Mt Dandenong – Doongala

bushwalks Jul 25, 2009

Ended up being a great walk today. Didn’t start out the best – think the instructions and/or map were quite old. But recovered to be just excellent. Images – including 3D Google Earth view and Google Map links at end.

In summary:

Start at Kalorama village, leave car
Walk along ‘front’ of Mt Dandenong, but on tracks. Heading about S-W
Visit the main Mt Dandenong summit area, including the cafe if you want
Along the ‘front’ further to visit the cairn at the site of the 1938 “Kyeema” plane crash.
Zig-zag down a track as the bush closes in and becomes more rain-forest in nature
Pop out at the lovely Doongala homestead site (now a small park area with BBQs etc). Even though you are close to suburbia, the view from here implies you are in the middle of the bush. See photo (link below)
Make your way back along the ‘front’ but now the other way (N-E) towards Kalorama and lower down on the mountain.
A final climb (bit of puff puff here) and you literally pop back out right near the car

About 18-20 km of walking, from memory.

Here’s a Google Map of the approximate route.

And a few photos up there at Flickr.