Mount Donna Buang — Local services in Melbourne

Donna Buang Review

Donna Buang is a hidden gem in Victoria's snow-covered mountains. Located near Warburton, this spot offers a unique snowplay experience, perfect for families and adventure-seekers.

Highlights:

Snowplay Area: The dedicated snowplay area is ideal for kids and adults to enjoy snowball fights, build snowmen, and more. Scenic Views: The surrounding forest provides breathtaking views, and on clear days, you can even see the city. Warburton Connection: Combine your visit with a trip to Warburton for a day of exploring and enjoying local cafes.

Experience:

Donna Buang's snowplay area is a blast, especially for kids. The scenic views and peaceful atmosphere make it a great day-trip destination. Be sure to dress warmly and check snow conditions before heading out.

Tips:

Check Snow Conditions: Before visiting, check the snow conditions and weather forecast to ensure a great experience. Dress Warmly: Bring warm clothing, including gloves, hats, and scarves, to stay cozy in the cold weather. Arrive Early: Get there early to beat the crowds and make the most of your day.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Donna Buang is a fantastic spot for a fun-filled snow day. Its unique snowplay area and scenic views make it a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the magic of snow...

In the 1860s, “Mount Acland” was the name given to the 1,250m high mountain by a Police Magistrate called Joseph Anderson Panton. The name it has today, “Mount Donna Buang”, probably came from the Wurundjeri.

A walking track to the summit of Mount Donna Buang was cut during the 1890s and the much wider Donna Buang Bridle Track, which the current road from Warburton to the top of Mount Donna Buang follows, was opened in 1912.

Timber from the mountain was harvested from the early 1900s to the mid 1920s with seven cable hauled tramways moving logs from the Ben Cairn - Donna Buang ridge down to sawmills near Warburton. While the forest has regrown and the mountain appears to have never been logged, relics such as tram rails and cables can still be found in the forest.

From 1925 to the early 1950s Mt Donna Buang was a popular ski resort. It had four ski lodges, day visitor shelters, cafes, a ski hire, a ski jump and six runs cut through forests of myrtle beech and woollybutt. For over 20 years it had thousands of visitors every weekend there was snow. However, the runs were fairly short and the snow cover was always erratic, so after the Second World War, better transport meant it lost out to higher ski resorts further from Melbourne,although the mountain remained popular with family snow...

Good place for a day trip. Enjoy a hike from the town below or drive up to the summit. Not a lot of parking at the top, no issues before the summer season was upon us.

Picnic and shelter at the top. Shelter had a fireplace but it has been damaged by misuse it looks like. Still a great shelter to get away from the weather with lots of seating. Views are good, but the big city views are obstructed by the trees.

The Sledding (Toboggan) area looks like a good spot near the city to get your winter fun in. They have a proper hill set up. There will be an issue with parking in the winter months with all the city dwellers coming to see the fluffy white stuff fall. The summit sits at 1250m so it gets snow pretty often in the winter, but will melt just as fast too.

Hiking trails to the other car parks below are pretty intense and high angled. Winter wet and slippery weather will make it difficult to get up. Will make the hike down risky, with lots of sliding hills.

Natural Spring is 1k below the summit and at the first major stop on the hike down from the summit.

Half way up the mountain is a nice hike around the elevated bush atmosphere. See the ferns that have been around for decades and tower over...