The Wall

Length: 5.5km
Average gradient: 6.0%

Introduction

The Wall is undoubtedly one of Melbourne’s most frequented climbs. Located a short distance from the top of the 1 in 20, The Wall is perfectly located to be ridden straight after the aforementioned climb.

Starting on the outskirts of Monbulk, The Wall climbs back up the slopes of Mt. Dandenong toward the mountain-top township of Olinda. While the climb’s average gradient isn’t overly challenging, The Wall is so named because of two steep sections, one of which reaches a maximum gradient of just under 10%.

The Start

The Wall begins at the corner of Monbulk Road (C404) and Monbulk Olinda Road (C406) and if you are timing yourself up this climb, you should start your stopwatch as soon as you are on Monbulk Olinda Road.

The Finish

The Wall ends in line with the Olinda swimming pool sign which, as can be seen below, is on the right-hand side of the road.

Riding the climb

While The Wall certainly has a couple of challenging sections, this climb isn’t the most difficult one in Victoria, or even in the Dandenongs. The climbing starts right away, however, with a steady gradient being maintained from the beginning of the climb until the unmissable hairpin-bend around 1km up the road.

As you swing around sharply to the right the road flattens out a little before resuming a steady gradient for the next kilometer. At the climb’s 2km mark the road becomes noticeably steeper and it is in this 500m pinch that climb’s steepest gradient, at around 9.8%, is encountered.

After resuming a more friendly pitch for the next kilometre, the road turns skyward again just after Gentiana’s Nursery on the left-hand side of the road. This steep section is not as brutal as the first but is around twice the length, leaving you with around 1km of undulating road before the finish at the Olinda swimming pool.

Profile

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Location

The Wall is a climb best accessed once already in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. If you have just ridden up the 1 in 20, a left turn at the Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road and a couple of kilometers of gentle climbing will leave you in Olinda. By turning right at Monbulk Olinda Road you can descend The Wall, before turning around at the intersection with Monbulk Road.

If you are coming from Belgrave or other suburbs on the southern slopes of the mountain, Monbulk Road from Belgrave to Kallista is a breathtaking ride through Sherbrooke Forest Park and from there Monbulk Road can be followed to the base of the climb.

Times

To post your best time up The Wall or to see how your time compares to other riders, head to Cycle2Max.