Black Hill Reserve

The Walk in Detail

Black Hill Nature Reserve was badly burnt by wildfire on 7 January 2015, and was closed to visitors from that date.  Due to the incredible efforts of the volunteers from the Friends of Black Hill, all walking tracks the reserve were re-opened on 12 September 2015.  Whilst large sections of the reserve are still in a very fragile condition, visitors will witness the tremendous work that has been undertaken in restoring all of the walking tracks, and the wonder of mother nature's restoration and regeneration. The main entrance to Black Hill Reserve is situated at the eastern end of Ennis Road at its junction with Black Hill School Road. Brochures which include a good map are available from a small box at the pedestrian gate. An information board, picnic tables and a covered rotunda are provided and make an excellent place for lunch half way through a longer walk, saving you from carrying your lunch around with you! Please note that rubbish bins and toilets are not available; as with all walks in parks and reserves, we would ask that you take your food wrappers etc. away with you. The easiest walk of just 1.7km winds through an area that has been revegetated over the past 30 years. A favourite haunt of kangaroos and other wildlife. There are no hills involved. The longest walk is around the circuit track, approximately 3.9 km. Gentle inclines without ascending the rocky outcrops, but still providing excellent views of the surrounding countryside, from Mount Franklin to the west, Mount Alexander to the north and Mount Macedon to the south. Picnic tables are provided at the reserve's main gate and at in the north east corner near a huge granite boulder locally known as "The Monolith" The Ridge Track, as its' name suggests, takes walkers over the top of Black Hill. Over a distance of some 3 km there are in excess of 300 steps to make the walk easier and also to reduce erosion. There are many magnificent rock formations, shady gullies, opportunities to sight wallabies and echidnas, plus a large variety of birds. For more information on the Black Hill Reserve, visit the Friends of Black Hill web site which provides a history of the reserve, galleries of pictures of the features and attractions, fauna and flora, a detailed map of all the walk tracks, together with descriptions of all walks. You will also find contact details of the Friends of Black Hill, together with a resume of the ongoing conservation and maintenance work carried out by the group which has cared for Black Hill over the past 40 years. Black Hill Reserve is regularly visited by local bush walking groups, and the Friends of Black Hill would like to invite and encourage other groups to come and enjoy our little corner of heaven!