How long does the Anakie Gorge Walk take?

Most walkers take under an hour for the 3.64km return track — our data shows around 54 minutes walking, though wildlife-spotting stops (this track is known for koalas) can easily extend that.

Is the Anakie Gorge Walk hard?

No — it's graded moderate but our terrain data shows it's genuinely gentle: 94% of the track is flat or gently rolling, with the steepest sustained climb anywhere on the route gaining just 3m over 300m. This is one of the easier tracks in Brisbane Ranges National Park.

Will I see koalas on the Anakie Gorge Walk?

It's one of the most reliable spots in Victoria for koala sightings, along with wallabies — though wildlife is never guaranteed, this track has a genuine reputation for it, not just a generic claim.

Anakie Gorge Walk: Complete Guide (Distance, Difficulty & Wildlife)

Anakie Gorge Walk is Brisbane Ranges National Park’s most popular track for a simple reason: it’s an easy, mostly-flat walk with one of the best reputations in Victoria for reliable koala sightings.

Quick stats

Distance: 3.64 km return
Elevation gain: 15 m
Time: ~54 minutes
Grade: Moderate
Route type: Out and back
Location: Brisbane Ranges National Park, Anakie, VIC

How hard is it, really?

Don’t let the “moderate” grade put you off — our terrain data shows this is a genuinely gentle walk. 41% of the track is completely flat and another 53% only gently rolling, adding up to 94% easy walking. The single steepest sustained stretch anywhere on the route gains just 3 metres over 300 metres, which is barely noticeable underfoot. This makes Anakie Gorge one of the more accessible tracks in the park, well suited to a relaxed family outing rather than a demanding hike.

What the walk is actually like

The track follows Anakie Gorge, a shaded valley cut through the Brisbane Ranges, with the gentle terrain making it easy to keep your eyes up looking for wildlife rather than watching your footing. This is exactly why it’s built such a strong reputation for koala and wallaby sightings — walkers aren’t distracted by a technical track, and the gorge’s tree cover provides good koala habitat close to the path.

Wildlife to watch for

Brisbane Ranges National Park is well known locally for koalas and wallabies along this specific track, per the park’s own trail notes. We don’t currently have a documented conservation-status species list for this park in our database — rather than guess or pad this section with generic claims, we’ll say plainly: koalas (a nationally listed vulnerable species) and various wallaby species are the well-known drawcards here, and we’ll update this guide with specific documented species as our wildlife data for this park expands.

Practical tips

Bring binoculars if you’re serious about koala-spotting. They’re often high in the canopy rather than at eye level.
Early morning or late afternoon generally offer the best wildlife activity, as with most Australian bushland.
This is a genuinely easy outing — good for families, first-time bushwalkers, or anyone wanting a short walk without technical difficulty.

Nearby

See the full Melbourne & Central Victoria hikes list for more tracks in the region, or view Anakie Gorge Walk on the map for the live route and elevation profile.