Melbourne Day Walks – A collection of great walks for those new to bushwalking or those keen to get out and learn about, and enjoy, a few hidden gems in Victoria.
Mt Dandenong Park Circuit, Dandenong Ranges National Park
Walk: 12.6km. Moderate – challenging terrain (quite a few short, but steep hills), moderate length. Time: 9am – 3pm (approx) Cost: $40. Includes – morning tea, guiding. Does not include: lunch (bring a packed lunch with you). Meet at: Dandenong Ranges National Park – Silvan Dam lookout Carpark at Kalorama Park.
2021 Dates Saturday 6th March 2021, Saturday 3rd April 2021 and Saturday 1st May 2021
Description: This beautiful walk through Melbourne’s iconic Dandenong Ranges National Park will take you through stunning forests filled with lush green ferns and magnificent old gums,it has many highlights, starting from Kalorama lookout with spectacular views of Silvan dam. We then climb quite a few steep but short hills before coming across a historic Kyeema crash sight of then take in some fabulous views towards the city from (sky high or Bourke’s lookout) a steep zig zag track down to the beautiful picnic grounds of Doongalla before making our way back to the lookout along an undulating trail through the forest.
Difficulty: 12km (10km loop + 2km in and out). Moderate/challenging terrain (some rock hopping and narrow gorge sections), moderate length. Time: 9am – 3:30pm (approx) Cost: $40. Includes – morning tea, guiding. Does not include: lunch (bring a packed lunch with you). Meet at: Werribee Gorge National Park – Quarry Picnic Area Carpark.
2020 Dates: Saturday 20th February 2021, Saturday 13th March 2021 and Saturday 10th April 2021.
Description:This walk into Werribee Gorge offers some great views of surrounding hills and valleys, as well as the beautiful gorge home to the Werribee River. Soon after the start of the walk we head up to the ridge around the gorge taking in a great variety of plants and some nice views of the valley and surrounds. A steepish descent into Junction pool will be followed by Morning Tea. We then ascend out of the pool and down into the main section of Werribee Gorge with highlights being the sheer cliffs and beautiful needles beach. We follow the river for an hour or so – be prepared for some rock hopping – and head to Meikles picnic ground alongside a historic canal and weir.
Northern Range Circuit & Flinders Peak, You Yangs Regional Park
Difficulty: 15km (12km loop + 3km return to Flinders Peak). Moderate terrain (except for some short steep sections and ascent to Flinders Peak), moderate length. Time: 9am – 3:30pm (approx) Cost: $40. Includes – morning tea, guiding. Does not include: lunch (bring a packed lunch with you) Meet at: You Yangs Regional Park – Turntable Carpark
2020 Dates: Saturday 27th February 2021, Saturday 27th March 2021 and Saturday 24th April 2021.
Description:Starting with the East West Walk, we will circumnavigate Flinders Peak, taking in stunning views across the park, huge granite boulders everywhere, and an array of wildflowers in the warmer months. We will then add the northern circuit to wonder through the sections of the park filled with a few interesting stories from the past. We will finish our walk with the return climb to Flinders Peak, named after explorer Matthew Flinders who summited in May 1802 to survey the area. At 319 metres, the peak makes for excellent views across the western volcanic plains to the city and Port Phillip Bay.
Get out in nature this weekend and join us on a full day walking tour of one of the spectacular walks near Melbourne. Learn about some of the plants, animals or history of the area. Enjoy the revitalising sounds and smells of nature.
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Details about accommodation, what to bring, transportation, food, etc.Details about accommodation, what to bring, transportation, food, etc.
Accommodation
As these are day walks, there is no accommodation component.
What to bring
Please bring with you: 1 to 2 litres of water (and put some in your car for your drive home), sturdy and comfortable walking shoes/boots, comfortable clothes for walking in (long pants and long sleeves are ideal to protect your skin from the sun), hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. On most day walks you will also bring a packed lunch.
Food
We will provide morning tea. Bring a packed lunch with you.
Transport
Transport from Melbourne to the start of the day walk is not included. We will provide details for where to meet and how to get there for each walk.
This walk includes
Homemade morning tea
We’ll bake a cake to share and carry with us hot water, milk, tea and coffee for our morning break.
Professional guiding and support from local guides
We go the extra mile to make sure your tour will be memorable. We guide you on each walk, tell stories about the surroundings and make sure you return home feeling better than ever.
Our walks are for anyone who enjoys walking and nature – bushwalkers or not. Our walks are conducted in safe, supportive and fun environments and you don’t need specialised equipment or experience to undertake them. We give you information about what you will need to bring and how you should prepare for each tour and we’re always here to answer any questions or concerns.
Enjoy some great social walks with locals and visitors to Melbourne. Enjoy a cuppa and delicious homemade cake for morning tea and bring a packed lunch to enjoy in nature. Return home feeling tired but refreshed after a day in the bush.
What people have said
I can’t speak highly enough of my experience with Inspriation Outdoors on the Cape to Cape. The communication, the organisation, the logistics, the guides, the hotel and staff, everything went like clockwork and I had a fantastic time, as did the rest of the crew. Some good friends have been made.
Donna, Cape to Cape Track, TripAdvisor Nov 2020
I am so very grateful that I booked with inspiration outdoors. From the moment I booked I felt like I had made the right decision. (After all its a huge decision choosing who to do this hike with, it changes the whole experience).
We got guides Dane and Ash, who from the get go made us feel relaxed and comfortable. It was not an issue at all that we were all strangers (age range 45-84), They brought the group together and with their wit, banter and singing, it made even the serious moments funny.
Dane kept us all updated with the fauna and flora whilst Ash was up with the history and some fun facts. What a great team.
Also extra special to Ash who gave me a great one on one (after day 5), he believed in me even at times when I doubted myself. He pushed me to finish, forever grateful.
Doing the Cape to Cape, and choosing Inspiration Outdoors was the best decision I made. I will be booking heaps more treks with this group, just waiting for my poor feet to recover.
After you have filled in a registration form, we will send you all extra information you may need, including a list of what to bring and how best to prepare for the tour.
Payment in full is required at least six weeks prior to the tour (bookings can still be made within six weeks of tour start date if there are places available). We will email or call you to remind you when this is due.
Finally, we will contact you prior to your tour to confirm pick-up times and locations. If you have any questions or concerns at all before or after you have booked, please don’t hesitate to get in touch so we can go through them with you.
What are my payment options?
Payment can be made by:
Direct deposit
Cheque
Credit card
Can I cancel my booking?
If you need to cancel your tour;
85 days or more, you will be refunded all monies paid, less a $50 administration fee.
42 to 84 days prior to departure, you will lose your deposit
28 to 41 days: 25% of full tour cost
14 to 27 days: 50% of full tour cost
less than 14 days: 100% of full tour cost, no refund
If you have any concerns about cancelling, please take out travel insurance covering this contingency. This policy will be adhered to despite the most compelling and compassionate circumstances.
Discover Melbourne’s walking trails with us
Enjoy some great social walks with locals and visitors to Melbourne. Enjoy a cuppa and delicious homemade cake for morning tea and bring a packed lunch to enjoy in nature. Return home feeling tired but refreshed after a day in the bush.