RJ Hamer Arboretum Loop: Dam, Cornus, Black Hole, Mathias Road

A 4.8 km loop through the RJ Hamer Arboretum at Olinda, stitching together the Dam, Cornus, Black Hole and Mathias tracks. The deciding fact is the boundary: dogs are welcome on lead inside the arboretum, and are not permitted at all in the Dandenong Ranges National Park that wraps around it.

The walk. Count on 4.8 km and close to two hours at a walking pace. The route runs on wide, unsealed management tracks rather than groomed paths, with a few steep pinches and a tendency to hold mud through winter. Parks Victoria puts the arboretum at around 101 hectares of planted and native forest, so the views open and close as you move between the conifer blocks, the dogwood collection and the older eucalypts. The Mathias leg has its own page if you would rather walk that section alone: Mathias Walking Track.

The rules. Parks Victoria manages the arboretum and dogs are welcome on lead within its boundaries. Step across into the Dandenong Ranges National Park and you are in a no-dogs park, so read the signs at the track junctions rather than following the most-walked line. No bins are provided inside the arboretum, so every bag you fill comes back out with you. The site closes on days rated Extreme Fire Danger and during severe weather.

Hazards. Snakes are active in the warmer months on tracks that catch the afternoon sun, and falling branches are a standing risk in this forest, which is worth remembering on windy days and when you pick a picnic spot.

Getting there. The free gravel car park at Woolrich Lookout, off Chalet Road, is the practical start. Toilets, picnic tables and electric barbecues sit at the lookout picnic area. Carry water for both of you.

Nearby with the dogs. Old Olinda Golf Course Dog Off Leash Area is minutes away when the lead has been on long enough, and Botanica Retreat puts you close if you are making a weekend of it.

When to go. Autumn for the deciduous colour and firm ground, spring for the wildflowers and the long light. Winter walks fine if you accept mud, and midsummer afternoons are the one to skip. Good for big runners who want distance without a crowded path.

Sources

• RJ Hamer Arboretum | Parks Victoria · www.parks.vic.gov.au
• RJ Hamer Arboretum Loop: Dam, Cornus, Black Hole, Mathias Road · www.alltrails.com
• Mathias Track, dog-friendly walk, Olinda · walkingmaps.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.