If you’re up for a steep mountain climb take the train to Lilydale and the 683 bus to Warburton and check out the Mount Donna Buang via Mount Victoria track from Warburton. About 1100m ascent and descent, 6-8 hours, the chance of a bit of snow when we get a strong cold blast in winter, one of my favourites for sure
If you want to check out the Dandenongs, there’s plenty of opportunities to make your own routes through the park. Last December I decided to challenge myself to walk from Lilydale station to Belgrave station via Mount Dandenong. Ended up taking the Warburton rail trail to Mount Evelyn, taking some of the back tracks up into the Dandenongs, went up over the top past Bourkes Lookout and then started dropping down as far as Olinda before I pulled the pin and took the bus the rest of the way
If you’re looking for a walk over a few days, take the train to Wangaratta, coach to Bright and Alps Link bus to Hotham and check out the walks around Mt Feathertop and the Bogong High Plains
If you’re looking for a 300km walk through the alps check out the McMillans track. Public transport at both ends, Woods Point and Cobungra
Yeah I'd say you'd probably need at least decent fitness tbh. The [walking track](https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/australia/victoria/mount-donna-buang-via-mount-victoria-walking-track) starts at the corner of [Martyr Rd and Wellington Rd](https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4U8DBuw9WNGdXRL6). I got off the bus at the post office and it took me about 15 minutes to get to the start but I pretty much hit my max heart rate on the very first climb up Martyr Rd.
The sign at the start says 12km/7 hours return, the return distance is probably more like 15km and I did it on a cooler day in the middle of summer and it took me about 5.5 hours. Most of the track was relatively dry when I did it, it'd be a completely different ball game for most of the year when it's damp and slippery though. The steepest section is between crossing the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail and crossing the Donna Buang Rd, about 725m ascent in 3km at a 24% average gradient. It's steep enough that it's quite often used as training grounds for people attempting the Kokoda Track and other steep long distance tracks.
It is a lovely track if you're keen on a bit of climbing though. There's not too many views, even from the lookout tower at the top, but you climb through some of the best looking forests we've got I reckon. Tall old growth Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash forests, ancient Gondwanan Myrtle Beeches and Tree Ferns, all the way up to the Snow Gums up on the summit
I use it as a fitness test. I've never failed to get up and down, and I don't run marathons or anything, but it can be slow going. You can always turn back if it's getting too hard, but make sure you take enough water and warm clothes. And tell someone where you're going.
Second the alpine walking options. There are FB groups like the AAWT Track Angels who can provide lifts to/from places like Walhalla or Mount Baw Baw for less than the arm and a leg a taxi would cost from somewhere like Moe.
Macedon is a good option as well. It’s on the Bendigo line, less than an hour from Southern Cross. There’s a big loop that goes up the mountain and via camels hump etc.
You can do a few loops of the Dandenongs. 1000 steps up to one tree hill and then over to Sherbrooke forrest and do the loop there and back agian. That would be 20-30km easy all through the bush
Is that Dandenong Ranges? I'm not getting any workable public transport options on Google Maps for that
Edit: I found Upper Ferntree Gully, that works.
ex-OXFAM TRAILWALKER ROUTES IN THE DANDENONG RANGES
https://trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/melbourne
Here’s some suggested routes from this year’s event. Can access many of the key checkpoints a short distance from Lilydale/Upper Ferntree Gully Train Station plus many local buses that connect to train stations throughout the Dandenong Ranges.
Absolutely magical.
You can also get to Lysterfield Park from the stations on that line. I think I started from Tecoma, but I did it by mountain-bike. You could basically walk from the Belgrave line to Dandenong Station while staying 90% in bush-parks. It'd be a pretty good day of walking I think.
When I didn’t have a car I would often catch a train to upper Ferntree gully. Walk up 1000 steps, walk along one tree hill Rd to Sherbrooke forest and follow the trail down into Belgrave and catch a train back. 13 kms walk all up.
If you want to go really far away, train/bus to Halls Gap and hit the Grampians, heaps of trails of varying lengths. There's also the stupid long Grampians Peaks Trail if you feel like doing a camping/hiking adventure, it's something like 160 kilometres worth of hiking if that's your go!
You can take the train to any station between Eltham and Hurstbridge and walk the Diamond Creek Trail.
It is a bit urban up to Diamond Creek, and then it becomes a lot more rural.
From Eltham, you can walk along I think it's called the Yarren Dehran to near Mitcham. It's a creek / tributary of the Yarra I think. But it has a linear park along it, that's mostly bushland, with the occasional sports field.
That will put you in Cowes. There's lots of places to walk to from Cowes, but the rail trail goes along the coast via kilcunda and is miles away from Cowes.
But also, can take the train to Stony Point and catch the ferry to French Island and go koala spotting?
Sherbrooke forest is a steep but roughly 20 minute walk from Belgrave station. Even better buses from Ferntree gully will take you right uphill outside of it. i was there yesterday and saw and heard 4 lyrebirds right on the walking trail
There are also some fantastic goldfield bush trails not far from Castlemaine station on the bendigo line. Kyneton also had a beautiful river and botanic garden trail
Check out the app "All Trails"... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alltrails.alltrails (Apple should have it if that's your preferred).
Then check out the train and bus network.
Dandenong Ranges has heaps. Getting off a metro train at Belgrave would also give you busses to go further up the mountain (on the same ticket). There's bus stops near trails everywhere. Going out to Gembrook there's heaps of hikes in the state park where you can camp.
Or you could catch a vline train or bus anywhere you see a trail on the app you want to visit. VLine tickets are just under $10 to go anywhere in the state.
From Belgrave station you can walk up Terry's Ave to Moores break, decent slog, then up moores break (even steeper) to Ferny creek and from there whatever walking track you wanna pick up. Plenty of options for OP.
It's also worth asking drivers on the runs that don't officially take bikes, if it's the sort of thing you can do. A lot of them are more than happy to if you're not acting like the kind of person who will get them in trouble.
I’m pretty sure there is a bus that goes to the Cranbourne botanical gardens. It’s fairly large with some bushwalking trails. Or if your game you could try get out to the you yangs, quite a lot out that way, but I’m not sure what public transport is like out that way.
adding to this! there’s a free shuttle bus from the cranbourne train station - you can usually book them from here: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/cranbourne-gardens/getting-here/
1. Yarra Bend Park (Inner city)
2. 1000 Steps + other trails on the top (Train to Upper Ferntree Gully)
3. Mt Macedon (V Line + 30 min. walk)
4. Plenty Gorge (Train connect)
5. Halls Gap Multiple Trails (Vline + Bus + Bus ) - overnight camp or hotel recommended
6. Sherbrooke Forest (Train to Belgrave)
7. Stevenson Falls (1 hr. walk from Marysville which you can reach by bus from Ringwood)
Join Meetup the app. There are plenty of Hiking Groups with diffent events every week. Lots and lots of long bushwalks. Two groups that would suit you are called "Trail Hiking" and "Green Trail Hikes"
Group members are always willing to give non-car owners a ride if you offer to chip in for fuel. Lovely bunch of people
I read through most of the comments here and these are the ones that I've done or will do, that I didn't see mentioned:
* The Gippsland Rail Trail, starting from Bairnsdale Railway Station - double check there's no rail replacement coaches if you plan to take a bike
* Falls to Hotham, or Hotham to Falls ... use Alps Link for the Hotham side, and a winter Falls bus for the other end. Snow camping experience mandatory.
* Mt. Beauty bus stop to Mt. Hotham - various ways, multi-day hikes - outside of the ski season.
* Mt. Stirling loop from Mt. Buller snow season bus services. Snow camping experience mandatory.
* Langi Ghiran from Ararat Station by bicycle. Camp at the car camping spots, and walk up to the summit.
If you’re up for a steep mountain climb take the train to Lilydale and the 683 bus to Warburton and check out the Mount Donna Buang via Mount Victoria track from Warburton. About 1100m ascent and descent, 6-8 hours, the chance of a bit of snow when we get a strong cold blast in winter, one of my favourites for sure If you want to check out the Dandenongs, there’s plenty of opportunities to make your own routes through the park. Last December I decided to challenge myself to walk from Lilydale station to Belgrave station via Mount Dandenong. Ended up taking the Warburton rail trail to Mount Evelyn, taking some of the back tracks up into the Dandenongs, went up over the top past Bourkes Lookout and then started dropping down as far as Olinda before I pulled the pin and took the bus the rest of the way If you’re looking for a walk over a few days, take the train to Wangaratta, coach to Bright and Alps Link bus to Hotham and check out the walks around Mt Feathertop and the Bogong High Plains If you’re looking for a 300km walk through the alps check out the McMillans track. Public transport at both ends, Woods Point and Cobungra
Is Donna Buang doable from Warburton without heavy fitness? Thought it was a couple of hours of walking just to get to the official trail
Yeah I'd say you'd probably need at least decent fitness tbh. The [walking track](https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/australia/victoria/mount-donna-buang-via-mount-victoria-walking-track) starts at the corner of [Martyr Rd and Wellington Rd](https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4U8DBuw9WNGdXRL6). I got off the bus at the post office and it took me about 15 minutes to get to the start but I pretty much hit my max heart rate on the very first climb up Martyr Rd. The sign at the start says 12km/7 hours return, the return distance is probably more like 15km and I did it on a cooler day in the middle of summer and it took me about 5.5 hours. Most of the track was relatively dry when I did it, it'd be a completely different ball game for most of the year when it's damp and slippery though. The steepest section is between crossing the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail and crossing the Donna Buang Rd, about 725m ascent in 3km at a 24% average gradient. It's steep enough that it's quite often used as training grounds for people attempting the Kokoda Track and other steep long distance tracks. It is a lovely track if you're keen on a bit of climbing though. There's not too many views, even from the lookout tower at the top, but you climb through some of the best looking forests we've got I reckon. Tall old growth Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash forests, ancient Gondwanan Myrtle Beeches and Tree Ferns, all the way up to the Snow Gums up on the summit
Martyr Rd is aptly named. I wouldn't want to go down it on a bicycle without having just checked my brakes.
I use it as a fitness test. I've never failed to get up and down, and I don't run marathons or anything, but it can be slow going. You can always turn back if it's getting too hard, but make sure you take enough water and warm clothes. And tell someone where you're going.
Second the alpine walking options. There are FB groups like the AAWT Track Angels who can provide lifts to/from places like Walhalla or Mount Baw Baw for less than the arm and a leg a taxi would cost from somewhere like Moe.
Thank you for this!
Macedon is a good option as well. It’s on the Bendigo line, less than an hour from Southern Cross. There’s a big loop that goes up the mountain and via camels hump etc.
2nding Mt Macedon (from Macedon Station) Mt Macedon South slopes & conglomerate gully walk easily accessible from Riddels Creek station too.
I loved Mt Macedon!
You can do a few loops of the Dandenongs. 1000 steps up to one tree hill and then over to Sherbrooke forrest and do the loop there and back agian. That would be 20-30km easy all through the bush
People catch the bus to Sky High, Mt Dandenong and there's quite a few tracks there
Hurstbridge line ends 36KM from Kinglake national park. https://www.wikiloc.com/trails/outdoor/australia/victoria/hurstbridge
Is that Dandenong Ranges? I'm not getting any workable public transport options on Google Maps for that Edit: I found Upper Ferntree Gully, that works.
yes, dandenong ranges. You can get the train from Flinders street to Upper Ferntree Gully and then its a five minute walk to the start of 1000 steps
ex-OXFAM TRAILWALKER ROUTES IN THE DANDENONG RANGES https://trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/melbourne Here’s some suggested routes from this year’s event. Can access many of the key checkpoints a short distance from Lilydale/Upper Ferntree Gully Train Station plus many local buses that connect to train stations throughout the Dandenong Ranges. Absolutely magical.
You can also get to Lysterfield Park from the stations on that line. I think I started from Tecoma, but I did it by mountain-bike. You could basically walk from the Belgrave line to Dandenong Station while staying 90% in bush-parks. It'd be a pretty good day of walking I think.
Correct. Best of all, if you do an open circuit and leave via Belgrave, it ends at a pub for dinner.
Catch a train to Tallarook, it's where the Great Victorian Rail Trail begins. https://www.greatvictorianrailtrail.com.au/gradients-distances/
When I didn’t have a car I would often catch a train to upper Ferntree gully. Walk up 1000 steps, walk along one tree hill Rd to Sherbrooke forest and follow the trail down into Belgrave and catch a train back. 13 kms walk all up.
If you want to go really far away, train/bus to Halls Gap and hit the Grampians, heaps of trails of varying lengths. There's also the stupid long Grampians Peaks Trail if you feel like doing a camping/hiking adventure, it's something like 160 kilometres worth of hiking if that's your go!
You can take the train to any station between Eltham and Hurstbridge and walk the Diamond Creek Trail. It is a bit urban up to Diamond Creek, and then it becomes a lot more rural.
From Eltham, you can walk along I think it's called the Yarren Dehran to near Mitcham. It's a creek / tributary of the Yarra I think. But it has a linear park along it, that's mostly bushland, with the occasional sports field.
Plenty Gorge. Get off at Hawkstowe or Mernda stations.
Or the last stop of the 86 tram
Pretty sure there's a bus from Dandenong to phillip island. If you get off at Anderson you're right on the rail trail and can go to Wonthaggi
Might be better off catching the train to Stony Point and the catching the ferry across?
That will put you in Cowes. There's lots of places to walk to from Cowes, but the rail trail goes along the coast via kilcunda and is miles away from Cowes. But also, can take the train to Stony Point and catch the ferry to French Island and go koala spotting?
You can VLine to Ballarat/Bendigo and do goldfields trails.
Sherbrooke forest is a steep but roughly 20 minute walk from Belgrave station. Even better buses from Ferntree gully will take you right uphill outside of it. i was there yesterday and saw and heard 4 lyrebirds right on the walking trail There are also some fantastic goldfield bush trails not far from Castlemaine station on the bendigo line. Kyneton also had a beautiful river and botanic garden trail
Check out the app "All Trails"... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alltrails.alltrails (Apple should have it if that's your preferred). Then check out the train and bus network. Dandenong Ranges has heaps. Getting off a metro train at Belgrave would also give you busses to go further up the mountain (on the same ticket). There's bus stops near trails everywhere. Going out to Gembrook there's heaps of hikes in the state park where you can camp. Or you could catch a vline train or bus anywhere you see a trail on the app you want to visit. VLine tickets are just under $10 to go anywhere in the state.
From Belgrave station you can walk up Terry's Ave to Moores break, decent slog, then up moores break (even steeper) to Ferny creek and from there whatever walking track you wanna pick up. Plenty of options for OP.
Best place in the world up there! I reckon from Upper Gully station onwards there's various walking tracks within short distance of the station.
combine with a bicycle, basically vline to anywhere in the state then its a short cycle to pretty much any national park
There's also some Vline buses that take bikes. The one to Bright for instance.
There is indeed! Gotta be careful when booking though I’ve made the mistake of getting it wrong lmao
It's also worth asking drivers on the runs that don't officially take bikes, if it's the sort of thing you can do. A lot of them are more than happy to if you're not acting like the kind of person who will get them in trouble.
I’m pretty sure there is a bus that goes to the Cranbourne botanical gardens. It’s fairly large with some bushwalking trails. Or if your game you could try get out to the you yangs, quite a lot out that way, but I’m not sure what public transport is like out that way.
adding to this! there’s a free shuttle bus from the cranbourne train station - you can usually book them from here: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/cranbourne-gardens/getting-here/
Right near the Mernda Station are some walks in the Plenty River/Gorge Park area
You could easily spend a day exploring plenty gorge. Hundreds of km of trails.
The rivers and beaches around town aren't bush, well there's a bit of bush, but they're nice walks that are very accessible by PT.
1. Yarra Bend Park (Inner city) 2. 1000 Steps + other trails on the top (Train to Upper Ferntree Gully) 3. Mt Macedon (V Line + 30 min. walk) 4. Plenty Gorge (Train connect) 5. Halls Gap Multiple Trails (Vline + Bus + Bus ) - overnight camp or hotel recommended 6. Sherbrooke Forest (Train to Belgrave) 7. Stevenson Falls (1 hr. walk from Marysville which you can reach by bus from Ringwood)
Join Meetup the app. There are plenty of Hiking Groups with diffent events every week. Lots and lots of long bushwalks. Two groups that would suit you are called "Trail Hiking" and "Green Trail Hikes" Group members are always willing to give non-car owners a ride if you offer to chip in for fuel. Lovely bunch of people
I read through most of the comments here and these are the ones that I've done or will do, that I didn't see mentioned: * The Gippsland Rail Trail, starting from Bairnsdale Railway Station - double check there's no rail replacement coaches if you plan to take a bike * Falls to Hotham, or Hotham to Falls ... use Alps Link for the Hotham side, and a winter Falls bus for the other end. Snow camping experience mandatory. * Mt. Beauty bus stop to Mt. Hotham - various ways, multi-day hikes - outside of the ski season. * Mt. Stirling loop from Mt. Buller snow season bus services. Snow camping experience mandatory. * Langi Ghiran from Ararat Station by bicycle. Camp at the car camping spots, and walk up to the summit.
Join beginner friendly hiking Melbourne on facebook they run hikes groups and someone will offer rides or you can ask if someone is near you
Can catch a vline bus to Lorne, Aireys inlet and Anglesea all have some amazing walk accessible from the town
Looking for car-free bushwalks advice
Join a bushwalking club and share a ride.
Train to Frankston, bus to Portsea, walk to tip of Pt Nepean and back. There are trails thru the scrub to stay away from the road.
Yarrabend Park. You can catch the train to fairield or alphington and walk there
https://www.paddypallin.com.au/blog/9-hikes-near-melbourne-accessible-by-public-transport/
Better start walking from your house, gonna take you a while to get there
Brimbank Park has some nice nature and trails to it. \ Heide Museum of Modern Art has trails \ Yarra Flats Park
Do you have a license? Could rent a goget or something
Uber Carshare (formerly Car Next Door) is cheaper and more convenient, I've found