Ben Cairn is the high peak of 1041m, between Mts Toolbewong and Donna Buang,
in the Yarra Ranges National Park, 70 km east of Melbourne.
A 1 km foot track from the Ben Cairn car park goes to the
Summit Lookout.
The views are limited due to tall timber, being regrowth from the 1939 fires. The region was extensively logged up to the
1940s.
Photos taken in the 1920s to 1940s show beautiful unobscured panoramas from the Summit across the Warburton Valley.
Ben Cairn is on Road C505, which links the Ten Mile Turntable, (on the Mt Donna Buang Rd) and Don Rd. It is unsealed for
most of its length and is closed in winter due to snow cover. It's narrow, winding, steep, and rough in parts, passing through
forest and ferns.
The Ben Cairn Rd was opened on January 25, 1926.
About 5 km east of Ben Cairn is the Hang Gliding Launching Ramp. Trees have been cut down to allow glider take-off.
This offers superb views across the Upper Yarra Valley towards Melbourne.
