For those of you who have never been there, the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk is located in the west of Melbourne and is just over an hour’s drive from the CBD.
The hike itself is nothing short of amazing given its location in proximity to Melbourne and is possibly considered one of the best day hikes in Victoria for a variety of reasons.
You can start this hike from one of three car parks but I find the Quarry Area picnic ground is best despite the fact you are instantly met with a rocky path that is largely uphill and enough to get the heart rate up and about.
You’ll find that most of the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk has rocky terrain which means you’ll need to concentrate quite a bit on the downhill sections.
However, in my opinion, it’s not overly hard and someone with a reasonable level of fitness could easily do this.
Moving along, you will find yourself on a flattish section but will be quickly met with another hill that will take you to your first stop – the Eastern Viewpoint.
This area opens right up and allows you to see the height of the Gorge off in the distance as well as the surrounding areas.
After a few photos and taking in the amazing scenery, carry onto the Western Viewpoint which has just as good scenery as our previous stop.
From here, the path descends into the Gorge itself where the track follows the river in a south-eastern direction.
What I really enjoyed about this section of the circuit was Needles Beach and the regular rock hopping.
There is a section in the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk that is quite narrow and the only way to walk it is by holding onto the steel rope that is bolted to the wall.
Years ago this entire cable was completely exposed, however, Parks Victoria has recently put some tubing around sections of it to ensure you can comfortably hold onto it.
It’s always nice to navigate a trail differently from what you’re normally used to and I reckon it’s definitely the best part of the walk.
The rest of the circuit was relatively straightforward with one more uphill section from Meikles Point picnic area back to the cars.
Overall, the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk is absolutely brilliant for a number of reasons but mostly because of its location and unique rock hopping through the gorge.
If you like rocky terrain, spectacular views, and rock hopping, then make sure you get out and do the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk sometime soon.
As usual, if you want to download the trail I recorded via Wikiloc, check it out here.
Frequently Asked Questions – Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk
How long does it take to do the Werribee Gorge Circuit?
This will obviously depend on a number of variables such as fitness, your preferred pace, your group size, and many others.
In saying that, Parks Victoria bases their distance and times on people walking an average of 3 kilometres per hour.
As the track is approximately 8kms, we can safely assume that it should take anywhere between 2-3 hours to complete.
Of course, if you love the scenery as much as I do, then you’ll be out there a lot longer taking several photos and generally taking it all in.
Are dogs allowed at the Werribee Gorge State Park?
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons (including wildlife), you can’t bring dogs into the Werribee Gorge State Park.
In saying this, if you do have accessibility issues and require the use of an assistance dog, then you can apply to Parks Victoria to allow you to take your dog with you.
Are there toilets at Werribee Gorge?
There sure are. There are three locations where you can begin the walk, but the toilet blocks are located at the Quarry Picnic Area and Miekles Point Picnic Area.
Can you swim at Werribee Gorge?
Yes, you can. Now, obviously, you’ll need to make a judgement call on whether or not it is safe to enter the water, but one of the best spots to stop for a swim is at Needles Beach.
The Stats – Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk
Length (km): 7.78kms (according to WikiLoc)
Time: 2hrs and 45mins (moving time of 2hrs and 17mins)
Average Speed: 2.81 km/h
Difficulty: Moderate (Grade 3)
Return/Circuit/One Way: Circuit
Location: Werribee Gorge
Maximum elevation: 352m (according to WikiLoc)
