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Mount Dandenong Western Slopes Hike

Advanced

12 KM

4-5 Hours

Circuit

Grade

4

Day Hike

Doongalla Forest Rd, Mount Dandenong VIC 3767, Australia

Mount Dandenong Western Slopes Hike

Image: Josh Welch

Why this Hike

If you’re looking for a challenging day walk then the western slopes of mount Dandenong might just be it, it offers some fantastic views while challenging your skills and pushing your boundaries, especially if you are new to hiking. I would advise against this as a starting hike but is better for hikers who are looking to step up their skills or for experienced hikers who are looking for a fantastic day hiking opportunity.

Track Notes & Overview

Your hike will start at Doongalla Homestead and picnic area, here you can park your car and get ready for the hike, to reach the starting track you will need to walk up the road for a little bit until you reach Camelia Track. Once you have found it start following Camelia Track towards where it turns into Fireline at the intersection with Dacite Track a little further down the path. Make sure to continue to walk down Fireline Track for a new more kilometres until you link up with Old Mountain road. When following Old Mountain Road you will start to climb the hill towards some homes rested on the side of the hill, this area offers some great views of the suburbs below but the views will only continue to get better the more you go along. Once you have passed the houses you will link up with Old Coach Road and turn right towards the reserve and the café across the road, The café can be a great place to stop and get a bight to eat or even a coffee but make sure to check what times they open before you set off as they tend to be closed on some days.


Once you have stopped by the café you can keep walking round the circuit, If you’re on the side of the road with the reserve turn to your right to join up with Trig track and continue the walk, you will need to walk down below some buildings and descend down a small hill before reaching the hardest part of the whole walk nicknamed ‘The Goat Track’, it was given this name because of its slim nature and steep incline making you feel as if it were formed by goats. Once you have reached the top take a moment to catch your breath in the nicer more flat area at the top, as you continue to walk along the track you will come to the CFA building next to the road, keep follow Trig track down to the right until you intersect with Kyeema track to turn right, make sure to be careful here as to not take the path near the air crash memorial but to carry on using the road for a few hundred meters until reaching Burkes Lookout.


Once you have taken in the fantastic views of the lookout continue down the path past the channel ten transmission towers towards Zig Zag Track, keep walking down the hill past the tower until you start zig zaging down the track, this track will continue for a few kilometres until you reach another intersection and will need to turn left down Chanel 10 Track. Keep following the track back down towards the carpark where you started your hike until you reach your final intersection with Doongalla Forest Road and Dandenong Creek Road, turn to your right down the final straight of the hike and towards Doongalla picnic area and your carpark.


For a full trip report visit here.

Packing for a Day Hike

Packing for a Day Hike

Even if it is just a small day hike, packing is still essential to make sure everyone stays safe and has fun while on your hike. This free packing list will make sure you have everything you need while taking the hassle out of packing.

Food for a Day Hike

Before setting off on a day hike one thing you must do is plan what food you are going to bring with you. Your snacks and lunches should be nutritious, delicious and lightweight but they don't need to be complex.

Our recipe hub includes a range of lunches and snacks perfect for a day hike ranging from easy to create in minutes to tasty creations like you would make at home.

Leave No Trace

A Hikers Friend fully endorses the 7 principles of ‘leave no trace’ hiking which aim to protect our natural spaces and encourages you to apply them on your next adventure.

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