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Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail

Victoria - Melbourne region

2.9 based on 7 reviews
Location: Dandenongs, 50km southeast of CBD
Length: 15 km
Surface: Asphalt, Compacted earth, Crushed granite
Start / End: Clematis to Gembrook
Public Transport: Bus
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
  • WalkingWalking

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential Rail Trail
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
View Map
  • The EDRT is a challenging 15km railside path that shadows the Puffing Billy Railway line in the Dandenong Ranges
  • The terrain varies, from undulating to hilly, and so does the surface (asphalt, gravel, dirt) so it is most suitable for mountain bikes
  • The scenery is spectacular, changing regularly along the way with outstanding forests and lakes, farmland and villages

Nearby Attractions

  • William Ricketts Sanctuary
  • Heathmont to Belgrave Trail
  • Mt Dandenong
  • Menzies Creek Museum
  • Emerald Lake Model Railway

Last updated: 25 August 2023

  • This trail runs through the Dandenong Ranges from Clematis to Gembrook
  • While only 15km, it offers a full range of experiences – hills, forests, farms, rural villages, picnic areas and the heritage railway
  • It diverges from the narrow-gauge line in some places and has steeper gradients than a rail trail

Section Guides

Access Points

  • Clematis: Former station car park beside Paradise Valley Hotel
  • Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook: On-street parking
  • Emerald Lake: Several car parks and toilets
  • Many other parking and access points

Clematis to Emerald (3km)

  • Trailhead is on Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, near the bottom of Menzies Rd. More parking near Paradise Valley Hotel, in the Clematis Station car park. Alternatively, you can catch Puffing Billy to Menzies Creek and walk from there
  • Travel a short distance past the Clematis Station shelter before crossing the tracks and Edenmont Rd
  • Trail parallels the north side of the tracks up Emerald Bank (if you’re lucky, you’ll see Puffing Billy working hard up this climb), before crossing Pinnocks Rd and the tracks
  • Cross Belgrave-Gembrook Rd to enter Memorial Ave Reserve (southwest (right) side of tracks)
  • There are many shops and eateries, including the famous Emerald Village Bakery, to your left

Emerald to Emerald Lake (3km)

  • Cross railway line and Kilvington Drive. Trail resumes next to Gem Community Arts Centre
  • Follow the blue recycled-plastic signs with yellow writing and arrows, which call the next section the Emerald-Cockatoo Trail
  • After a short distance, cross into Pepi’s Land on the southern side of the tracks
  • At Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd (C406), cross the tracks and road, taking care as it can be very busy
  • Turn left on the shared path beside Princes Ave and then right past the Emerald Museum (see map).
  • Follow main trail to Western Car Park and then Wombat Corner, home of a children’s camp

Emerald Lake to Cockatoo (5km)

  • From Wombat Corner, pass beside the gate onto a beautiful, fern-lined trail that follows Wattle Creek, before crossing a sweeping shared bridge over it to arrive at Wright Rd
  • Cross Wright Rd and follow the trail to the right until the railway is crossed again, this time near Wright Station
  • Pass through the gates to the left and follow Wright Rd into Wright Forest
  • Staying on Wright Rd, turn left before Baker St gate onto Boundary Tk and follow it down a steep decline
  • Turn right, down another decline, to cross the shared bridge over Cockatoo Creek
  • Continue on the trail into Cockatoo after crossing McBride St
  • Continue up McBride St on the shared path crossing Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd (C411)
  • Cockatoo has a good shopping precinct

Cockatoo to Gembrook (6km)

  • The trail continues up Fairbridge Lane past a supermarket and turns right on Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, passing Cockatoo Primary School and going onto Old Gembrook Rd
  • Continue along the trail until Doonaha Rd
  • Cross the often-busy B-G Rd with care and continue on the trail beside Fielder Rd
  • Another crossing of B-G Rd is needed at the intriguing Mapleridge Local Produce Centre
  • The trail follows the railway corridor the rest of the way
  • At the top of the hill, just after crossing Orchard Rd, is the Gembrook Sports Ground and your final track crossing chicane
  • Continue on the trail and again cross B-G Rd on the outskirts of Gembrook
  • Follow the trail along Station Rd to the end at Main St
  • There are many shops and cafes in Gembrook, all on this thoroughfare

Explorer route

  • For that immersive rail trail experience in Emerald Lake Park, walkers can follow Nobelius Tk and Nobelius Link Tk to stick closer to the railway line (see map)

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8 reviews of “Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail”

I rode this trail two days ago going both ways (Clematis-Gembrook-Clematis). I was on a hybrid bike and found it very tough going in parts where I had to walk the bike up hills (too tough for me to ride). Overall the signage was okay and the path in pretty good condition. Apart from a few steep or long hills which I had to walk, the only real problem was some very tight railway crossings. I came across one group (much younger than me) who gave up at the half way mark as they thought it too tough. Passes through some good scenery and lovely forested areas. It is hard to recommend this path as it is tough to do. But give it a go if you are reasonably fit and don't mind dismounting to negotiate crossings.

A bit of a disclaimer first that I grew up around here so my rating is probably biased.

The plan was to try and beat the train to Gembrook from Belgrave using as much dirt/gravel as possible. It failed early on the ~19% hill that the narrow gauge station is on and a bit of poor navigation however there were some great single track and quiet roads to get to the start of the route at Clematis. Highly recommended.

The track surface is fine for about 99% with a couple of washaways easily navigable however the path through Emerald lake has many tourists to be wary of on narrow paths if you are on your bike. There are a few steeper sections of the trail however these are small in length. The Highlight was definitely the forest section east of Emerald Lake to Cockatoo.

Due to time constraints, I locked the bike up at the Gembrook skate park and caught a frequent bus back to Belgrave to where the car was. I highly recommend doing the full length of the the current Puffing Billy if on a bike if you stay off the Belgrave-Gembrook Road as much as possible.

I rode this trail today (Clematis-Gembrook-Clematis) on a hybrid e-bike and agree with all the comments made by John Roth.
Biggest issues are the tight railway crossings, only a unicycle would make it through.
Busy road crossings would benefit with addition of refuge islands.
Who was the sadist who installed gates in Wrights Forest on a steep slope. Even with an e-bike I was forced to dismount and walk.

"Stay on Wright Tk until a gate – turn left onto Boundary Tk before the gate and follow it, past another couple of gates, down the steep incline to Baker St."
Take care at this junction easy to miss and end up on sealed road which actually may be a better idea.

Hi Daryl,
Trail Description has been modified regarding the left turn at Boundary Tk as some people do seem to go straight ahead onto Baker St. Have a look at the new crossing of Belgrave-Gembrook Rd at Clematis, near Menzies Rd, were the “chicane” is much easier to negotiate. Hopefully Cardinia Shire will modify some of the older ones.

Hard to recommend at present. Signage not always clear. Steep gravel tracks a challenge for us. Mountain bikes would be better. Other issue is tight crossings over Puffing Billy line and some roads force you to dismount several times. We plan to go back but would suit us more as a walking trail.

Rode it from Gembrook back to Emerald last weekend and its a bit rough and eroded in places after all the rain, plus there's roadworks at a few places that include the trail. Nothing insurmountable, but take it easy in the looser rutted sections

We rode the trail again today – what a fun experience. It is in the hills, not the valleys, so the expected climbs and descents are always a challenge.
I noticed that COG, of Warburton Trail fame, has opened up a hire store at Lakeside station – brilliant. And they're smart enough to hire eBikes to smooth out the terrain for those uninitiated.
Signage could be better. Gates through Wright Forest need to go! Lovely feed in Gembrook at either Spencer's Cafe or the Hairy Dog. All good!

I rode Emerald to Cockatoo and back on Sunday. It is rough in some parts so only MTB, hybrids or gravel bikes. It is quite steep in sections and being unfit I had to walk a few times on the way back to Emerald, but I was not in a rush.
Signage is poor going through Emerald Lake Park and I got lost a couple of times, but it is such a pretty place I actually think that was a bonus.
Seeing the Puffing Billy going past is always a delight.

Extension nearly done for Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail

Posted: 03/05/23

The catchily-named Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail will have its 800m extension from Edenmont Rd to ...

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News update on Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail

Posted: 22/02/23

The “Puffing Billy trail” is getting closer to the iconic Victorian steam train’s Belgrave ...

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