Great Hikes You Can Reach by Public Transport from Melbourne

Melbourne is a surprisingly good city to base yourself in if you want to get outdoors without hiring a car.

You won’t reach every great Victorian hike by train or bus, but there are plenty of worthwhile walks where public transport can get you surprisingly close to the trail.

This guide focuses on walks that work realistically as a day trip from Melbourne rather than places that technically have a bus stop somewhere nearby.

What makes a good public-transport hike?

For us, a useful car-free hike needs a few things:

• a realistic connection from Melbourne
• a trailhead you can actually reach on foot or by local bus
• enough walking to make the travel worthwhile
• somewhere reasonably easy to get food or coffee
• a return journey that doesn’t require perfect timing

1. Sherbrooke Forest and the Dandenong Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges are one of the easiest places to get a taste of Victoria’s tall forests without driving hours from Melbourne.

Train services run east from Melbourne toward the hills, and several walking areas can be linked together into a longer day.

Expect fern-filled gullies, mountain ash forest and, if you’re lucky, lyrebirds scratching around the forest floor.

Good for

• forest walking
• first-time visitors
• cooler summer days
• birdlife
• shorter flexible itineraries

2. Add your next hike here

Research the exact current train and bus connections before publishing this article.

Public transport timetables change, so each walk should include:

• starting station
• connecting bus if required
• approximate travel time
• walking distance
• elevation
• difficulty
• toilets
• food nearby
• last practical connection home

A note about transport information

Always check current Public Transport Victoria timetables before leaving.

Routes, replacement buses and weekend schedules can change.

---

We’ll keep adding to this guide as we explore more car-free walks around Melbourne.