Mathias Track and Old Olinda Golf Course loop

Mathias Track and Old Olinda Golf Course loop created by Jane - Victoria Walks

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Description

Mathias track in beautiful Olinda is one of Victoria's most popular walks for dog owners and their four-legged pals. The track is closed to vehicles. As it borders the Dandenongs National Park, Mathias track is strictly an on-lead only walk.

Fox baits are laid in the National Park another very good reason not to let your dogs off-lead if the threat to native fauna and flora is not enough incentive.

This map begins at the Falls Road entrance to Mathias Track, where it backs onto the the National Rhododendron Gardens. There is a small car park at the entrance to the track.

While you could choose to walk the whole length of Mathias track - about 7km one way to reach Silvan Road, this map takes a detour where Mathias Track meets the Golf Course track - and turns this walk into a shorter loop walk for dog owners.

As you walk along Golf Course track you may wish to cross the fence line and make your way up onto the golf course itself. Follow this map for the route we took.

This is a beautiful walk - and a rare one where dog owners can take in some fantastic, giant eucalypt forests together with their pet.

Dogs must be on-lead along the Mathias and surrounding track, however the Falls Road end of Mathias track runs adjacent to the Old Olinda Golf Course (no longer in use) - a very popular place for local dog owners to set their hounds free.

** Please note Parks Victoria have in late 2019 created a specific leash-free area to the Mathias Track side of the Old Olinda Golf-course so your dogs may only run off-lead in this area.

See plans and stay up-to-date by following information at Parks Victoria here. You can see the leash-free area in the final photo on our map.

Also see our: Whole Mathias track Walking Map

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Points of Interest

1. Dog's paradise

Mathis Track is a great place for dog-walking (on-lead!) It is relatively quiet and you can walk all the way from Falls Rd to Silvan Road (about 7km) without encountering any vehicles.

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2. Start of the track, Falls Road

We began our walk form the Falls Road entrance, which is nicer and easier to find.

3. Giant trees!

Mathias track is popular with horse riders as well as dog owners. The forest here includes giant Mountain Ash, Manna Gum, Mountain Grey Gum and Messmate.

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4. Detour onto Golf Course Track (for a loop walk)

At four-way intersection continue straight along Mathias, or turn left onto Black Hole Track, or we turned right onto Golf Course Track which takes you through this grove of Silver Birches.

5. Old Olinda Golf Course

Yarra Ranges Shire Council are currently in the process of turning the former golf course into 34 hectares of public parklands. See the plans in link, including proposed dog off-lead area.

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6. Fence from golf course to track

To get back onto Golf Course track find an opening in the fence line (there are many) but be careful of blackberry bushes!

7. Back to Mathias via Cournus Track

You'll see a small sign pointing the way to Cournus Track (visible on Google maps also) from Golf Course Track. Either takes you back to Mathias Track.

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8. Cournus Track cubbies

Turn left here to head back along Mathias Track to the Falls Road carpark. There are lots of open forested areas along the way to explore.

9. Back onto Mathias track

It's pretty easy to find your way back to Mathias track from where you can continue along Mathias towards Silva Rd, or head left back to the car park on Falls Road.

10. Other end of Mathias Track (Silvan Road)

If you opt for the longer walk and do the whole length of Mathias Track, this is where you will finish up.

11. Dog off-leash area

Parks Victoria are implementing a new plan for the Old Olinda golf course. Link to check: https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/olinda-golf-course/plans-and-projects/olinda-precinct-plan

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