Cancel

Open app

Search

1000 Steps

4.2 (19 reviews)

1000 Steps Photos

Recommended Reviews - 1000 Steps

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Irene C.

This 1000 step climb up the mountain is a popular activity for fitness fanatics' as well as tourists and locals. Every single time I have been, there always seem to be people trudging along up the stairs or running down them. The journey starts at the top of the carpark, where you walk for around 800m before coming to the bottom of the stairs. These stairs are actually quite narrow at times and only allow for 1 person to pass at a time, so best not to be running with your head down incase someone is coming back down them. I would also take caution on wet days, as the area can become quite slippery and dangerous if you're not attentive. On the weekends this becomes a very popular activity, where the stairs can become quite crowded, simple rule of thumb is to stick to the left unless over taking. When you arrive at the top, there isn't actually anything there- no view or drink tap or anything, just a landing halfway up the mountain. From here you can chose to go back down the stairs, or jog down the winding dirt road. This is a great workout; even if you're not running. It's nice just to be out in the fresh air.

Entrance
Justin G.

Took the drive to Mt. Dandenong on a Sunday to have a go at the 1000 Steps a few people had gone on about. It was a bit wet which made the steps quite slippery but as long as you didn't run it was fine (a few people were running - mad!). The car park was full so we had to park across the road and wait for a gap in the traffic. Once we started the walk toward the steps, we regretted wearing long sleeves and pants. Shorts and a t-shirt is definitely the way to go! At the bottom of the steps, there were a heap of people psyching themselves up to start the climb, one guy boxing with an invisible opponent while others gave him plenty of room. We started up the steps and it is quite the workout for an unfit bloke such as myself! We had a few breaks along the way (there are benches to sit on and plaques with Kokoda facts) and eventually made it to the top. The scenery is quite nice but at the top there isn't really anything. They are building a second lot of steps which will hopefully take the runners and these seemed to be almost finished. Down we went making sure to hang onto the rail at the narrow parts to make sure the runners coming up (or down from behind) didn't crash into us. There seemed to be quite a few parents dragging along toddler aged kids which I thought was a bit cruel! Nice walk, nice scenery and good to get some exercise. Will definitely go back soon.

Julia L.

Tackle the 1,000 steps of the Kokoda Walk at a frenetic pace for the ultimate workout. Bush walker's and fitness fanatics will pass you by on the rugged yet breathtakingly beautiful Dandenong rangers climb. This is a great alternative to a Sunday's outing and will leave you feeling refreshed and rewarded after. Be warned, its not for the faint of heart. Wear good runners or sturdy walking shoes and due to the mossy nature and jagged edges of the steps you may benefit from not wearing clothes that leave to much skin exposed in the event that you slip. The steps are steep and on an angle! Going down hill is much trickier than you would think. The steps are surrounded by other walking tracks which often lead to much longer and more experienced walks. There are also BBQ facilities and picnic grounds to lunch at and enjoy.

Wallabies around the top of the steps if you take some lesser beaten paths
Tony M.

Would probably give it five stars except for the popularity, it does get very crowded. But if you're into your outdoor exercise this place is iconic and really pumps those legs and gets the cardio going as you climb the steep steps. I always go right at the bottom up the Kokoda Memorial Track (not the Lyrebird Track) as its shadier and the ferns and trees more spectacular. Once up the top you have a raft of choices to extend your walk or take an alternative way back to the car park (eg. Bell view Track). Visitors to Melbourne if you take a different path back you're likely to see wallabies, cockatoos, kookaburras and maybe snakes. A great part of Melbourne right on the city fringes.

Jaya S.

This spot is great to get your heart pumping, with abonden of gum trees, fresh air and sound of birds around are perfect mix.

Jenelle M.

A great day trip destination if you are up for some exercise. There are several walks to do and they are well signed. The 1000 steps are a memorial for the Kokoda track and on my most recent visit I saw that there is now a lot of information and pictures about the war and the track. This is a popular place for visitors on the weekends so be ready for very enthusiastic visitors running up and down the steps and for more casual visitors taking their time. The steps can get quite slippery so it's best to wear shoes with a decent grip. And in the cooler months it may be a good idea to wear layers so you can peel some off if you start to work up a sweat.

Thousand steps!

See all

9 years ago

Helpful 14
Thanks 0
Love this 9
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Irene C.
29
182
244

15 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Julia L.
7
268
285

15 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Review Highlights - 1000 Steps

Be warned, its not for the faint of heart.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

People searched for Hiking 141 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Organ Pipes National Park - Moon

Organ Pipes National Park

4.5(4 reviews)
54.7 km

An ancient gem. Ahuge, vast old volcano /parkland hidden off the Calder Hwy…read more You drive in through the gates and the noise of the highway disappears and is replaced by bush sounds. Peace and quiet are valued and other park attendees respect each others' space and individual nature experiences. Walkers, joggers, hikers, day trippers, locals; all types are here and hanging out. Those that walk down the steep mountainside are greatly rewarded with a view of The Pipes. An old volcano stood here eons ago. Soo Ancient this place is We are the guardians' of this sacred place, treat it as you would your own home. Soo much sacred geometry to view here, for those that can see. I'm lucky to live within 5kms and get to frequent this place. I can see how some people might get bored here but you have to explore every rock, path, grass mound, butterfly, organ pipe, river, etc with a open, childlike engry to get the most out of this place. I often see wallabies and kangaroos; side note: I hit a roo on my way out one night, driving at low speed at sunset. Roo was fine. Car had acouple scratches. Roo was jumping in a pack then randonly darted in the direction of the road and hit me. Best be careful of the inhabitants and respect their home. Cows grazing on the other side of the mountain Beautiful river flowing down the bottom. Snakes are around, my friend has seen them but I sadly have not. Take sandwiches, crackers, water, snacks for lunch or dinner down by the river or in the picnic area. Take a bag to take your rubbish home, no bins. Bascic, clean bathrooms located in the carpark. Free parking. No attendants work here, its unmanned. Police drive around occasionally. Enjoy the place and remember, you are where you are suppose to be, trust the process & explore

This national park is right off the Calder Freeway, and with all those fast cars, make sure you…read moredrive carefully. As we rode on up, we saw a truck just outside the gate with a official looking man and thought - you've got to be kidding me, as he was closing the entrance gate. Asking him, he said the gates close at 4:30 but we can park outside and he can't stop us from going inside. Lesson learned and we did just that. We followed the pavement leading to the actual car park, then followed the track downwards into the valley. There were a few different walks, 80m to the right are the Organ Pipes. 240m to the left are the Rosette rock and the Tesselated pavement formation. To any one who knows rock talk formation stuff, this can be a learning experience. I, on the other hand, read some of the info boards and thought okay cool, this looks different, and how weird. I'm sure there is more to be appreciated here. Anyways, there are a ton of picnic benches here, so come for a picnic and a walk. Because I was here after closing times, it was the time of day that rock wallabies and kangaroos were out and about. And that was by far cooler than the cool rock formations I saw, it added to my time here. For a small park, its good for a drive up and a few hours of sunlight to picnic in and see some different formations. This park really defines the Aussie landscape, hilly, rocky, dry with kangaroos. Oh and its opposing the Calder Freeway, so even with being guarded by hills, you still get the noise factor from the cars.

Photos
Organ Pipes National Park - Sunset over calder park raceway, from organ pipes

Sunset over calder park raceway, from organ pipes

Organ Pipes National Park - Sunset

Sunset

Organ Pipes National Park - Sunset at the volcano

See all

Sunset at the volcano

Liverpool Road Retarding Basin

Liverpool Road Retarding Basin

4.0(2 reviews)
5.0 km

Nestled at the foot of the Dandenongs, The Retarding Basin is the perfect place to take the dog and…read moreunwind whilst taking a stroll around the track. A crushed rock path weaves its way through the open fields, around the large water basin, and across a huge field, before crossing the river and through the mangroves lake. Beautiful stuff. All the while, there's a great view of the mountain looming above you, and although civilization is minutes away, you feel like you're in your own private universe. With many others knowing the place, its best to keep your pup on a lead to avoid any instances, that way, both you and your best friend can enjoy the stroll in peace.

A beautiful place to walk with great paths and two lakes. No Shelter, bbqs, toilets and only a…read morecouple of seats, so don't plan to stay for the day unless you come prepared. Perfect for your dogs to swim and play and socialise, but please don't take unsocialised animals there unless you're prepared to introduce your dog slowly and gently to other dogs, as you could turn any corner and come face to face with a giant Jack Russell or some other breed equally intimidating . Most dogs you meet will be off leash and having a great time, fetching balls and sticks and having a good time. Not all people like each other and sometimes dogs take a dislike to each other too and trouble ensues, which is horrible for the owners. It is always better to be prepared if you can. Just letting you know beforehand so you will have a wonderful time with your dogs when you get there. I don't mean to be patronising but I have seen a couple of dogfights in my time and I don't want to see another one. And... the views to the Dandenongs are lovely too. Hope to see you there.

Photos
Liverpool Road Retarding Basin

See all

1000 Steps - hiking - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...