Open Travel Guide
Hiking in Melbourne

Melbourne Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

The trails that define Melbourne, with distances, elevation, and when each is actually passable.

By Updated

This guide covers 10+ hiking trails in Melbourne — 1000 Steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, Sherbrooke Forest Lyrebird Walk and Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk top the list. Every recommendation carries its practical details: typical costs, the best time to visit, and what to know before you commit.

Melbourne is Victoria's capital and Australia's second-largest city, known for its laneway culture, world-class coffee scene, and status as the country's sporting and cultural capital. A dense tram network, the Yarra River, and a patchwork of distinct inner-city neighbourhoods give Melbourne a different character from harbour-side Sydney.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    1000 Steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk

    2.7km loop (via Lyrebird Track) or 2.5km return direct1.5-2 hoursmoderateApprox. 260m cumulative gain, steep timber-and-earth steps

    A steep timber-staircase climb through mountain ash forest and tree-fern gullies in the Dandenong Ranges, dedicated as a memorial to Australian soldiers of the Kokoda campaign.
  2. 2

    Sherbrooke Forest Lyrebird Walk

    5km circuit (Sherbrooke Falls loop)1.5-2.5 hourseasyApprox. 150m cumulative gain, gently rolling forest track

    A cool, shaded forest circuit through towering mountain ash and tree ferns, home to the elusive superb lyrebird and leading to Sherbrooke Falls.
  3. 3

    Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk

    10km loop4-5 hourshardApprox. 350m cumulative gain, rocky and uneven in places

    A rugged loop around a dramatic river gorge cut through sandstone cliffs, with narrow ledges, a suspension bridge, and a creek crossing near Bacchus Marsh.
  4. 4

    You Yangs Great Circle Walk

    18.5km loop (shorter Flinders Peak summit option: 3.5km return)5-6 hours full loop; 1.5-2 hours for the Flinders Peak summit alonemoderateApprox. 500m cumulative gain across the full loop

    A long loop across a range of granite hills rising from flat farmland, climbing to Flinders Peak for 360-degree views over Port Phillip Bay and the You Yangs woodland.
  5. 5

    Lysterfield Lake Park Loop

    7.5km loop around the lake1.5-2 hourseasyApprox. 100m cumulative gain, mostly flat lakeside path

    An easy, mostly flat loop around Lysterfield Lake through open eucalypt woodland, popular with walkers, trail runners, and mountain bikers on the surrounding singletrack.
  6. 6

    Studley Park to Dights Falls Riverside Walk

    6km return1.5-2 hourseasyMinimal, flat riverside path with a few gentle rises

    A flat riverside path through Melbourne's largest area of natural bushland along the Yarra River, from the historic Studley Park Boathouse to the confluence at Dights Falls.
  7. 7

    Cathedral Range Southern Loop

    5.5km loop3-4 hourshardApprox. 400m cumulative gain, steep rocky ridge sections

    A steep, rocky ridgeline loop along a narrow sandstone range near the Cathedral Range's Sugarloaf Peak, with sweeping views over the Acheron and Cathedral valleys.
  8. 8

    Point Nepean Cheviot Hill Walk

    9km return (transport hub to Point Nepean via Cheviot Hill)2.5-3 hours (shuttle bus available to shorten)moderateApprox. 120m cumulative gain, exposed coastal heathland

    A coastal walk along the tip of the Mornington Peninsula through historic quarantine station grounds to Cheviot Hill and the old fortifications at Fort Nepean, overlooking Port Phillip Heads.
  9. 9

    Cape Schanck Boardwalk

    1.6km return45 minutes-1 houreasyApprox. 60m, timber boardwalk and steps down to the viewing platform

    A short timber boardwalk to a dramatic clifftop viewing platform beside the Cape Schanck Lighthouse, overlooking rock stacks and Bass Strait surf at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula.
  10. 10

    Organ Pipes Loop Walk

    1.8km loop45 minutes-1 houreasyApprox. 60m descent into the Jacksons Creek valley and back

    A short valley loop past the park's namesake basalt column formation, a striking volcanic rock feature exposed by Jacksons Creek, close enough for a quick escape from the city.

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Flat or gently graded paths suitable for beginners, such as the Yarra Bend Park riverside track

Moderate

Longer distances with some hills or steps, such as the 1000 Steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk

Challenging

Steep gradients, rock scrambling, or longer duration, such as the Cathedral Range Southern Loop

When to hike

Seasonal conditions in Melbourne.

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Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

Medium

Hazard: Total Fire Ban days in summer can close trails in the Dandenong Ranges, You Yangs, and other bushland parks with no notice — check Parks Victoria alerts before heading out

Medium

Hazard: Uneven, root-covered tracks and steep stairs in the Dandenong Ranges, particularly slippery after rain

Medium

Hazard: Limited mobile phone reception in parts of Werribee Gorge State Park and Cathedral Range State Park

Medium

Hazard: Ticks and March flies in bushland sections over summer — wear enclosed shoes and check for ticks after walking through fern gullies

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