If you're up to it, it is very satisfying to climb the mountain right from the bottom. This walk is a bit of a 'Hero Hike' for people training for long trips. The 1,100 metre ascent is long and steep, the only steeper walk nearby is the track up Mount Juliet. While it is all on reasonable tracks, the walk is rated medium-hard. Fit people should be able to do the 7 km climb in 4 hours, while the downhill return by almost the same route will take about 2½ hours
Initially the walk drops down through forest to a creek before heading north along a fence line next to a paddock. At the top of the paddock, the track turns east for ashort distance before heading into forest for a minute to meet a disused aqueduct. Cross the aqueduct and keep climbing. The track unrelentingly heads straight up the mountain, mostly through Mountain Ash forest. 4 km from the end of Martyr Road, cross the sealed Donna Buang Road and continue up a gravel road to a phone tower. At the end of road continue along a well defined walking track. After 500 metres you will get to the rather flat top of Mount Victoria and the climbing ends! The next 2 km are gently undulating. At a junction, ignore the track heading south to 10 Mile and head north west towards the final 500 m climb to the summit. If you have the energy, it is worthwhile to climb the 21 metre observation tower.
If you haven't arranged a lift down, have a rest and either go back the way you came, diverting via 10 mile and a short walk on the sealed road. If you want to have a long, epic day, take the Cement Creek track down to the road junction and walk down the Acheron Way towards Warburton for just over 3 km to where it crosses the aqueduct. Leave the road and head west along the aqueduct walking track until you come to the well signposted track back to the top of Martyr Road. Retrace the first 500 metres of the days walk downhill to where you left your car.
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.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Steep Terrain
Total distance: 13675 m
Max elevation: 1256 m
Min elevation: 211 m
Total climbing: 1102 m
Total descent: -1102 m
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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.
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 to the trailhead: Mount Donna Buang.
From Melbourne drive along the Warburton Highway, B380, to Warburton. As you enter the town, turn left on to a bridge which crosses the Yarra River. Immediately turn right along Dammans Road and take the first turn to the left onto Martyr Road. Drive to the top of this very steep road next to the golf course and park at the corner where the road turns right and becomes Wellington Road.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
- 2WD Access
- Bitumen Road
- Small Car Park
- Public Toilets
- Picnic Table
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Badger Creek, Big Pats Creek, East Warburton, Gladysdale, Healesville, Launching Place, Marysville, Millgrove, Olinda, Reefton, Warburton, Yarra Junction
Background
Mount 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 Mount 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.
Summary provided by: David Sisson | www.australianmountains.com/donnabuang/#10
Looking for more walks in or near Mount Donna Buang? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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7 Reviews on “Warburton to Mt Donna Buang - Mt Victoria Hike (13.5km)”
Walk guide comments above seem good, is the trail fool proof, well signed so cant get lost ?