From a brisk walk along the Capital City Trail to snowshoeing in the High Country, these five scenic winter walks around Victoria showcase the best of the season.
Sherbrooke Falls Trail
The popular Sherbrooke Falls Trail is a gentle introduction to the Dandenong Ranges, located just 50 minutes east of Melbourne. A peaceful 2.4-kilometre return walk to Sherbrooke Falls, the closest waterfall to Melbourne, is a perfect escape for a walk or picnic. Wind through a forest which boasts the tallest flowering hardwood in the world, the Mountain Ash. The forests provide the perfect habitat for wildlife such as Wombats, Swamp Wallabies, Ring-tailed and Brush-tailed Possums. Visitors can stop off at Grants Picnic Ground and pick up some seed to feed the wild native birds, including Cockatoos, Rosellas and Parrots. Rehydrate and replenish at the beautiful Piggery Café at Burnham Beeches, headed up by Vue de Monde’s Shannon Bennett.
Capital City Trail
The 30-kilometre Capital City Trail is a popular inner-city cycling route but the three-kilometre section between Federation Square and South Yarra is a scenic adventure by foot. Walkers set off along the banks of the Yarra River through Birrarung Marr all the way to popular Chapel Street to explore the popular boutique shopping precinct or grab a feed at top cafe, Top Paddock. The Capital City Trail also includes the five-kilometre Merri Creek Trail between Clifton Hill and Collingwood, which includes a pit stop at the Abbotsford Convent or Collingwood Children’s Farm.
The You Yangs Regional Park
Located between Melbourne and Geelong, this volcanic formation offers walkers, mountain bikers, horse riders and rock climbers a perfect outdoor playground all year round just over an hour west of Melbourne. The You Yangs Regional Park features six walks ranging from 100-metre walk up Big Rock to the gentle five-kilometre Branding Yard Trail. The East-West Walk is popular amongst hikers for its challenging 4.5-kilometre loop which includes some rock scrambling and beautiful views of The You Yangs.
Safari Conservation Tour
Echidna Walkabout is a nature lovers walking tour that combines Australian wildlife sightseeing and conservation activities. With a range of walking tours from one to four days, participants can walk with kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat on full-day guided tours, take in Australia’s most exciting coastline with a luxurious three-day tour of the Great Ocean Road, or explore southeast Australia’s wilderness in the biodiverse forests of East Gippsland. All participants receive a certificate of thanks for their contribution to wildlife conservation.
Mt Hotham
A love for walking and winter can be combined with snowshoeing in Victoria’s High Country at Mt Hotham, four-and-a-half hours from Melbourne. The low impact and enjoyable activity is a perfect way to explore the winter alpine environment and its surrounds. With 35 kilometres of trails, visitors can take in the breathtaking views from the top of the Great Diving Range and wildness. Snowshoes can be hired from a number of outlets on the mountain. Access to the trails is included in the resort entry. Stay overnight on the mountain at Australia’s first ever lux glamping snow eco domes.
Article credit: Visit Victoria
