Just over an hour northeast of Melbourne, Murrindindi Shire (or Dindi to the locals) feels like another world. This is a place where the Great Dividing Range rolls into misty valleys, where waterfalls thunder into fern-lined gullies, and where villages still echo with country hospitality.
It’s Victoria at its most raw and welcoming; a destination that rewards those willing to slow down and explore.
Three curated trails—the Wondrous Waterfalls Trail, the Furry Friends Trail, and the Pub & Tipple Trail—offer the perfect way to sample Murrindindi’s many personalities. Whether you crave nature’s drama, family-friendly encounters, or a well-earned drink with character, these itineraries invite you to linger, taste, and discover.
The Wondrous Waterfalls Trail: Nature’s Theatrics
Waterfalls have a way of pulling us in. They mesmerise with their rhythm, inspire with their force, and soothe with their spray. The Wondrous Waterfalls Trail strings together some of the Murrindindi region’s most dramatic cascades, each one set in its own lush amphitheatre.
Start with Steavenson Falls, Marysville’s crown jewel and one of Victoria’s highest waterfalls at 84 metres. A short, accessible walk takes you to a base lookout where the sheer drop crashes into the pool below, but those with energy to spare can climb to the top and feel the forest breathe around them. Visit at dusk and the falls glow under floodlights, an ethereal spectacle that lingers in the memory.
Next, seek out Keppel Falls, reached via a gentle forest track where the sound of rushing water builds anticipation. Here, the Taggerty River tumbles dramatically over rock ledges into a swirling basin. It’s wilder, less tamed than Steavenson, and perfect for those who prefer their nature rugged.
Heading North West, the Wilhelmina Falls in the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve might be the trail’s most thrilling stop. The cascading rock face stretches more than 75 metres, and from the viewing platform you can watch sheets of water fan across granite in silver ribbons. The hike here is a little more demanding, but the payoff of an expansive view of both the falls and the surrounding ranges is worth every step.
Round out your journey with Snobs Creek Falls, near Eildon. Accessible by a short walk, these falls thunder into a narrow gorge, sending spray high into the air. It’s raw power on display, a reminder of the forces that shaped this land.
Together, these waterfalls are more than stops on a map. They’re chapters in a story about resilience, recovery (many forest areas regrew after the Black Saturday fires), and the endless cycles of water that nourish the Murrindindi valleys. Summer and spring bring them alive, fed by snowmelt and seasonal rains, the ideal seasons to feel their full force.
The Furry Friends Trail: Adventures With Your Four-Legged Companion
For many of us, a holiday doesn’t feel complete unless the dog comes too. Dindi welcomes four-legged travellers with open arms, offering trails, parks, and pet-friendly stays where wagging tails are part of the landscape. The Furry Friends Trail is your guide to making memories alongside your canine companion.
Start with the great outdoors. The Murrindindi Scenic Reserve has plenty of open space and walking tracks where dogs are welcome on lead, letting you and your pup share the joy of cool gullies, towering gums, and fresh country air. Similarly, the Rail Trails near Yea and Alexandra are ideal for a longer wander; easy gradients, shaded stretches, and historic markers to sniff out along the way.
When it’s time for a break, you’ll find cafés and pubs across the region with dog-friendly courtyards. In Yea, grab a coffee and sit outside while your pup snoozes under the table. In Marysville, enjoy a post-walk lunch in a leafy beer garden where water bowls are as much a fixture as bar stools. Many venues along the Pub & Tipple Trail (below) overlap beautifully with this one, meaning you won’t have to choose between good company and good food.
Accommodation is also part of the story. Murrindindi’s cottages, cabins, and campgrounds often cater for pets, whether it’s a cosy fireplace retreat where your dog curls up at your feet or a riverside campsite where they can explore the scents of the bush. Booking ahead ensures you’ll find the perfect fit, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many operators in the shire extend hospitality to animals as warmly as they do to humans.
The Furry Friends Trail is more than a convenience, it’s a celebration of how travel changes when shared with a loyal companion. With dog-friendly tracks, stays, and dining dotted across the region, Dindi makes it easy to pack the lead, clip on the harness, and hit the road together.
The Pub & Tipple Trail: A Toast to Country Hospitality
After waterfalls and meandering dog trials, what better way to round out a day than with a hearty meal or a local pour? The Pub & Tipple Trail is a celebration of Dindi’s hospitality scene; pubs steeped in history, craft brewers and distillers, and cellar doors pouring with pride.
Start in Yea, where the historic Yea Peppercorn Hotel welcomes travellers with stone walls, timber beams, and a menu that nods to both tradition and creativity. Think local lamb roasts, slow-cooked beef, or just a cold beer on the verandah as the sun sets over the main street.
In Alexandra, the trail leads you to pubs that have served gold miners, timber workers, and generations of locals. The Alexandra Hotel, with its warm atmosphere, often hosts live music and boasts a wine list rich with nearby Yarra Valley and Upper Goulburn vintages.
Beer lovers will find satisfaction at microbreweries tucked into valleys, where brewers experiment with hops and barley grown not far from the taps. Pair a pale ale with a plate of regional cheeses and you’ll taste the landscape in liquid form.
For something stronger, distilleries are carving out a niche in Murrindindi, producing gins infused with native botanicals and whiskies that carry the character of mountain air. Tastings often come with stories: about the water source, the botanicals foraged, or the history of the building itself.
While Murrindindi sits on the edge of more famous wine regions, its cool-climate vineyards produce elegant pinots and crisp chardonnays that pair beautifully with the local produce on pub menus.
The Pub & Tipple Trail isn’t just about what’s in the glass, it’s about atmosphere. It’s sitting beside a wood fire after a day on the trails, swapping stories with strangers who don’t stay strangers for long. It’s a reminder that travel is as much about people as it is about place.
Pack Your Curiosity and Go
In an era when travel often means ticking boxes, Murrindindi encourages something slower. These three trails—waterfalls, furry friends, and pubs—aren’t checklists but invitations. They invite you to pause before a thundering cascade, to kneel in the grass beside a curious alpaca, to raise a glass in a pub that’s been the town’s heart for generations.
Only an hour or so from Melbourne, yet a world away, Murrindindi is a reminder that the richest journeys are often the closest to home. This spring and summer, follow a trail—and let it lead you to discovery.