We can theorise all we like about how to hike with kids. The problem is, these things don’t always go as planned.

It’s the last day of school holidays and we decide to take The Chop and The Fairy Princess out to Olinda Falls for a hike. They’ve been a bit on the grumpy side but we figure getting them out of the house will be a good thing, so we set off east to the Dandenong Ranges.

In the car, the kids ask a million questions about every detail of the trip. How long will it take? What animals will we see? Why is it called Olinda Falls? They’re excited. We’re excited.

When we pull up, I organise The Chop’s latest obsession, “Animal Cards”, so he can bring the ones we might potentially see. We set off down Mechanics Track, chattering about what we’re most likely to come across.

 

On Mechanics Track, headed for Olinda Falls

If the look on Lori’s face doesn’t say it all, things weren’t going well

 

 

It isn’t long before it occurs to me that I may have misjudged the choice of track. It’s been a wet spring so far in Melbourne, and this track follows Olinda Creek. It’s muddy underfoot and recent storms have left the track littered with debris that, in some spots, the kids have to climb over. While The Chop and I are loving it, The Fairy Princess is less enthused. Before long, the whining begins. She’ll barely take a step without one of us holding her hand and for the first half an hour or so, it’s Lori who does so, trying to quell the racket she’s making as we go.

Bump trips over her own shadow at the best of times so being tired and grumpy, and on such a difficult trail only makes things worse. She falls over no less than three times in the first kilometre. Her whining seems to get louder and more constant with each fall. Lori’s patience wears thin and we decided to alternate the hand-holding post.

 

Lori and The Fairy Princess on Mechanics Track

Lori and The Fairy Princess on Mechanics Track

 

In theory, the “Animal Cards” plan might sound like a stroke of genius. Less so when you’re dragging along a four year old who’s screaming like a banshee. Before too long Chop and I have an accidental stroke of luck. We find ourselves well ahead of the others, and catch a glimpse of a Lyrebird as it takes off to escape the noise.

 

Stopping to look at EVERYTHING on the way to Olinda Falls

The kids are endlessly and passionately curious.

 

 

Despite the relative lack of wildlife, the temperate rainforest gully offers plenty to capture Chop’s curiosity (and occasionally distract Bump from her turmoil). The things they notice continuously surprise me. They see things that I’d never see. We field questions about seed pods, blackberries, insects. I watch their little faces as they absorb and process every answer.

They have the same fascination with hollow trees that I remember having as a kid. Despite Bump’s contempt for all things creepy crawly, I convince her it’s safe to come in for a look.

 

A hollow tree on Mechanics Track

What kid doesn’t love a hollow tree?

 

 

Olinda Falls is the perfect feature for a hike with kids. I don’t think I know anyone, of any age, who doesn’t like waterfalls. Unfortunately, before we arrive at the falls we come to one more realisation… We’ve left the food in the car. Naturally we don’t realise this until the first time Chop says “Mum, I’m hungry. Can I please have some popcorn?”. Bugger.

Chop has been very good all day, maintaining a relatively positive attitude despite the commotion his sister has been causing. This is the last straw for him, though. By the time we get to the falls, he is one very unhappy wee man. We do our best to enjoy the tumbling cascades anyway, but our visit is brief.

We head back up to Olinda Falls car park, rather than following Mechanics Track back the way we came. With two children now complaining they’re hungry, we decide it’s best that I run to the car and drive back to pick them up. This doesn’t seem like a terrible option to me, all things considered. I embrace the chance to get my heart-rate up, and in the process I interrupt a pair of Lyrebirds who appear to be mating. I’ve never seen a Lyrebird quite so up close and personal before. My day is made.

 

The lower viewing area at Olinda Falls is the nicer of the two

The lower viewing area at Olinda Falls is the nicer of the two

 

 

Upper Olinda Falls

…But the upper viewing platform is definitely worth a visit

 

 

Upper Olinda Falls

Another shot from the upper viewing platform.

 

 

Note: Details below are for the return trip that we had originally intended to do.

Last Visited: 06/10/2013
Length (km): 4 km
Time (hrs/min): 1.5 hours (3 hours with small children)
Grade: Moderate
Return / Circuit / One-Way / Partial Circuit: Return
Region: Melbourne
Park: Dandenong Ranges National Park
Closest Town: Olinda
Car Access: Mechanics Track meets the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road at Mount Dandenong Preschool, about 4 km north of Olinda. Parking is available at the preschool and the start of Mechanics Track is clearly signed (as “Mechanics Track – Olinda Falls – 2km”).
Further Info: At each point where Mechanics Track crosses a dirt road, its continuation is very easy to spot on the opposite side of the road.

Related Walks:

  • Olinda Falls & Cascade Walk shows another potential way to see Olinda Falls, as well as a different section of the surrounding forest. Mechanics Track is a nicer walk.
  • Olinda Falls Circuit is another, much longer option. Unfortunately, one of the tracks mentioned is now closed. An alternative is suggested in the post but I haven’t tried it myself so far (this is a very old post).

 

Have you visited Olinda Falls? If you have any stories, updates or corrections, please let us know by commenting below.

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