Cathedral Ranges Northern Circuit

Cathedral ranges is a 7KM ridge of mountains in Taggery/Buxton, Victoria approximately 2 hours / 120km north-east drive from Melbourne. The elevation gain of this walk is 835m and there is difficult scrambling. This is the Northern (and easier, but equally spectacular) counterpart to the infamous South Circuit. The trek is approximately 15km long and takes 5 to 6 hours to complete, and you summit Ned’s Peak, Little Cathedral Peak and South Jawbone Peak along the way. There are bathroom’s along the way (at the campgrounds), and various points have various forms of signage, however, some navigation skills may be required (there is a semi-well/well defined path along the way though).

If you wish to start at Neds Gully, as of March 2020, you will be required to check if the campground has reopened. Refer to alternatives below for this GPX file.

We start the trek at Cooks Mill Camping Ground. Turn right onto little river /Cerberous Road, and soon bear right onto Saint Bernards walking Track. Follow it until you reach Jawbone car park. Don’t rejoin the road however, continue onto Jawbone creek track instead. Continue left on the next junction until you reach the next camping ground, and continue forward. You’ll reach the farmyard. Turn left down South Jawbone track to summit South Jawbone peak.

Turn around, continue right at the Farmyard, and then turn left down farmyard track. Eventually, you’ll reach a junction. Continue straight and take the Little Cathedral Track towards little cathedral peak. Summit, and return to the junction, instead turning left this time.

Turn right at the next junction, summit Neds peak.

Turn around, and instead turn right this time down Neds Gully track. Follow the track until reaching the junction leading to Neds Gully Campground (which may be closed). Head right (south) onto Little River track. It runs alongside the road and river all the way south until reaching cooks mill campground and completing the trail

The Visitor Guide is available from: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/visitor-guides-and-publications/cathedral-range-state-park/cathedral-range-state-park-visitor-guide.pdf

Alternative Tracks

Traditionally, most people begin in Neds Gully, however, at this time, there are park closures at that camp ground which prevents it. Once the campground and bridge reopens however, you can use the following GPX to begin from there: https://adventure-buddies.net/wp-content/uploads/gpx/cathedral%20Ranges%20North%20Circuit-2.gpx

Halls Gap Pinnacle Circuit – Grampians

Grampians is a large national park located in victoria with large Sandstone outcrops. It’s extremely popular and camping often requires booking in advance.

The pinnacle walk is one of most popular walks at Grampians, and most people start at Halls Gap Caravan Park. Halls Gap information is across the road and includes maps (we recommend grabbing one, and they can help point you on the way)

t can great a bit slippery, but the trail is well signposted and there are always tourists. No real scrambling is required (only basic). You’ll also have phone reception in a lot of cases in various spots on the route. You can use the bathrooms at the Information centre if required (or at the caravan Park, if you’re staying there).

Start at the Information centre. After leaving the doors of the Centre, head right down the road and cross the road. Surely after, turn left into the carpark and head down until reaching School road. Cross it and head down Halls Gap to Pinnacle track.

Bear right on Wonderland Loop Track follow the track towards Pinnacle.

You’ll reach a junction, turn left and bear left to get to the Venus Baths. The Venus baths are a steep wall with a creek, which you can rest at.

Return the same way, but turn left instead on the trail to continue the trail down Wonderland Loop Walk.

Continue forward (ignore Brokka Track on the right) and straight to splitters falls. After viewing, turn around, and follow the junction right to proceed to grand Canyon (you’ll know when you are in it), and then follow the trail to Pinnacle. When you get to Bridal veil Falls, go right and follow the forest loop until you reach Pinnacle (there is a viewing platform, you won’t miss it). Follow the signage towards Halls gap which will take you down a nice scenic walk until you reach the original path/junction, where you turn right, and walk through the carpark, returning to the information centre.

More info is available on: Visit Melbourne

Mount Dandenong Triple Track Ascent (2020 Edition)

This is a updated version of Trail Hiking’s infamous Triple Track Ascent Walk which is no longer possible (Birthday Track is now officially closed and clearly marked as an unofficial track which is illegal to use). It has ample parking on the side of the road and is a great hike for groups as the track is composed of 3 loops, all of which return to the starting point on their return (where people can finish prematurely).

The track is well defined, but it is easiest to use GPS to ensure you are following the right track (it is illegal to use Birthday track, as it is an unofficial one).

Some parts of this track are steep, and we don’t recommend during the track during rain. There are bathrooms at Skyhigh (at the top), which we’ve added to the first loop. We recommend trekking poles and hiking shoes.

Begin the walk on Glasgow rd, and walk uphill until you reach the junction. Turn left to turn onto Singleton Terrace, until turning right to turn onto Link track and then turning left onto firelink track. Finally, turn uphill onto the observatory track. After reaching Kyeema track, turn left and then turn right onto Trig track until reaching Skyhigh (where there are bathrooms).

Return back to Kyeema track (turning left onto it) and follow the mountain around until walking down Glasgow Track (which is basic scrambling) until reaching the initial junction.

When reaching the starting junction, turn left onto Carmelia track and turn left onto Rankin track (make sure you don’t use Birthday track, which you can identify by all the logs in the path) and right onto Dacite Track. Follow Zig Zag track up to to Kyeema where you turn left and stop at Bourke lookout if you want (you’ll know it when you see it). Turn left down Observatory Track. Turn left onto Fireline, right onto Link Track and left onto Singleton Track returning back to the beginning junction.

Finally, turn left onto Glasgow Track and ascend the mountain until reaching Kyeema again. Turn right, then turn right onto zig zag track to proceed down the mountain, right onto Dacite track, left onto rankin, right onto Camelia and return to the beginning junction completing the walk.