…… WHEN are we going!!!!!
Brooke ?
603m elevation.. this idiots in ?♀️
sweeeet I’m nervous already ?
Damian Hess
Hi Laurel, you asked if it’s 9hrs one way or all up. It’s 9 hrs one way if you are a slow walking 72 year old like me, but a younger person could probably do it in 6-7 hrs, plus lunch break, plus getting there, plus car shuffling.
Jaki, it is important to wear knee high gaiters for all walks in oz in warmer weather. One day the snake will bite your gaiters.
Did this with teenage kids in 5hrs including 2xcafes. No roads, all in forest. 23.5k & 800m climb. Beautiful ?????
Jenny Mitchell great to know. Thankyou ?
Charlotte Flood
Nathan Martin