Seven unmissable multi-day hikes to conquer in regional Victoria
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08.04.2021

Seven unmissable multi-day hikes to conquer in regional Victoria

Words by Elizabeth Hines

Pack your tent and lace up your hiking boots.

Although Victoria is a small state in relation to Australia’s other states, the scenery, and beautiful outlooks it offers are in no way diminished because of its size. There is a seemingly everlasting list of gorgeous places to visit in Victoria; so sometimes it is helpful to have a helping hand when understanding which ones, the best is to go visit! Just a few hours out of Melbourne central are some stunning mountain ranges, clear blue bays, vineyards, and cliff ranges.

Australia’s garden state has so much to offer and here are just a few of its best bits. 

 

Great Ocean Walk, Apollo Bay – Port Campbell

This long walk is eight days long for the average traveller, and is frequented by drivers often; so, it is likely that you have been down a part of it before. This is a 100-kilometre walk which starts around 200 kilometres southwest of Melbourne. The Great Ocean Walk curves all the way around the coast to the home of the twelve apostles (Port Campbell). Kristina Carrot, a lifestyle blogger at State of writing and Boom Essays, noted that, “There are some stunning stops along the way to see such as the Cape Otway Lighthouse and Wreck Beach. I would suggest taking a tent and self-catering the whole walk, as there are seven hike-in campsites which need to be pre-booked.” You can also book Bed and Breakfast locations and eat at village restaurants along the way. 

 

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The Southern Prom Circuit, Wilsons Promontory National Park 

This hike is between three to five days long depending on hiking experience, and it is one of Victoria’s most popular hikes. Start by driving to the Telegraph Saddle Car Park, which is 220 kilometres south of Melbourne. This hike lets you visit the protected waters (and the animals which inhabit them) in Sealers Cove, as well as beautiful mountain ranges around the are as well. 

 

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Grampians Peaks Trail, Grampians National Park

This 36km hike takes approximately three days and two nights to complete and offers fresh air, gorgeous views, stunning lakes, and the ancient Aboriginal heritage of Gariwerd.. Trixie Richards, a travel writer at Paper Fellows and Lia Help, commented that, “There is quite a bit of climbing on this trek, 250 kilometres north of Melbourne; but it is the best for exploring natural rock pools and views of the Serra and Mount William Ranges and the panoramas it offers.” There are three campgrounds available along the way.

We recommend having a crack at the three-day hike before the remaining sections of the new track are completed, resulting in a 13-day, 160km exploration set to be unveiled in autumn of 2021.

 

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Great Walhalla Alpine Trail, Walhalla to Mount Baw Baw Alpine Village 

This hike takes around two to three days to complete and is around 40 kilometres long. This is a tiny section of the 650-kilometre track through Australia’s most beautiful countryside where hikers pass through the wonderland of geological formations at Mushroom Rocks, see the ruins of Talbot Peak hut, cross mountain streams and wild rivers, pass through fern groves and, of course, get to know the timber and gold heritage of Walhalla. There are beautiful mountain views and clear river streams all around to be seen and ‘grammed. Although there are a few campgrounds, facilities are sometimes limited. 

 

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Wilderness Coast Walk, Croajingolong National Park 

The Wilderness Coast Walk takes around seven to eight days to complete and stretches along the coast for over 80 kilometres. This walk follows the coast around beaches, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries; all while providing beautiful scenery. Be prepared for a true wilderness experience that will see you scrambling over rocky headlands and boulders, crossing river estuaries (which may require swimming), walking long stretches of sand, and hiking through thick vegetation on ill-defined paths.

FYI this walk is not for the faint-hearted. Hikers need to be experienced and prepared for challenging conditions. The walk is divided into three zones and you will need experience and confidence navigating from topographic maps.

 

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The You Yang’s Loop & Flinders Peak Track

The You Yang’s is Melbourne’s forgotten mountain range. No one seems to know about them, but I do not understand why! It is the most picturesque location and the lack of general knowledge about the area means that it still feels like uncorrupted nature. The You Yang’s takes you around to Flinders Peak Track and to the mountain ranges’ highest point. The walk itself only takes around 2-3 hours and is a one-hour round trip if you are a more experienced hiker. The total distance is just over seven kilometres, but there are many other walks around the area if you finish this one and want to continue onwards. 

 

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Burrowa-Pine Mountain and Rocky Knob Track

This walk is a 5–7-hour trip that can be extended to be two days long if you really take it slow. It is 10 kilometres long and has a tremendous number of ups and downs. It is gorgeous outlook wise and contains a beautiful setting of nature and animals. There are over 180 different species of bird along this walk, and it truly lives up to its name, the ‘Rocky Knob’; as it contains some areas which would be slightly more difficult to walk for the average or inexperienced hiker. 

About the Author

Elizabeth Hines is a digital marketer and online content writer for HRM Essay help and Case study writing service. She likes to travel in her spare time. She also writes for OX Essays blog.