Short hike to campground with facilities? (Toilet minimum)

[nezumi]

My 4 year old has declared that I am taking her on her first overnight hike this weekend, so who am I to say no?

The only problem is finding something suitable. Ideally we'd have a reasonable walk of 4-7kms to the campground with a toilet, and have that within a 3 hour drive of Melbourne's northern suburbs.

I've done the Beeripmo circuit with my older kid just before the recent fires, and it was excellent for him, but far too much for the younger one. I have looked at the Cathedral ranges area, with a view to starting at Ned's Gully carpark and hiking down to Cook's Mill via the Nature Trail, but it's all booked out.

Any other suggestions for something interesting to encourage an excited young one? Murrindindi area? Bunyip park?

[Baeng72]

Hi I'm struggling to think of any short, easyish hikes that meet those requirements near Melbourne.
Murundindi Scenic reserve has lots of campsites with pit toilets, but it's car camping. You can walk up to Wilhelmina Falls and along the creek.
The Gums camping ground is similar to Murundindi, it does have some walking but again, car camping.
Less suitable for a 4 year old is Big Pats to Starlings Gap near Warburton. A 9km pretty gentle uphill with toilets at both points. But need to take water for the camp at night and probably too much for little legs.
Not much help I'm afraid.

[Tortoise]

Would taking a poo pot be an option for Miss 4? That would increase your options a great deal.

In case you haven't used them, I put a bit of TP on the ground, do my business on it, and pick it up as you would dog poo. You can use compostible dog poo bags if you'll be passing a non-flush toilet somewhere (NP or reserve), or bin ordinary dog poo bags at home. I use large old vitamin or protein powder screw top containers to put the bag/s in for one or 2 nights. I give my container some pumps of Planet Ark air freshener before I leave home, which means no yukky smell (at least for my nose). I triple bag used toilet paper so as not to fill up the pot.

[Lophophaps]

I too am struggling to think of a location that meets the requirements. The walk should be mostly flat with gentle climbs; a child tires fairly easily on steep terrain. The Parks Victoria website is a tad unhelpful. Would a base camp be acceptable? Has the child done any bushwalking?

[CraigVIC]

Grahams ck to Old Mill on the Birchall and return the same or use the roads to make a loop.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Howqua river / 8 Mile flat to Ritchie's hut is the one of the few easy entry level walks I can think of.
There is a pit loo, a good hut and a creek and a river for water. There are some good tent sites there too.

[peregrinator]

Grahams ck to Old Mill on the Birchall and return the same or use the roads to make a loop.

Yes, Brisbane Ranges might be good. That section took me about 01:40. But there is a short roughish bit approx 1km north of Grahams Ck.

Maybe easier using the old vehicle tracks beginning on Hut Rd at The Crossing. Probably about the same distance as CraigVIC's suggestion.

There is also Fridays Camping Area. I've not seen it up close. Old Mill might be more attractive and quieter.

[nezumi]

I too am struggling to think of a location that meets the requirements. The walk should be mostly flat with gentle climbs; a child tires fairly easily on steep terrain. The Parks Victoria website is a tad unhelpful. Would a base camp be acceptable? Has the child done any bushwalking?

She's done a little bit, and as long as there's decent distractions and breaks she can go a reasonable distance - a couple of weeks back we did a gentle loop walk to the shops with her brother and it ended up being 4.5 KMs with a playground stop in between.

We've also done a few loops in Plenty Gorge, including down to Blue Lake and back.

Base camp would be OK, but preferably a "hidden" base camp where we walk a loop from the car to end up back where we started without her knowing.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Sheepyard flat has the Gold mining walk as a 1/2 day walk which takes in mining relics.

[Lophophaps]

Ritchies Hut may be suitable, but the proximity of the river on the walk and at the hut may be a hazard for a child. In some places on the track beside the river, one slip and you get wet. Brisbane Ranges may be better. there may be walks in the Otways that are suitable.

[Baeng72]

Ritchies Hut may be suitable, but the proximity of the river on the walk and at the hut may be a hazard for a child. In some places on the track beside the river, one slip and you get wet. Brisbane Ranges may be better. there may be walks in the Otways that are suitable.

I guess you could try a walk from Sheoak picnic area to Allenvale Mill campground near Lorne.
I haven't stayed at the campground, but it appears to have a toilet, as does Sheoak picnic area.
I was in that area last Month, and looked at some of the falls. Not a lot of water, so pretty, but not spectacular.
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to- ... icnic-area
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to- ... campground

Video of my walk.
I didn't get to Allenvale Mill Campground, instead I started near Sheoak Falls on the Great Ocean Road and walked up to Sheoak carpark, ideally you'd just drive to carpark and start there.
https://youtu.be/MLIiP0M-qWg

[CraigVIC]

There is no direct route from sheoak picnic area to Allenvale except via the canyon. It's over the distance but would be a good option otherwise. Allenvale is now a fully booked site (previously first in bedtime dressed).

In the same vein you could park at the bottom of the St George river on the Great Ocean Road and walk to Allenvale campground from there, returning the next day by the same route.

[nezumi]

I thought that the hike-in campsites on the Burchell track were free-for-all; turns out I was wrong and they're bookings only - and all booked up.

I might try for some circuit walks and a camp at Murrindindi reserve instead.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Mac springs?

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[Baeng72]

Mac springs?

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Bushfire in Wonnangatta valley, would be smoke visible. Zeka Spur track closed.
Driving up Tamboritha road you would pass Mt. Margaret track bushfire too.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

BTAC cleared the access route from Howitt Plains car Park to Mac.. Springs in Jan. 2025 . However a pre schooler will not tolerate a seven hour drive from Melb.. Moreover the road surface after Bryce's Gorge car park is IMHO
4 x 4 access only at present. That road was Faaaaarked when I drove it in Jan. 2025 to attend the track clearing working bee.

[Lophophaps]

Mac Springs is too far to drive. There may be no or minimal water at Mac Springs, and the alpine weather may be very harsh.

[Eremophila]

Where did you end up going?

Part of the GOW would suit your requirements - park at either The Gables Lookout carpark, or Wreck Beach carpark, and walk to Devil's Kitchen campsite. It's only about 3km from Wreck Beach carpark. Devil's Kitchen has toilet, water, shelter with big table, and good tent sites.

If she's not tired enough a quick trip down to the beach and back will sort that out.

[nezumi]

Where did you end up going?

Part of the GOW would suit your requirements - park at either The Gables Lookout carpark, or Wreck Beach carpark, and walk to Devil's Kitchen campsite. It's only about 3km from Wreck Beach carpark. Devil's Kitchen has toilet, water, shelter with big table, and good tent sites.

If she's not tired enough a quick trip down to the beach and back will sort that out.

I ended up deferring it for now, after the frustration with site bookings and her having a make-up swimming lesson on the Sunday.

I'll refer back to the thread for inspiration when planning with more than a week's notice

[Droog]

Realise I'm late to the party, but a great one we did with our kids a couple of times when they were young is the Oberon Bay walk at Wilsons prom. It's around 8 km around the headland from Tidal River, is fairly flat and involves a river crossing. Oberon Bay is stunning and well worth an extra day camping at so the kid's can enjoy the beach to themselves.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Mushroom rocks has no dunny or water supply but there is water in the creek near the car park at Mt. Erica car park , a dunny at the car park and BTAC/ PV/ Friends of Baw Baw cleared the track the whole 1.5kms from
the Mt. Erica car park to Mushroom rocks.
Once you are there then you can visit the Scout hut and the NBW hut. Neither are sign posted.

[EPICEXPLORER]

Freemans mill in bunyip state park is a 6km a day hike. Its got a nice campground, though there is one steep hill