Drive out of the city and lose yourself in the wonders of nature by going on a nice, scenic stroll. And when you don’t feel like sticking to the coastline, go inland and wander into the forest. Victoria has plenty of stunning forest walks for you to try, filled with waterfalls, ancient trees and ferny landscapes. These magical forest trails are lovely to explore all year round, as the shady trees provide a welcome relief in the summer, and the cool of winter provides plenty of crisp air and misty landscapes. These serene hikes are great for your physical health as well as your mental health, as you get a chance to slow down and connect with nature. Are you ready? Let’s go!
The best forest walks to try in Victoria
Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)
Embark on one of Melbourne’s most popular bushwalks, and travel up the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk/1000 Steps. This steep track will test your fitness, as you climb up the hill through lush rainforest. Along the way, you’ll see plaques depicting the lives of those who fought and died on the Kokoda Track in 1942. It’s 5km long, and takes around two hours to complete. Find out more here.
📍Tree Fern Gully Track, Tremont VIC 3785
Masons Falls Walk
Kinglake National Park is roughly 90 minutes away from Melbourne CBD. This corner of Victoria is full of lovely forest walks for you to try. If you’d like to see the splendid Masons Falls, you can take a short walk from the picnic area to the waterfall lookout platform. Watch the water tumble down into the gully below. Listen out for lyrebirds and look out for wildlife along the way. The Masons Falls Walk is 700m one way. See more here.
📍Masons Falls Rd, Kinglake West VIC 3757
Hopetoun Falls Walk
The walk to Hopetoun Falls in Great Otway National Park is nice and short. Stroll along a 20-metre path from the carpark to the upper platform, where you can watch the water cascade 30 metres down to the Aire River. Go a little further and descend 200 stairs, through tree ferns, to the base of the falls. As you travel along the trail, you’ll see plenty of moss, ferns and fungi. The return trip to the lower platform is about one kilometre long, and takes roughly half an hour to complete. Keep an eye out for any changing conditions here.
📍Hopetoun Falls Road, Cape Otway VIC 3233
Mait’s Rest Rainforest Walk
Also nestled in Great Otway National Park, you’ll find Mait’s Rest Rainforest Walk. This walk takes 30 minutes to complete and is 800 metres long. Stroll along a boardwalk and wander through an ancient rainforest. See giant Myrtle Beech trees, ancient tree ferns and a moss-covered forest floor. As you journey through the forest, keep a look out for local wildlife, including swamp wallabies, koalas, ring-tailed possums and grey kangaroos. See more here.
📍Great Ocean Rd, Cape Otway VIC 3233
Madsen’s Track Nature Walk
Venture into Melba Gully, also known as the Jewel of the Otways. This gully is one of the wettest places in the state, and you can explore it by strolling along the Madsen’s Track Nature Walk. Starting from the picnic area, you’ll walk underneath a dense canopy of myrtle beech, blackwood and tree ferns. Climb the steps to the 300 year old Big Tree, then wind your way back to the picnic ground. Come back at night and look out for glow worms. This 1.2km track takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete. See more here.
📍5 Melba Gully Rd, Lavers Hill VIC 3238
Rainforest Gallery
Drive ten minutes away from Warburton and visit Rainforest Gallery. Located in the Yarra Ranges National Park, on the way to the summit of Mt Donna Buang, this popular attraction has two forest walks for you to try. The first is an elevated walkway, which is raised 15 metres above the forest floor. It’s 40 metres long, and allows you to gaze at old mountain ash and myrtle beech trees. The elevated platform is suitable for wheelchairs and prams. After taking in the view, go down the stairs and continue to explore the forest on a 20 minute walk. Learn more here.
📍Acheron Way, Warburton VIC 3799
Californian Redwood Forest
Drive 90 minutes away from Melbourne and walk through this stunning Redwood Forest near Warburton. Amble through the forest and gaze at almost 1500 towering trees. Venture beyond the main stand of trees and follow Cement Creek on a lovely perimeter walk. Admire native plants like eucalypt trees and ferns as you travel along the path, and look out for birds along the way. Learn more here.
📍Cement Creek Rd, East Warburton VIC 3799
Ada Tree Walk
Drive roughly 2.5 hours away from Melbourne, journey into Yarra State Forest and check out the Ada Tree Walk. The loop is 3.6km long and takes about 90 minutes to complete. As you meander through the forest, listen out for lyrebirds and admire the surrounding myrtle beech, sassafras and tree ferns. Eventually, you’ll reach a viewing platform that overlooks the majestic Ada Tree. This gigantic mountain ash is estimated to be over 300 years old, and is 76 metres tall. After admiring the tree, make your way back to your car.
📍Ada VIC 3833
Cambarville Cumberland Circuit Walk
Stroll among the tallest flowering trees in the world on the Cambarville Cumberland Circuit Walk. Starting from the car park, you’ll walk through the forest and see rare mature-aged mountain ash trees, and the 85m Big Tree. This walk will also take you to see the Cora Lynn and Cumberland waterfalls. Pause for a moment and look out over Cumberland Valley from Sovereign View. It’s a four kilometre journey, and should take about two hours to complete.
📍Cambarville Rd, Cambarville VIC 3779
Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk
After spending time at the beach in Wilsons Prom, head inland and stroll along the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk. This circuit will take you through heathland and warm, temperate rainforest. Admire eucalypt trees and lush ferns, and look out for any wallabies or birds. The track is relatively flat and made from compacted sand, making this a nice walk for those with prams or limited mobility. It’s 5.2km long, and takes about 90 minutes to complete. See more here.
📍Wilsons Promontory VIC 3960
Silverband Falls Walk
The next time you’re in the Grampians, take a hike through the forest and check out Silverband Falls. This particular trail is 700m one way, and will take you from the carpark, through a ferny forest and over a rock crossing. Watch the water tumble down the mountainside and into the creek. Look out for native wildlife, including wedge-tailed eagles. The Silverband Falls Walk is not suitable for those with prams or wheelchairs. It should take about 40 minutes to complete.
📍Silverband Rd, Bellfield VIC 3381
Fern Gully Nature Walk
Nestled in Tarra Bulga National Park, roughly 2.5 hours away from Melbourne, you’ll find the stunning Fern Gully Nature Walk. This 720m return journey takes just 15 minutes to complete, and is suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Starting from the Bulga picnic area, you’ll follow the track to Corrigan’s Suspension Bridge, where you can gaze at the soft ferns below. Continue through the forest canopy, and look out for a 60 metre tall giant mountain ash tree, which is over 200 years old. For even more incredible forest walks in Tarra Bulga National Park, click here.
📍Fern Gully Track, Balook VIC 3971
Den of Nargun Loop Walk
Roughly 3.5 hours away from Melbourne, in Gippsland’s Mitchell River National Park, you’ll find the Den of Nargun. This location is of deep Aboriginal significance, and the loop is also a part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, which explores Gunaikurnai history and culture. Starting from the picnic area, you’ll see rainforest gullies, waterfalls, pools, river, views, the Bluff lookout and the Den of Nargun. The Nargun is a large female creature, who lives in a cave behind a waterfall in the Mitchell River. The loop is a 5km return journey, and takes about 90 minutes to complete. Learn more here.
📍Wallers Rd, Iguana Creek VIC 3875
Errinundra Old Growth Walk
As far as forest walks in Victoria go, this one is pretty far from Melbourne. Drive six hours away to Errinundra National Park in far east Gippsland, and follow ancient Aboriginal ridgeline routes on the Errinundra Old Growth Walk. This magnificent journey will take you through a cool rainforest, where you’ll see some of the oldest and largest shining gums known to exist. It’s a 5km return journey, and should take about 2.5 hours to complete. Learn more here.
📍Bendoc–Orbost Road, Bendoc, Victoria, 3888