Best Hikes and Waterfalls in Kinglake National Park

Kinglake National Park is one of the largest national parks close to Melbourne, covering a huge area of over 23,000 hectares of fern gullies, tall forests and waterfalls around the town of Kinglake. Being easily accessible from the city, the area offers plenty of opportunities for bush walks, picnics, and camping amongst the trees.

If you’re wondering where to go for some waterfall chasing and hiking on the weekend, then Kinglake National Park offers a chance to escape the crowds that head to the Dandenong Ranges. In this blog, I’m going to outline the best walks and waterfalls to check out in Kinglake, including where to stay and visit nearby.

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How to Get to Kinglake

From Melbourne: 65 km northeast of Melbourne via Maroondah Highway

Kinglake is incredibly easy to reach from Melbourne, at just over an hour from the city. This makes it ideal for a day trip, but you could also make it a weekend getaway by camping or staying nearby in a B&B (accommodation recommendations further below).

Kinglake is a small town, but it has a small supermarket, cafes, and a petrol station for all your supplies.

Respect: Kinglake National Park is on the traditional land of the Wurundjeri people and Taungurung people.

Best Things to Do in Kinglake National Park

If you’re looking for some great walks and waterfalls close to Melbourne for time in nature, here are the best things to do in Kinglake National Park.

Mt Sugarloaf via Masons Falls Circuit

Distance: 13.2 km
Time: 3.5 hours
Ascent: 489 m
Descent: 497 m

The best hike in Kinglake National Park is the Mt Sugarloaf via Masons Falls Circuit. This is a great bushwalk on a well-formed track that allows you to take in Masons Falls and climb to the top of Mt Sugarloaf.

This is a moderate hike, with some long ascents but nothing overly taxing. We started from Blackwood Picnic Area (but you can also start at Masons Falls Carpark) and did the loop in a clockwise direction. We first hiked along the Mt Sugarloaf Ridge Track which is a bush trail that runs parallel to the road for walkers. It’s a relatively gentle climb up to the summit.

Trees have grown back fast since the 2009 bushfires, so you can only see some views through the trees (don’t expect anything amazing!). From there, we backtracked a little until the intersection of the Running Creek Track. This wide management track is easy to follow as it drops down and then undulates through the hills until it meets up with the Masons Falls walk.

We checked out the waterfall from there, and then continued on the same track back up to Blackwood Picnic Area.

Hint: You can also drive to Mt Sugarloaf summit. But I wouldn’t say it’s worth it as the views aren’t great. The walk makes it feel much more rewarding.

Masons Falls Short Walk

Distance: 1.5 km return
Time: 20 minutes

If you prefer to check out the waterfall without the long walk, Masons Falls can also be accessed by a short walk from the Masons Falls Picnic Area. There is a nice viewing platform built just 750m one way from the carpark on an easy trail.

Wombelano Falls Short Walk

Distance: 1.5 km loop
Time: 20 minutes

Located down Captains Creek Road (a dirt road, but generally 2WD accessible unless after heavy rain), you can find an unassuming carpark area for the Wombelano Falls walk. It’s a short loop hike of just 1.5km through the beautiful forest to a viewpoint of the waterfall.

There’s no official way to reach the bottom of the falls. However, you’ll see a faint trail beside the viewing platform that climbs down into the valley a little. Locals tend to use this to get closer to the falls, but I don’t encourage you to try this and go off track as this can cause destruction to some of the natural foliage and it’s incredibly slippery and potentially dangerous. Just enjoy the view from the platform!

Mt Everard Walk

Distance: 15km
Time: 4 hours
Total elevation gain: 730 m

Another great walk that is far less popular than the Mt Sugarloaf Loop, the Mt Everard walk might not be quite as beautiful with no waterfall to see, but it’s still a nice place to walk. While AllTrails has it starting from Kinglake town, we started from the Everard Track Carpark, as this makes it a good loop of around 15km.

We climbed up along the Everard Track first and then returned via Mount Jerusalem Track. It includes wide management tracks and some hiking trails, but for the most part it’s easy to follow on wide paths.

While you won’t really get any views, it does ascend to three of the highest forested peaks in the national park, Mount Jerusalem, Mount Everard and Mount Beggary. This is a good training hike for those looking to improve fitness.

Frank Thomson Reserve

Located just off the Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, this reserve and carpark has sweeping views that stretch over to Melbourne on a clear day. There’s open grassy fields in front where you can have a picnic and take in the view.

View of Melbourne from Kinglake — View of Melbourne

Jehosaphat Gully

This picnic area is quite a picturesque spot amidst mountain ash trees, with a few short walking trails to take the kids for a stroll. It has public toilets, barbecues and picnic tables.

Bowden Spur Mountain Bike Area

While I prefer to explore on two feet, I should mention the mountain biking area that has been developed not far from Kinglake town. The 2km downhill trail known as Shepherds is ideal for experienced riders only, with some technical sections including jumps, berms, and rock gardens. It has a Double Black Diamond difficulty rating, so it’s not recommended for kids.

The Gums Campground

A beautiful spot for some off-grid camping in the bush near Melbourne, The Gums has 18 campsites nestled amongst the tall trees off Kinglake-Glenburn Road. I camped here for a night while exploring the national park, and it was a peaceful place to stay.

You must book and pay for The Gums Campground prior to arrival.

It has drop toilets and some firepits, but you should be otherwise self-sufficient. There’s no phone signal there either, so it’s a nice opportunity to switch off.

Where to Stay in Kinglake

If you’re not a fan of camping, then Kinglake also has a handful of accommodation options nearby.

Karma Kinglake | Located in Kinglake town, this property has lovely country cabins with plenty of windows for natural light, a balcony, and garden. It’s a cosy B&B that is perfect for spending a night away in the hills. Check the price here.

Mountain Ash Cabin | Just down the road in Castella, this beautiful tiny home is the ultimate mountain retreat. Ideal for a solo getaway or romantic weekend for two, this cute little mobile home is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay. Check the price here.

Good to Know Before Visiting Kinglake National Park

Dogs are not permitted in Kinglake National Park and on the walking trails
You can visit Kinglake National Park all year round, however, in winter it can be very cold and foggy so pack accordingly
If it’s been raining or is a bit damp, expect leeches to be out and about. If a leech has latched on to you, don’t pull it off but either wait until it drops off on its own or spray it with saline solution
Kinglake National Park protects over 40 native mammals and 90 native bird species, including wallabies and lyrebirds, so it’s a great place for birdwatchers
Leave no trace and carry all your rubbish out with you or use the public bins in town at Kinglake

Best Hikes and Waterfalls in Kinglake National Park

How to Get to Kinglake