Melbourne's bushwalking scene is one of the most active in Australia. From the misty trails of the Dandenong Ranges to the rugged gorges west of the city, there are clubs heading out every weekend, welcoming new walkers, and making it easy to explore places you'd never find on your own. This guide covers more than 40 bushwalking and hiking clubs across Greater Melbourne and regional Victoria, organised by area, so you can find a group close to home. TL;DR: Quick answers Are there free hiking groups in Melbourne? Most bushwalking clubs charge a small per-walk fee (around $5) to cover insurance. Annual memberships are typically $40 to $50. Plus there are a number of completely free groups. Are beginners welcome? Yes. The vast majority of clubs grade their walks by difficulty and run beginner-friendly options regularly. You don't need to be fit to start. You just need to show up. Do I need a car to join a bushwalking club? Not necessarily. Many clubs organise carpooling from a central meeting point, and some Melbourne-based groups walk in areas accessible by public transport. What should I bring on a club walk? Sturdy shoes, water, sun protection, and a packed lunch for longer walks. Most clubs will send details before each walk so you know what to expect. Where can I find bush and trail hiking resources: One of the most complete resources can be found at trailhiking.com.au . Darren Edwards, Founder of Trail Hiking Australia is a lifelong outdoors advocate, and dedicated search-and-rescue volunteer, he channels years of trail experience into helping Australians explore with confidence, preparation and deep respect for nature. Melbourne-Wide Clubs These clubs draw members from across the city and run walks in various locations around Melbourne and regional Victoria. CAEX Bushwalking Club — one of Melbourne's oldest bushwalking clubs, running walks of all grades across Victoria Melbourne Bushwalkers — large, well-established club with a packed calendar ranging from easy day walks to challenging overnight treks Melbourne Walking Club — a friendly club with regular walks in and around Melbourne, good mix of social and scenic routes Melbourne Young Hikers (18–35) — Meetup group for younger hikers looking for a social crew. Free to join The Nomads Outdoors Group — LGBTQIA+ inclusive outdoor group running walks, camping trips, and social events across Victoria 🏳️🌈 Victorian Mountain Tramping Club — focused on more adventurous terrain, including alpine and off-track bushwalking North Melbourne Hiking Clubs Diamond Valley Bushwalking Club — active club based in Melbourne's northeast, regular walks in the Kinglake and Yarra Valley areas Eltham and Environs Walking Group — local group exploring trails in and around Eltham, welcoming to all fitness levels Essendon Bushwalking Club — long-running club with a loyal membership, walks across Victoria from easy strolls to multi-day hikes Keilor Bushwalking Club — community-run group in Melbourne's northwest with regular local walks The Ramblers Walking Club (Greenvale) — relaxed and social, with walks suited to a range of fitness levels East Melbourne Hiking Clubs Boroondara Bushwalkers — one of Melbourne's most active clubs with walks every week, graded from easy to hard. Visitors welcome on most walks. You can find some of their walks on epyic Croydon Walking Club — welcoming group in the outer east with a regular programme of day walks Koonung Bushwalking Club (Doncaster East) — friendly club with walks most weekends, well suited to intermediate walkers Maroondah Bushwalking Club — based in Melbourne's outer east, with walks in the Dandenongs, Yarra Ranges, and beyond Melbourne Womens Walking Club (Mount Waverley) — women's club with a long history, running walks across Victoria at various grades Walking Club of Victoria (Glen Waverley) — one of Victoria's oldest walking clubs, offering a wide range of walks and overnight trips Waverley Bushwalking Club (Glen Waverley) — community club with a regular calendar, known for being welcoming to new walkers South and Bayside Hiking Clubs Bayside Bushwalking Club — active club in Melbourne's bayside area with day walks, weekenders, and extended trips Berwick and District Bushwalking Club — southeast Melbourne club with walks suited to all levels, from local reserves to regional parks Bunarong Bushwalking Club (Mornington Peninsula) — Peninsula-based club running regular walks in coastal and hinterland areas. You can find their events on epyic Dandenong Valley Bushwalking Club — friendly group covering walks from the Dandenongs through to Gippsland Peninsula Bushwalking Club — well-organised club on the Mornington Peninsula with walks graded from easy to challenging West Melbourne Hiking Clubs Melton Bushwalkers — community club in Melbourne's west, regular walks in the Lerderderg, Brisbane Ranges, and You Yangs Werribee Bushwalking & Outdoor Club — an active western suburbs club that also runs cycling, kayaking, and camping trips alongside their walks Regional Victoria Hiking Clubs Not in Melbourne? Victoria's regional bushwalking scene is just as strong. Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club Bass Coast Strollers — coastal walks and easy rambles around Phillip Island and Inverloch Ben Cruachan Walking Club (Gippsland) — exploring the trails of East Gippsland and beyond Benalla Bushwalking Club — northeast Victoria club with walks in the alpine foothills Bendigo Bushwalking & Outdoor Club — active club covering Central Victoria, from Goldfields trails to Mount Alexander Border Bushwalking Club (Baranduda) — Albury-Wodonga area, with walks in the Murray to Mountains region Camperdown Bushwalking Club — Western District walks around the volcanic lakes and coast Echuca Moama Bushwalkers — walks along the Murray River and surrounding bushland Friends of the Great South West Walk (Portland) — supporting and walking the 250km Great South West Walk Geelong Bushwalking Club — one of the largest regional clubs, with walks across the Otways, Surf Coast, and beyond Gisborne Bushwalking Club — Macedon Ranges based, with walks through some of Victoria's best forests Grampians Bushwalking Club — based near the Grampians, running walks through one of Victoria's most stunning landscapes Great Dividing Trail Association (Daylesford) — maintaining and walking the Great Dividing Trail network through Central Victoria Mitchell Bushwalking Group — Seymour and surrounds Peregrine Club (Inverloch) — South Gippsland walks with a focus on exploration and natural history Shepparton Adventure Club — multi-activity club covering bushwalking, cycling, and more in the Goulburn Valley South Gippsland Walking and Adventure Club — exploring the trails of South Gippsland and the Strzeleckis Strzelecki Bushwalking Club (Trafalgar) — Gippsland-based with walks in the Strzelecki Ranges and surrounds Sunraysia Bushwalkers (Mildura) — the northwest corner of Victoria, walking in Murray-Sunset and Hattah-Kulkyne country Trail Hiking Australia (VIC) — Victoria's largest hiking Meetup group, run by Darren Edwards. Regular hikes across the state with detailed trail information on trailhiking.com.au Warby Range Bushwalkers (Wangaratta) — walks in the Warby-Ovens National Park and beyond Warrnambool Bushwalkers — Great Ocean Road and western Victorian coast West Gippsland Bushwalkers — covering trails from Warragul to the Baw Baw Plateau Wimmera Bushwalking Club — walks in the Wimmera, Little Desert, and western Grampians Find Hiking Events Near You on epyic Bushwalking clubs are the steady weekly rhythm. epyic is where you find the next adventure: guided hikes, group walks, overnight treks, and community events that go beyond the regular club programme. Hike Tribe (Melbourne) — community-led hiking group running regular social hikes across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with a welcoming and inclusive approach. Boroondara Bushwalkers (Hawthorn) — one of Melbourne's most active clubs, with graded walks every week and visitors welcome on most outings. Bunarong Bushwalking Club (Mornington Peninsula) — Peninsula-based club with regular walks across coastal and hinterland trails. Parks Victoria (Victoria) — guided walks across Victoria's parks, often free-of-charge. Want to list your hiking club or guided walks on epyic.com? Get in touch at hello@epyic.com . Frequently Asked Questions What fitness level do I need? Most clubs grade their walks by difficulty. Easy walks are typically 5 to 10km on flat or gentle terrain. Moderate walks may be longer or steeper. Hard walks involve rough terrain, navigation, or significant elevation. Start with an easy or moderate walk and build up. Can I bring my dog? It depends on the location. Many national parks and state parks in Victoria do not allow dogs. Some clubs run walks in areas where dogs are welcome, but check with the club before bringing yours along. What's the difference between a bushwalking club and a hiking group? In practice, not much. Bushwalking is the traditional Australian term, while hiking is more widely used. Most clubs use the terms interchangeably. You'll find the same trails, the same people, and the same sense of getting out there. How do I find a bushwalking and hiking experiences near me in Melbourne and beyond? Browse epyic.com , we have 1000s of hiking adventures waiting for you. From weekend hikes to multi-day trips and bucket list walking tours. You will find it all on epyic.com Know a Melbourne bushwalking club we've missed? Get in touch at hello@epyic.com . Last updated: March 2026.
