Thursday, January 24, 2008

Exploring Ben Cairn,Yarra Ranges National Park




Ben Cairn is a high peak of 1041m, between Mts Toolbewong and Donna Buang, in the Yarra Ranges National Park, 70 km east of Melbourne.

A 1 km foot track from the Ben Cairn car park goes to the Summit Lookout.

The views are limited due to tall timber, being regrowth from the 1939 fires. The region was extensively logged up to the 1940s.

Photos taken in the 1920s to 1940s show beautiful unobscured panoramas from the Summit across the Warburton Valley.

Ben Cairn is on Road C505, which links the Ten Mile Turntable, (on the Mt Donna Buang Rd) and Don Rd. It is unsealed for most of its length and is closed in winter due to snow cover. It's narrow, winding, steep, and rough in parts, passing through forest and ferns.

About 5 km east of Ben Cairn is the Hang Gliding Launching Ramp. Trees have been cut down to allow glider take-off.

This offers superb views across the Upper Yarra Valley towards Melbourne.

I drove from Healesville along road C505 to Warburton, and visited Ben Cairn on January 23 2008 - a new walking track has been constructed. It's a pity that the views are so limited from the Lookout.

See the
Photos of my trip!

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