best day walks in Victoria

Introduction

picking the best day walks is often a very individual aesthetic, however, I will try here to outline those that are reasonably accessible by car, are relatively short, and have something special to offer such as:
- great views
- nice scenery such as waterfalls, beaches, streams
- nice ambience

My best short walks

Grampians:
- Sundial car park to Wonderland car park via The Pinnacle
  - see my blog post: http://www.ayton.id.au/wp02/?p=10059
  - 2hr very interesting walk all along the way with wonderful rock formations, great views and nice ambience without being too difficult
  - it does require two cars, if you only have one, then you may need to break this walk into 2 circuits:
    - Wonderland car park to the Pinnacle and return
    - Sundial car park to the Pinnacle and return
- Sundial car park to Sundial Peak
  - walk itself is not so interesting, but you are rewarded with great views and an option to clamber up the final rocks to get 360deg views
  - see my blog post: http://www.ayton.id.au/wp02/?p=10057
- Halls Gap to Wonderland car park (or reverse) via Venus Pools and Splitters Falls
- McKenzie Falls to Fish Falls
  - have not been on this one yet but it seems like it would be rewarding
Wilsons Prom
- Tidal River to Whiskey Bay beach walk
- Mt Bishop
  - nice sheltered walk up to top of Mt Bishop for awesome views over the Prom western beaches and Tidal River
- Mt Oberon
  - steep ascent from car park to top for awesome views especially at sunset or sunrise (it will be COLD and you will need torches)
- The Big Drift
  - a massive sand dune - a walk with a difference - just don't do it on a hot sunny day or a very windy day
The Otways
- lots of nice forest walks with streams as well as beach walks and some waterfalls
- Lorne area:
  - Cora Lynn cascades - Phantom Falls - The Canyon
  - St George River walk upstream from Allenvale Rd Carpark
  - Won Wondah falls - Henderson Falls
- Beech Forest area:
  - Beauchamp Falls
  - Hopetoun Falls and the Redwood forest
  - Triplet Falls
- Apollo Bay area:
  - Elliott River falls and beach
- Moonlight Head region
  - Wreck beach at low tide
- Twelve Apostles region:
  - Loch Ard Gorge - lovely inlet and beach plus nearby Razorback and Mutton Bird Island (great at sunset as the birds nest)
  - Gibson Steps - walk on the sand amongst the rock formations
other south western Victoria:
- Mt Eccles volcano - walk in the extinct / dormant crater around the lake
north-eastern Victoria
- Cathedral Ranges
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaTSS8chgYc
- Mt Buffalo walks - most would camp at Lake Catani
north-western Victoria
- Hanging Rock
  - this is one not to miss, fantastic massive rock formations to explore with
- Southern Circuit Walk at Melville Caves campground, Kooyoora State Park - great 2.5hr walk on a August sunny day when the wattles are in bloom (one of my top favourites) - and you can camp there for free
  - there are also a few other walks if you are staying longer and of course there are the Melville Caves to explore but these are only a 100m walk
- Mt Alexander Leanganook to Dog Rocks via Ed's seat
  - nice lookout, large granite tors to explore, and you can camp there for free with flush toilets
- the private gardens on Mt Macedon
  - these very expansive gardens are also great spots for a picnic but they do charge an entree fee and they will be very busy on weekends
  - you can add in walks up to Camel's Hump and to Sanitorium Lake near the top of Mt Macedon, and there is also another lake walk near Macedon township as well
- historic gold mine area walks
  - there are lots of these through mainly dry open woodland forests many with deep mine shafts and some with brick ruins that have survived the bush fires
  - Welsh village, Golden point Castlemaine
  - Garfield Water Wheel, Chewton - can walk to the Welsh Village and back
  - Spring Gully Mine via Old Coach Rd, Castlemaine - can walk to Vaughan Springs
  - Eureka Reef Mine, Chewton
  - Herons Reef Mine, Chewton
  - Vaughan Springs walks from the lovely picnic area on the river
  - Muckleford gold mining area and the Red, White and Blue Mine
  - Waanyarra historic cemetery and gold prospecting area with walks and an old inn (drop in at Dunnolly, and also see the massive train station at Maryborough)
west of Melbourne
- Organ Pipes NP, Keilor
  - close to Melbourne, short walk down to volcanic structures alongside a river - bring sandals to walk across the river at the downstream end to do further walks where it is unlikely others will be there even though it is so close to Melbourne
- Werribee Gorge
  - there are a number of walks, but start with the river walk, has some steel wire supports around a cliff section which is fun to negotiate and then amongst the shale scree that has fallen, there is a good chance you will find plant fossils. The gorge is a geologists dream with remnant evidence of ancient glaciers and massive tectonic uplifts. If it is warm you can have a swim in the swimming holes and beaches. see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYB1MWIvspQ
  - additionally from the southern approach via Ingliston, there are some great walks with lookouts.
- Lerderderg Gorge
  - nice river gorge walk and swimming holes, past gold mining relics
- Brisbane Ranges and Anakie Gorge
  - historic gold mining area
- Werribee Park historic mansion, gardens, river walk, historic farm and the State Rose Garden all in one
  - only need to pay for entry into the mansion from memory
  - also on this site is the Werribee Open Range Zoo which is worth a visit
- Serendip Bird Sanctuary, Little River
  - free but check hours of opening
  - while you are in the region you can explore the You Yangs for large granite tors and lookout over Melbourne
east of Melbourne
- Dandenong Ranges short walks
  - Hamer Arboretum, Olinda, Dandenongs
    - lovely walks through varied plantations great in autumn and spring and can be combined with the nearby National Rhododendron Gardens in spring
  - Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden
    - lovely gardens especially in autumn
  - Sherbrooke forest walk
  - Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
    - Chelsea Australian Native Garden
  - State Rhododendron Garden
    - great in Spring when in bloom
- Fort Nepean, Portsea
  - nice walk exploring the old fort
  - you get to go to the expensive village of Portsea with its multi-millionaires, fashion shops and nice pub and beach
  - plus there is the Quarantine Station to check out and the lovely beach scenery of Portsea Back Beach and “London Bridge” rock formation, etc
  - plus, if you are organised you can book well ahead for the Peninsula Hot Springs thermal baths and visit the local wineries
- Coolart wetlands and Balnarring Beach
- south west Gippsland
  - Cape Woolamai circuit walk, Phillip Island surf beach and the Pinnacles Lookout
  - George Bass Coastal Walk
    - mainly along the cliff tops overlooking the beaches on Bass Strait
  - other beach walks
    - Eagles Nest, Inverloch - this is near the dinosaur fossil site
    - Harmers Haven, near Wonthaggi
    - Point Smythe, Venus Bay
  - Tarra Bulga NP short rainforest walk