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Kinglake and Mt Disappointment

Only 60 km north of Melbourne, Kinglake National Park and the adjacent Mount Disappointment State Forest is a massive area of parkland on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Scenic lookouts offer dramatic views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and across to the You Yangs. Forests, fern gullies and waterfalls are among the other attractions.

Mt Everard circuit

Starts from Jesophat Gully Picnic Ground, just near Kinglake township. About an hour from the centre of Melbourne. Get yourself a copy of the Kinglake National Park Outdoor Leisure map or see the map on the Parks Victoria website.

From the picnic ground run down the Shelley Harris Track (lush, overgrown singletrack), turn right, then Cookson Hill track, uphill up Mt Everard track, steep downhill down the Bundy track, flat along Old Kinglake Road, and a long slog uphill along the Mount Jerusalem Track, back to the Shelley Harris Track. Depending on whether you believe the route description on the map or on the signs, it is 19.6km or 22km. It takes about 2 hours at a moderate/easy pace. The scenery isn't spectacular, but pleasant enough. The run is mostly fire trail, with some very solid hills. About 550m of altitude is gained and lost around the circuit. In all it's quite tough, hilly run.

NB: Other than some tank water at the Jesophat Gully Picnic Ground and the creek at Steels Creek Picnic Ground (both of which are officially unfit for drinking) there is no water available on the track.

Masons Falls Circuit

Starts from Masons Falls Picnic Ground inside National Park. To get there take National Park Road at Pheasant Creek. From the Picnic Ground run south along Running Creek Track. This will take you past the Masons Falls Lookout and up some steps before dropping quite steeply to follow Running Creek. The track then climbs steeply for several km. up to the Mt.Sugarloaf Road. Cross the road and turn right on the Sugarloaf Ridge Track to the Mt.Sugarloaf Lookout. Retrace the Sugarloaf Ridge Track and then continue on toward the Park Office. At the Park Office follow the bitumen road a short distance then turn right on Boundary Track and follow it back to the Masons Falls Picnic Ground. The circuit is about 14km. and has a good mixture of hills and flat running.

Hill Climbs In The Kinglake Area

Bowden Spur

To get there take the Kinglake Rd from Hurstbridge and turn left on the Cottles Bridge-Stathewen Rd. Follow this road to Strathewen and park at the Y intersection of Chads Creek Rd and Bowden Spur Rd. Run to the right up Bowden Spur Rd. staying to the left after 100m and continue on this road until you reach the main Kinglake Rd 7.5k later. The first km. is relatively flat before starting a gradual climb. After 3k the gradient steepens and remains quite steep for the next 3.5k before levelling off over the last km. The last 1/2 of the climb follows the power lines and although these are an ugly scar on the landscape the clearings offer spectacular views of Melbourne. The entire climb is on well serviced dirt road. The starting point is at 180m. above sea level, reaching a high point of 600m.

Beale Ave.

Start is at the same point as Bowden Spur. Run to the left over the bridge along Chads Creek Rd. staying to the right after 150m. Follow Chads Creek Rd. for nearly 2k. Just past the cricket oval turn right at Beale Ave. Follow this road until you reach the main Kinglake Rd. 6k later. The first part of the run along Chads Creek Rd is pleasently undulating. Beale Ave however starts off with a steep 1.5k section gaining 120m in elevation. By 4k it has gained 350m in elevation. After 4k of climbing the gradient levels off and the last 800m is a gentle downhill.

The entire run is on well serviced dirt roads. The middle section is through National Park. Several sections of Beale Ave offer excellent views. The starting point of the run is at 180m., reaching a high point of 610m.

Pine Ridge Rd

Starting point is as above. Follow Chads Creek Rd as for the Beale Ave run. Continue straight ahead past the Beale Ave turnoff. 3k from the start of the run the road becomes Pine Ridge Rd. Follow this road until it meets National Park Rd 5.5k from the start. The first 2.5k is pleasently undulating then starts a steady climb for the next km. After a brief respite the gradient steepens gaining 250m elevation over 1.2k before easing slightly over the last 400m. Most of the run is on good dirt roads but some of the steeper sections are rough and can be very muddy after rain. There are some excellent views particularly on the steeper sections. The starting point is 180m., reaching a high pointof 530m.

Mt Disappointment via Phone Track

To get there turn left onto the Whittlesea - Wallan Rd. as you approach Whittlesea township on Plenty Rd. Turn right onto Bruces Creek Rd. and follow this dirt road past the Hilliers/Halls Rd intersection and over a small bridge. Park on the grassy clearing near a locked double gate. Start the run by following Bruces Creek Rd for a few hundred metres (to warmup before the climb)until you come to the drive way for a scout camp. Take the steep track going left through the gate into the State Forest. Continue along this major track for the next 5km. until you come to a large picnic/camping area. Just past the toilet block the track meets the Mt Disappointment Rd. Turn right and follow the road uphill for another km. Just below the summit the road veers left and some minor tracks need to be navigated to find the summit trig point. The distance of the run is about 7km one way with 500m of elevation gain.

Mt Disappointment via Wallan

To get there follow the Broadford - Wallan Rd (the continuation of High St from the northern suburbs)about 3km past the Wallan and Whittlesea turn offs and park at the Sth Mountain Rd intersection. Start the run by heading straight up Sth Mountain Rd for 4km then turn right where it meets Nth Mountain Rd. Continue along this major dirt road for about another 6km to the Five Ways Intersection. Take Mt Disappointment Rd straight ahead. Continue along this road and past the picnic/camping ground then continue to the summit as for the previous post. The distance of the run is about 15km one way. From here it is possible to continue on Mt Disappointment Rd to Cottrell Rd then down to Main Mountain Rd and turning left complete a circuit back to Five Ways. This would be about a 40km run back to the starting point. The more adventurous could turn right at Main Mountain Rd and continue right across the State Forest to the Flowerdale Rd about 50km one way.