Macedon Ranges Walks
The Macedon Ranges is an attractive walking destination due to its proximity to Melbourne, stunning landscapes and diverse offerings. You’ll find there’s a walk for everyone – from short hikes and gentle creekside strolls to challenging trails popular for endurance training and social bushwalking groups.
Visitors experience everything from native bushland and cool forests, scenic views, granitic boulders and impressive volcanic rock formations, the most famous being Hanging Rock.
In spring, the bush is blooming with native wildflowers, while in cooler months Mt Macedon’s unique eco-system comes alive with an amazing diversity of fungi and mushrooms.
Our nature reserves and parks are also home to an abundance of wildlife including grey kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and hundreds of species of birds, as well as rare and endangered species such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale.
A taste of walks to discover
While bushwalkers and families love Hanging Rock’s famous summit walk and easier base circuit, many hikers, trail runners and orienteers enjoy Macedon Regional Park’s connecting trails.
Here’s five terrific trail runs on Mt Macedon to get the heart pumping
If you’re after a challenging full-day hike, check out the Macedon Ranges Walking Trail, a 30km circuit linking Camels Hump and Mount Towrong with the mountain villages of Mount Macedon and Macedon.
For a shorter hike and the chance to experience Mt Macedon’s magnificent forest scenery and wildlife, you must visit the Sanatorium Lake Walking Trail. Or for a rewarding scenic view, the steep incline up Camels Hump is worth the effort.
Check out our Camels, Llamas and Parmas itinerary
Camels Hump, Macedon Regional Park
Hidden gems
You’ll also find a number of hidden bushwalking gems throughout the shire, including Black Hill Reserve and Bald Hill Reserve, both on the outskirts of Kyneton.
Check out our Black Hill Bushwalk and Wine Tasting itinerary
Conglomerate Gully Reserve in Riddells Creek is another short bushwalk, where the Western Grassland Plains meet the hills of the Macedon Ranges. Time your visit with the Riddells Creek monthly farmers’ market or head to Dromkeen Homestead for a Devonshire tea afterwards.
Check out our Conglomerate Gully Hike and Devonshire Tea itinerary
Conglomerate Gully Reserve, Riddells Creek
Gentle village walks in the Macedon Ranges
You’ll typically find a tranquil creekside walk in each village of the Macedon Ranges.
In Kyneton, the Campaspe River Walk is popular, while Five Mile Creek Walk in Woodend weaves an interesting course through areas of unique native vegetation. Malmsbury is a picturesque destination for a gentle stroll through the historic botanic gardens and adjacent Malmsbury Common Reserve.
Closer to Melbourne, Gisborne’s Jackson’s Creek Walk snakes its way along grassy embankments and giant deciduous trees. Spanning both sides of Station Road, you can begin in Gisborne Botanic Gardens and wind your way across to Sankey Reserve.
Download our Macedon Ranges Walks brochure
For more information about all the short walks to discover in the region, download the latest copy of our Macedon Ranges Walks brochure.
