Suggestions for day walk from Melb via public transport?

[Onestepmore]

Hi there
I'll be in Melbourne for a conference at The Grand Hyatt that's from Mon 24 - Thurs 28 June
Hubby will likely fly down on Fri night after work so we can have a browse around the city shops over the weekend together, check out the art gallery, sample some of Melbourne's eateries etc.

I'm keen on doing a day walk on Friday 29th June, and I can bring a day pack and some appropriate gear, but does anyone have some suggestions as to a walk I can go on that's easily accessible by public transport from the CBD just for the one day?
I may just stay at a backpackers for the first few days (as I'll hardly be there anyway) but probably Heritage on Little Bourke for the last half, which I think should be near all the major PT links

[wayno]

take a plane to Tasmania....

[Onestepmore]

Lol I was in tassie over Xmas. This is combining work and pleasure
And I'd have expected you to say take a plane to NZ!

[wayno]

yes but in all practicality, you'd be half way through your walk in tas before you set foot in nz....

[Moondog55]

I could suggest the William Rickets sanctuary if you've never been there or simply walk up the Yarra Yarra until the track runs out or you get tired and catch PT back to the city. I find the track along the Yarra interesting as so much has happened over the last decade

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks ... dandenongs

http://www.weekendnotes.com/yarra-river-trail/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Yarra_Trail

Scones and tea at the boathouse

[jford]

Dandenong Ranges National Park has some good walks via either Upper Ferntree Gully or Belgrave stations. Check Parks Vic website for details.

You can climb Mt Macedon from the Macedon railway station, which I've meant to but never have.

If you're after a longer trip, you could get the train to Lilydale and then a connecting bus to Warburton. Ask the driver for the stop nearest the golf course, cross the river and climb Mt Donna Buang. It's 1000m vertical, takes about 7 hours there and back and in June would be cold (gets a dusting of snow later in the season). One of my favourite walks.

J.

[MartyGwynne]

Try the Belgrave Rail line and then take puffing billy up to the end and walk back to Belgrave or walk around the area at Belgrave - that will give you a look at the Dandenongs.
I am sure there are lots of walking tracks up around the area such as http://walkingmaps.com.au/IndividualWal ... walkId=224
Or check out the walking maps site in Victoria/Melbourne.
Or you could hire a bike and grab a cheap helmet (gooooogle it) and go for a ride around the bike tracks along the bay or up the Yarra or other rivers and creeks around Melbs (goooooooooooooogle bike paths in Melbs).
There you go, some suggestions.
Martin.

[Onestepmore]

The Donna Buang looks very appealing but might be hard by PT in the one day. 7 hours walk plus travel there and back may be pushing it. I might have to try that another time when I'm under my own steam
My first job as a vet in 1991 was in Mt Evelyn and Monbulk, so I know Lilydale and the Dandenongs area a bit.
I have walked part of the old railway line east - would like to do this more fully another trip
I've been to the William Rickets Sanctuary I think - odd faces carved into trees? (A bit like what I imagine weirwoods from Game of Thrones might look like on a larger scale)
The Yarra Trail looks pretty doable, but I doubt I can do the whole 35km and return in one hit!!
That might be the one
Accomm all booked at Heritage on Little Bourke for the whole week
Good suggestions - ty all
I <3 Melb food.....

[Moondog55]

You could always try the You Yangs, more sight seeing tho. I could even cook dinner for you [ and hubby too if he was there] I'm told I'm a pretty good cook except I don't do Vegan well I cheat and add butter

[ryantmalone]

Lerderderg National Park is great. A train to Bacchus Marsh, then probably a taxi from there to Mckenzies Flat. The Scenic Rim is a good day walk if you have the fitness, or you can do a circuit involving the two Link tracks. Some really nice narrow and exciting spur climbs in this area as well, plenty to see and do, and not too far from Melbourne.

[Onestepmore]

You could always try the You Yangs, more sight seeing tho. I could even cook dinner for you [ and hubby too if he was there] I'm told I'm a pretty good cook except I don't do Vegan well I cheat and add butter

We're both definitely carnivores....
Well, technically omnivores
I like butter
(Bleh to marge. Poor old fat got a bad name somewhere along the line)

Where are the You Yangs?
Hubby will be with me Fri and Sat night
Prior to that it's me and the box and a book ( and hopefully some nice cafes I hope!)
Love the name btw, hehe

[Onestepmore]

I'll check that out Ryan. ty
20k is probably my happy day max
then i get grumpy

[neilmny]

I'd second (or was it third???????) the Dandenongs for easy to get to.
Just a train to Upper Ferntree Gully and your practically at the start of the Kokoda memorial trail.
From there you can walk a stack of tracks through out the front (Melbourne side) of the range.
With a stop in at Olinda for lunch at one of the eateries. Sort of a civilised wander in the bush.
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... eGully.pdf
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... Olinda.pdf

[Moondog55]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Yangs

When I visit I always imagine the hill as an island in a sea of molten lava

[ryantmalone]

I'll check that out Ryan. ty
20k is probably my happy day max
then i get grumpy

The Scenic Rim would be under 20kms, not by too much though. Has two very substantial 300 meter climbs though, one in particular being rocky and extremely steep in places.

Great walk, some nice views too.

[Pongo]

We're missing something important here... do you have preference for a particular type of scenery? The Dandenongs is nice and lush and probably the most accessible and therefore the busiest of locations, Donna Buang is a ripper - also lush, and a never ending hill from hell , Lerderderg is the most 'remote' walking you'll find so close to the cbd, largely ignored by day trippers - PM me if you need trail notes for it.

My group is off to the You Yangs on the 1st. Leave before or after 10am if you want to avoid people

[Onestepmore]

I'm here in Melbourne now, and have decided simply to walk the Yarra Trail simply due to ease of accessibility. Any other walk I feel I'll be spending more time on public transport than enjoying my walk. Thanks for the suggestions. Other walks will need to wait until a longer trip. PS Heritage on Little Bourke is excellently situated accommodation at a great price. l

[sim1oz]

Hi Onestepmore, Hope you had a lovely walk today! Melbourne brought out the winter sunshine for you

[Stew63]

Whoops! I've only just spotted this thread!

Although the posted walking time for Mount Donna Buang is 7hours(!!!) any reasonably fit person can walk it top to bottom (bottom of Martyrs Rd.) in about 3hours. If you take your time allow ~4ish hours. I do it once a fortnight for fitness training and last week did it in 3:05 and that's with a 10kg backpack - it was 5:30am and -5C when I departed Martyrs Rd picnic area for the climb - watching the sunrise/360 degree view on the summit was awesome! Lyrebirds by the dozens and dozens.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

French Island national park.
You take a train to Frankston , a train to stony point and a ferry to Tankerton wharf. It is quiet , undeveloped and well worth a visit and a walk. Take food , drink and RID/DEET.Start early and make sure you go on a Tuesday or Thursday when the ferries run more frequently. They don't operate in bad weather.

[rocketrm2]

There is the gold fields, Train to Castlemaine take GDT to the "Monk and back. Train bus to Daylesford several day circuit walks you can do