Short Walks

Short walks, hikes and trail running

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Macedon Ranges Short 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 early 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.

Mt Macedon walks

For a hike and the chance to experience Mt Macedon’s magnificent forest scenery and wildlife, you must visit the family-friendly Sanatorium Lake Walking Trail. Or if you want to escape into another world, try the Murmuring Walk experience around Sanatorium Lake.

Murmuring Walk is a free, sensory audio-guided experience that will take you into a quiet, meditative state. The birds, grasses, ferns and trees join with the audio track to create a sublime walking experience.

Learn more about the Murmuring Walk

If you’re feeling energetic and are looking for a rewarding scenic view, the steep incline up Camels Hump is also absolutely worth the effort.

Check out our cool Camels, Llamas and Parmas itinerary for a great hiking itinerary!

Challenging hikes

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.

See the Macedon Regional Park Trail Map for a full list of all walks in the area.

Trail runs

While bushwalkers and families love Hanging Rock’s famous summit walk and base circuit, many hikers, trail runners and orienteers enjoy Macedon Regional Park’s connecting forest trails.

Here’s five terrific trail runs on Mt Macedon to get the heart pumping

Camels Hump, Macedon Regional Park

Hidden gems

You’ll 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 great 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.