The lookout rock

Lookout Rock sits inside the R.J. Hamer Arboretum on Chalet Road, Olinda, and pays off a short uphill loop with panoramic views over the Yarra Valley, Silvan Reservoir and the ranges beyond. It is one of the few views-with-the-dog walks in the Dandenongs, given the national park next door bans dogs outright.

Leash status

Dogs are welcome on-leash at all times in the arboretum, and on-lead means on-lead for the whole visit. The arboretum shares an unfenced boundary with Dandenong Ranges National Park, where dogs are prohibited, so stay on the marked tracks and do not drift across.

The walk

The loop runs roughly 2.8 to 3 km on dirt and gravel management roads, with a few steep pinches that earn the lookout at the top. Allow about an hour, and aim for a clear day or autumn for the colour across the valley.

Max: the arboretum and the national park share a boundary with no fence in places. Watch the marked tracks closely so you do not wander into the dogs-banned zone.

Water and hazards

There are no water taps on the route, so carry water for both of you, and no bins on the trail either, so waste travels back to the car park with you. The track holds mud after rain, and some of the climbs are exposed once you clear the canopy.

Getting there and parking

Free parking sits at the Woolrich Lookout car park on Chalet Road, which also has barbecues, picnic tables and public toilets. Public transport does not realistically reach the site, so driving is the practical option.

More walks nearby

If the dog needs an actual run after the on-lead loop, Old Olinda Golf Course Dog Off Leash Area is a short drive down Olinda-Monbulk Road, and the Mathias Walking Track adds a longer on-lead bush option through mountain ash and fern gullies. The R.J. Hamer Arboretum Loop extends the arboretum walking if you want more distance.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly trails guide and the Olinda destination page.