Looking for a way to escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne for a day? Why not try out one of these fantastic hikes? From coastal clifftops to temperate rainforests and even a 2.5 million-year-old basalt column formation, there’s something for everyone on this list. Just lace up your hiking boots, grab your gear, and get ready to explore!
Bushrangers Bay and Cape Schanck Trail (Mornington Peninsula)
Distance: 10km return
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 85 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
This stunning coastal hike takes you through the bush to the rugged cliffs of Cape Schanck at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. Along the way, you’ll pass by the hidden beaches at Bushrangers Bay and maybe even spot a kangaroo. At the end of the trail, you’ll find an idyllic lighthouse to mark your turnaround point.
Flinders Peak Walk (You Yangs Regional Park)
Distance: 3km return
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 1 hour
Level of difficulty: Medium to hard
The You Yangs Regional Park is a dog-friendly park located between Melbourne and Geelong, and the Flinders Peak Walk is the best walk to try with your furry friend. This walk takes you to the highest point of the You Yangs, with 450 steps and an elevation rise of about 200 metres. Once you reach the top, you’ll be able to enjoy stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including the Bunjil Geoglyph, a rock sculpture that depicts the creator spirit of the Wathaurong people.
Point Nepean Walk (Mornington Peninsula)
Distance: 14.5km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 90 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
Take a hike along the Point Nepean Walk all the way out to the tip of the Mornington Peninsula. On the way, you’ll pass by World War Two bunkers and the quarantine station, and finally reach Fort Nepean, where you can look back towards Melbourne across Port Phillip Bay or south to King Island and…Antarctica. Feeling extra sprightly? You can also link up a series of trails through Bunurong country by taking The Coastal Track all the way down to Cape Schanck.
1000 Steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (Upper Ferntree Gully, Dandenong Ranges)
Distance: 3km return
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 40 minutes
Level of difficulty: Medium to hard
The 1000 Steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is a well-known hike in Melbourne that’s popular for a reason. This hike takes you through ferns and forest, up steep stairs that have been adopted as a memorial to the 625 soldiers who perished on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during World War Two. It’s a great workout, and the views from the top are worth the effort.
Sherbrooke Falls Trail (Dandenong Ranges)
Distance: 2.4km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 50 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
Experience one of Victoria’s tallest and most impressive waterfalls with a hike starting at the Steavenson Falls car park. The Keppel Lookout marks the halfway point on the hike, with views that stretch over towards the Cathedral Ranges on a clear day. If you’ve got a little more energy in you, you can tack on a walk through the fern gully.
Keppel Lookout Walk (Steavenson Falls)
Distance: 11km return
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 2 hours
Level of difficulty: Medium to hard
Experience one of Victoria’s tallest and most impressive waterfalls with a hike starting at the Steavenson Falls car park. The Keppel Lookout marks the halfway point on the hike, with views that stretch over towards the Cathedral Ranges on a clear day. If you’ve got a little more energy in you, you can tack on a walk through the fern gully.
Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk (Werribee)
Distance: 10km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 1 hours
Level of difficulty: Medium to hard
Resisting the obvious pun here, the Werribee Gorge Circuit hike is impressive. From Meikles Point picnic area, you will follow the river and scramble over rocks, and there’s even a 50m cable-assisted section for when the rock gets too steep. Then it’s time to climb up to the rim. The Eastern View lookout will give you a stellar photo of the whole park before you’re off again towards the quarry. Don’t forget your bathers for a post-hike swim!
Organ Pipes Trail (Organ Pipes National Park)
Distance: 1.5km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 30 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
Take a short circuit walk around this unique park that features 2.5 million-year-old basalt columns that look strikingly like organ pipes. Starting at the visitor centre, you can follow the trail that passes along the main features of the park, including Keilor Plains, the Tessellated Pavement and the Organ Pipes themselves.
Sherbrooke Forest Walk (Dandenong Ranges National Park)
Distance: 3km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 1 hour
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
Escape the crowds and experience the beauty of Sherbrooke Forest with a walk starting at Grants Picnic Ground. Keep on the sometimes-steep path, heading right at any turn, to see lush vegetation and the occasional kookaburra.
Cape Woolamai Circuit (Cape Woolamai)
Distance: 8.5km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 2 hours
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
Cape Woolamai Circuit is the perfect hike for beach lovers, and it is one of the most iconic walks on the Phillip Island. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the ocean, the cliffs, and the vegetation. The walk starts from the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club and heads towards the Cape. The trail is quite easy to navigate, and there are some uphill and downhill sections.
George Bass Coastal Walk
Distance: 7.5km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 1 hour 30 minutes
Level of difficulty: Medium
George Bass Coastal Walk offers spectacular views of the ocean and the coastline. You can start this walk from the Punchbowl Road car park, and it will take you towards the Bass Coastline. The trail is well-marked, and it has some steep sections, but the view from the top is worth the effort.
Mushroom Rocks (Baw Baw National Park)
Distance: 8km
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 3 hours
Level of difficulty: Medium
Mushroom Rocks walk is one of the best-kept secrets of the Grampians National Park. The trail is well-marked, and it is quite easy to navigate. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the sandstone cliffs and the Mushroom Rocks, which are a collection of bizarre rock formations. There are some uphill and downhill sections, but the walk is not too difficult.
Yarra Trails
Distance: 38km total
Drive time from Melbourne CBD: In Melbourne
Level of difficulty: Easy
The Yarra Trail is a shared trail with cyclists, so keep your wits about you as you mosey down the path. The path roughly follows a dreaming route for the Wurundjeri people based around Bunwurrung or the Yarra Yarra River. As it winds further from the CBD through the Melbourne suburbs, concrete gives way to dirt and premium views of the city give way to cheeky billabongs and lazy gums.
Organize your day trip with any of these great hikes near Melbourne and experience nature’s wonders. Just remember to pack plenty of water, snacks, and wear sturdy shoes. And, if you’re hiking with your furry friend, don’t forget to bring them along!