If there is one place in the Dandenong Ranges I would recommend going hiking in, it would have to be the RJ Hamer Arboretum in Olinda.
And one of those tracks is the return hike from Woolrich Lookout to Valley Picnic Ground.
In terms of the Arboretum itself, there are so many tracks to walk thus making it an ideal place to go for a day hike.
Furthermore, despite the Woolrich Lookout car park being quite popular for picnics, barbeques, and crowds, you rarely see many people once you make your way into the forest.
There is also the picturesque Valley Picnic Ground which is located at the northern end of the Arboretum and backs onto the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Including a few stops and some decent hills to navigate, this hike should take approximately a little over two hours to complete. But this would obviously depend on your preferred walking pace.
Start your hike walking down Dam Road while passing some nice-looking sequoia trees and then cross over the Lyrebird Creek.
After a short while, this becomes a proper hiking track where you will find yourself on Sequoia Track which includes a reasonable climb to the junction of the Rock Track.
Follow this briefly and take a right for 350m on Cornus Track, which will lead you to Mathias Road (essentially the main management vehicle track through the area).
From here, you’ll walk until you come to the t-intersection of Black Hole Track and follow the gradual decline to Yallambie Road.
Several tracks are sprouting off from the Valley Picnic Ground, either to other areas of the Arboretum or continuing into the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
After spending some time relaxing here (depending on the weather, of course!), make your way back up Yallambie Road and take a left at Ginkgo Track.
A short while later, keep an eye out for and take a right at Fraxinus Track which will take you back up to Mathias Road.
Both Ginkgo and Fraxinus tracks are a gradual incline through dense, shady forest areas.
This makes for a nice change from the wide-open tracks that are consistent throughout the entire hike.
From here, it’s just a short walk to the base of the hill that will eventually lead you back to the car park.
If you are unfamiliar with the area, this particular hill starts on a track that is just past the Red Dog Hut – a tin shed shelter.
This particular hill is the hardest part of any of the walks in the Arboretum as it has a sharp incline from the very beginning.
In saying that, if you stop and turn around, you will be rewarded with amazing views of the hills off in the distance.
Overall, I would rate Woolrich Lookout to Valley Picnic Ground as an easy-to-moderate return hike but it would depend on your level of fitness.
I would recommend this hike to anyone who has already done a couple of hikes or for those of you who are looking for somewhere different to go in the Dandenongs.
Apart from the RJ Hamer Arboretum being a fantastic place to go hiking, it is also dog-friendly.
However, the Dandenong Ranges National Park isn’t, so keep that in mind if you want to keep venturing north past the picnic ground.
Getting There
Find your way to the main street of Olinda and drive down Olinda-Monbulk Road. After Olinda Reserve and the old abandoned golf course, take a left onto Chalet Road.
Continue down the dirt road for about 500m or so and Woolrich Lookout will be on your left. It is well-signed so you can’t miss it.
As always, if you would like to follow this track, and have the WikiLoc app, download it here.
The Stats – Woolrich Lookout to Valley Picnic Ground
Length (km): 5.57km (according to WikiLoc)
Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
Moving Time: 1hr 37 mins
Average Speed: 2.66 km/h
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Maximum Elevation: 514m
Accum. elev. uphill: 237m
Accum. elev. downhill: 237m
Return/Circuit/One Way: Circuit
