Grade 4

The Burchell Trail Hike (35km)

Brisbane Ranges National Park

Victoria

35km

2-3 days

Grade 4

One Way

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Hike at a Glance

Quick overview: Discover the rich biodiversity of Victoria's Brisbane Ranges on the 35km Burchell Trail, a grade 4, multi-day hiking adventure. Traverse through the state's most abundant wildflower habitats, enjoy panoramic views across Wadawurrung Country and encounter the highest density of koalas in Victoria. Begin your journey from either Fridays or Boar Gully Campgrounds and explore the unique plant species preserved within the park's geological formations. For avid bushwalkers and nature enthusiasts, the Burchell Trail promises an immersive experience in Victoria's botanical wonderland.

Max elevation: 439m

Min elevation: 249m

Total Ascent: 1017m

Hike overview



Trail features


Content use


Please don’t copy GPX files or content from this site to AllTrails or other platforms. Each trail has been personally mapped, documented, and refined to support Australia’s bushwalking and hiking community. While some details come from land managers, every listing reflects significant personal effort. This is a free, community-driven initiative—your respect helps keep it that way.

Walk map and GPX file

The Burchell Trail Hike (35km)


Getting there


Getting to the trailhead: Brisbane Ranges National Park.

Get there with Google Maps

Closest towns to this walk: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Ballarat, Geelong, Gisborne, Gordon, Lara, Little River, Melton, Meredith, Mernda, Werribee

Access conditions


About the region


Similar walks nearby


Looking for more walks in or near Brisbane Ranges National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.

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Grade 4

Track grade


Grade 4 (Hard) - Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.

Explore safe


Plan ahead and hike safely! Carry enough water, pack layers for changing conditions, and bring safety gear like a torch, PLB, and reliable communication device. Check official sources for trail updates, closures, and access requirements, and review local weather and bushfire advice. Most importantly, share your plans with someone before you go. Being prepared makes for a safer and more enjoyable hike! Stay Safe, Explore More, and Always #ExploreSafe.

Packing checklists


What you carry in your pack depends on factors like weather, terrain, and your adventure type. Not sure what to bring? My free planning, food, and packing checklists are a great starting point, covering day hikes, overnight trips, and multi-day adventures. Use them to customise your kit and always prioritise safety.

Let someone know


Before heading out, take a moment to fill out your trip intentions form. It’s a quick way to share your hike details with family or friends. If something goes wrong, they can notify emergency services, ensuring a faster response and peace of mind. Stay safe and enjoy your adventure

Reviews

The Burchell Trail Hike (35km)


9 Reviews on “The Burchell Trail Hike (35km)”

Overall rating
  • Three adults, four kids 10 – 12 yrs old, our first overnight hike, we had a ball.
    We made a water drop at Gellong – Ballan Rd off of the trail as we did the shuttle for a car at each end of the trail.
    Whilst there was water at both camp grounds in the tanks it was great to know we had two 10 litre bladders waiting for us at the halfway mark.

  • Avatar of warren Warren

    My very first overnight hike was Day 1 of this trail. Nice scenery, but nothing special. A few challenging hills for someone carrying camp for the first time, but it was comfortable. The camp, Old Mill, is sheltered, pretty and has fallen wood easy to carry to the fire. Given this was our first trial at trekking, morning brought an easy 2km walk back to the car via the roads. I will do this again and I will do the whole trail 🙂

    1. Reminder: collecting firewood is not permitted in a National Park.

  • Completed this hike South to North over 3 days. Lost the orange triangle markers on the first day but found our way back.
    Very accessible from Melbourne and easy if you can only do part of the walk. There is a short trail back from Old Mills to Fridays campground if you need (~30-40min), and you can also park your car at Little River Campground.

    Lovely campsites. There was no water left in the tank at Little River but we were able to fill up in the creek at the campsite. You could also drop water.

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Suggest an edit


Spotted a change on this trail? Maybe there are new features, the route has shifted, or the trail is permanently closed. Whatever the update, I’d love your input. Your feedback helps fellow hikers stay informed and ensures that our trail info stays fresh and reliable.

Acknowledgement of Country

The burchell trail hike (35km)

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.

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