Mt Dandenong Hike - Kalorama to Sassafras via Doongalla Forest

Escape the city and enjoy a full-day spring hike through the picturesque Dandenong Ranges, on what will be a unique event, taking in the lush scenic forest, birds, views of the city, walking tracks, falls and the crisp/fresh air. This event caters for the experienced/ fit hiker who demands a 'real hike' and wants to break out a sweat. This event is graded 'hard to challenging' with a number of steep short inclines throughout. 

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Hard -> Challenging (in sections), approximately 12.5 km, this event caters for experienced hikers and those with fitness levels that are able to climb short steep tracks. This event is not suitable for first timers or those with limited fitness abilities. If in doubt, contact the leader prior to booking to discuss your fitness levels/suitability for the hike. 

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
We will meet at Croydon Station before boarding a bus for our first section of the hike at Kalorama.  

• Part 1: Kalorama GPO to Five Ways lookout (incline) with a stop at the coffee shop. From here we take a steep incline along the Trig/Kyeema Track and will explore the Kyeema crash site, followed by views near Burke's lookout. Then after a steep descent, we will arrive at Doongalla Picnic Reserve for lunch.
• Part 2: From the reserve we will walk through the dense scrub incline along the Dandenong Creek Track and make our way through a steep incline to arrive at Sassafras township. After exploring the township, we will make our way back by bus to Croydon Station.

BOOKING: By Friday 6th January. To register, click on Get Tickets.
Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings.

FURTHER INFORMATION: explorethedandenongs.com.au/western-slopes-trail-mt-dandenong

MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 09:45am at Croydon Train Station, Railway Grove. Exact meetup points will be provided via email prior to the event. This is intended to be a public transport friendly event where the start and end points will be accessible by train. There is no carpooling for this event, however, you may organise your own lift with fellow walkers if you wish.

MAP REFERENCE: Melway map 50 grid J3 | Google map goo.gl/maps/LhvezYQ8CpHcSDoy7.

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 35 km, approximately 35 minutes to drive, 50 minutes by public transport. There is car parking available at the train station for those who wish to drive. We will all take the bus to the start of the walk regardless of whether you drive to the meeting spot or not. You will need a Myki card for this event and a face mask is recommended for the ride on public transport. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: This is a public transport friendly event.

• By Train: Take the Lilydale train from Flinders Street and get off at Croydon Station. As a group we will then catch the #688 bus to the starting point of the walk. At the conclusion of the walk, the same bus will take us back to Croydon, with a connecting train back to the CBD.

FOOD/DRINKS: Carry lunch, snacks and at least 1-2 litres of water. Also bring sunscreen and a hat. A facemask is recommended for public transport. Bring your Myki card for the return trip by train/bus. We will stop briefly at a coffee shop where you can buy a coffee, and there may be options to purchase food for lunch (although this may be costly). There will also be a late afternoon tea stop in Sassafras at the conclusion of the official hike.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Suitable boots/hiking shoes and dress according to the weather forecast (layering). The mountains are usually a few degrees cooler but you will quickly warm up as you begin the hike! Ensure your shoes are waterproof as some of the paths most likely will be a little wet/muddy and a bit slippery if it has rained heavily prior to the event. Your boots will get some dirt/mud on them!

LEADER: Jason T. | Email LeaderJasonT.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you have any questions.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.

HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS