7 Best Hiking Trails in Victoria

With an abundance of national parks, stunning landscapes and natural wonders, Victoria is easily one of the best places in Australia to go hiking. From short trips to epic multi-day hikes, casual walks to full-on boulder hopping — there’s a location and level of difficulty to suit just about anyone.

So pack some snacks and water, get your hiking shoes ready, and keep on reading to see what we think are the very best hiking trails in Victoria.

Explore VIC’s Best

1. Neds Gully Track
2. Great Ocean Walk
3. The Pinnacle Walk
4. Mount Oberon Summit Walk
5. Flinders Peak Walk
6. Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk
7. Lerderderg Gorge State Park Circuit Walk

1. Neds Gully Track

Cathedral Range State Park, VIC

If you’re a seasoned bushwalker looking for somewhere beautiful to take a daytime trek, Neds Gully Track in the Cathedral Range State Park is worth checking out. At around an hour in total, this track suits those with some previous bushwalking experience (and some good hiking shoes).

The reward for your efforts? The chance to explore several different natural ecosystems in one walk. With forest gullies at lower elevations, woodlands on the slopes, and stunning peaks at the top — there’s no chance of boredom with what you find along the way.

The track’s steep hills, peaks and gullies can be treacherous in wet weather, so it’s recommended that you approach this track with caution during the wetter autumn and winter months. If you do go in colder months, there are plenty of places to camp nearby and warm yourself around the fire.

DISTANCE: 2.2km One-way (1 hour)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Hard

BEST TIME: All Year. Avoid when wet.

2. Great Ocean Walk

Apollo Bay, VIC

You will not find a more grand Victorian adventure on this list than the Great Ocean Walk — and we’ve been looking! At up to 8 days and 100km in length, this isn’t a trek for the light-hearted.

This walk is for those who like to stop and smell the roses…and breathe clean rainforest air… and walk over waterways at low tide… and look mortality in the eye at the edge of cliffs… and camp by the ocean and hear waves crashing on the beach. Yes, we are getting a bit romantic, but we aren’t exaggerating.

Sure, you could power through 100km in a 2-3 short intense days — but why the heck would you? You may as well take a road trip along the Ocean Road at that kind of pace. Actually that sounds pretty great — this walk starts at Apollo Bay and finishes at the Twelve Apostles, so why not hire a campervan for a road trip back the other way?

DISTANCE: Variable with a maximum of 100km; multi day

DIFFICULTY: Easy to Moderate

BEST TIME: November to March

3. The Pinnacle Walk

Grampians National Park, VIC

Beautiful and mighty. Scary and fun. Remote and yet close. This is the Grampians National Park. At around 3 hours from the Melbourne CBD, it’s not hard to see why people love the Grampians for getaways. And at The Pinnacle, you’ll understand why bushwalkers keep coming back for more.

You’ve got two major trail options to choose from, but the destination is the same. You can choose the fun and moderately challenging hike through some rough and rocky terrain; or you can really test your mettle with a much harder climb if you’re feeling brave.

The summit at the top is great and rewards you with views overlooking Fyans Valley — but it’s just as much about the journey. Natural amphitheatres, hidden waterfalls, hollowed-out mountains and trickling streams will have you in awe for the roughly 2 hours the journey should take you.

DISTANCE: 4.2km One-way (2 hours)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate

BEST TIME: All Year

4. Mount Oberon Summit Walk

Wilsons Promontory National Park, VIC

Like the idea of a long walk, but you only have sneakers and no hiking shoes? You’re in for a treat.

At around 2 hours, this walk winds slowly up Mount Oberon towards its peak. It’s steep and the track isn’t perfect in places (so you’ll need to pay attention), but it’s one of those tracks that’s easy to fall into a rhythm on. Enjoy the shade and cool breeze while you drink in the views.

And what a view at the top! The Tidal River, beautiful coastline, and a few islands sitting offshore — plus some local wildlife. It’s easy to see why Mount Oberon, Oberon Bay and its surrounds are so popular with hikers and adventurers.

Check out the Parks Victoria website, crack out your sneakers, and start thinking of ways to tell your mates you climbed a mountain today.

DISTANCE: 6.8km One-way (2 hours)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Hard

BEST TIME: All Year

5. Flinders Peak Walk

You Yangs Regional Park, VIC

Short, sweet, steep, and you can bring your dog — this is Flinders Peak Walk at the You Yangs Regional Park. This is a great walk if you feel like having a barbeque and decent walk in one day: there are barbies and a picnic area at the bottom of the track, and a stunning lookout at the top.

At around 3 kilometres in total and composed mostly of 450 stone or steel steps, this track will get your legs burning and have you puffing along in a few minutes — but it’s not an ankle-breaker by any means. The walk is very popular with runners, so keep an ear out for people coming up from behind you and keep to the left side of the steps if you can.

So what do you get in return for all that effort? You’ll find a windswept, boulder-filled landscape at the peak and stunning vistas looking out over Geelong, Melbourne and Port Phillip. Bring the camera.*

*and a hair tie and/or hat.

DISTANCE: 3.2km One-way (1 hour)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Hard

BEST TIME: All Year

6. Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk

Pentland Hills, VIC

Trek alongside and cross the winding Werribee River on this popular and moderately challenging walk. It’s only an hour from Melbourne and there aren’t many camping options right nearby, but there’s plenty of parking — so it’s perfect for a daytrip.

A few highlights from this walk: incredible vistas, cool breezes off the top of the water, scrambling over rocks and boulders, crossing through the river’s shallows, and (depending on the time of year) a dip in the swimming hole post-hike.

Bring your good hiking shoes because this one won’t be a walk in the park — ya know, even though it is… technically a walk in the Werribee Gorge State Park. But seriously, there is a short section where you’ll need to cross a cliff face by clinging to some hanging cables. It’s pretty safe, but you’ll look and feel the part even more if you’ve got some safe shoes on.

DISTANCE: 10km One-way (4 hours)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Hard

BEST TIME: All Year

7. Lerderderg Gorge State Park Circuit Walk

Lerderderg, VIC

Do you own a pair of well-used hiking boots? Do you think paths and stairs are for the weak? Are you willing to accept the very real possibility of seeing a venomous snake while bushwalking? If you said ‘yes’ to all of the above, this walk is for you.

The Lerderderg Gorge State Park Circuit Walk will exhaust you. You will get your feet wet. You will climb boulders. You will see wild animals. You will need to know how to read a map. But by the end, you will be able to say, hand on heart, ‘I am a true adventurer’.

This is a tough but rewarding walk that’s honestly difficult to believe is under an hour from the Melbourne CBD. It genuinely feels like you’re out in the wild at times. And we weren’t kidding about the map reading — print or download a map before you get there as reception is spotty and the track isn’t well signposted.

While the walk is relatively well-known among hikers, it isn’t nearly as busy as some of the others on this list. You’ll need to scramble over boulders, walk through rivers, keep an eye out for animals, and the area may even be flooded if it has been raining heavily.

If you’re interested in learning more about this walk, check out the Parks Victoria website for more information. And good luck.

DISTANCE: 13.5km One-way (4-5 hours)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Hard

BEST TIME: All Year

Whether you’re a complete novice or you’re a seasoned pro, there’s a hiking track in Victoria for you. Something that’s common across all of these hiking trails are the spectacular views and scenery at each — if you’re travelling across Australia, you won’t find landscapes like these anywhere else.

If you’re interested in getting out there in Victoria and trying out these tracks, then road tripping in a campervan is one of the best ways to do it. If you’re interested, check out our campervan hire in Melbourne options. for more information. Now get out there, get hiking and have fun!