Where to see some giant and tall trees!
Walks:
The Dandenong Ranges
For those people who are based in Melbourne, the closest tall forests are those in the Dandenong Ranges. Many of the trees date from between 1900 and the 1920s and are impressively tall and healthy. Cool, moist tree fern gullies are also encountered in these forests. There are many kilometres of walking trails carparks and picnic grounds at many of the trail heads both in the Dandenong Ranges National Park and along some of the creeks that radiate from the ranges – there are also numerous cafes and restaurants in the towns in and around the ranges. Suggested walking tracks include:
Lyrebird Track (access Grants Picnic Ground)
Tree Fern and Clematis Track (access Grants Picnic Ground)
O’Donohue Track (access O’Donohue Picnic Ground)
Sherbrooke Track (access Sherbrooke Picnic Ground)
Hillclimb track (various access points)
Sassafras Creek track – various access points including the town of Sassafras
Below William Ricketts Sanctuary – Walk along Old Coach Road
Olinda Falls walking track
The Ada Tree:
A delightful 2km walk through cool temperate rainforest to the Ada tree. It can be accessed via Powelltown via Big Creek rd, or Blacksands rd. Or from East Warburton via Smythe Creek rd. To get an idea of where you you will be going, the Ada Tree carpark is located at:
37°49'05.6"S 145°52'05.7"E
The Kalatha Giant:
The Kalatha Giant can be accessed via a very short walk from the carpark on Kalatha Creek rd. Access from Healesville is via Meyers creek rd then Sylvia Creek rd before turning down Kalatha Creek rd.
The Kalatha Giant carpark is located at:
37°29'33.9"S 145°32'08.3"E
Whitelaw Tree:
The Whitelaw tree is located 400m up a track off the Thomson Valley rd. The Walk starts at:
37°45'22.5"S 146°15'26.9"E
Maits Rest:
The Maits rest walk takes you through some beautiful rainforest and old mountain ash. It is located off the Great Ocean rd 30 minutes drive west of Apollo Bay:
38°45'21.3"S 143°33'14.2"E
Darejo:
Errinundra old growth walk – This wonderful walk takes you to the Darejo tree, an enormous shining gum in the Errinundra NP
37°14'26.0"S 148°47'46.3"E
Rooty Break Trail
Park at the intersection of Goonmirk Rocks Road and Coast Range Road, Errinundra NP -37.275469, 148.87695 - Walk up along Goonmirk Rocks Road through wonderful old Shining Gums to the Rooty Break Trail (signposted) - Walk down this trail past patches of Mountain Plum Pine and ancient Shining Gums - turn left when you reach Coast Range road to return to your vehicle.
Ellery Camp Giant:
This tree is located 80m off Greens rd. It is in a very remote area of the Errinundra NP and check with Parks to see what roads are open and accessible.
37°24'42.7"S 148°47'41.8"E
Cumberland Scenic Reserve – Cambarville
Some wonderful old and tall trees are accessed via an easy walk.
37°33'32.6"S 145°53'12.6"E
Drives:
Turtons Track:
Some lovely mature mountain ash and lush fern gullies in the Otway Ranges.
38°38'21.9"S 143°41'27.8"E
Blacks Spur:
Spectacular 1939 regrowth forest with trees over 80m tall:
From Healesville: 37°38'47.8"S 145°33'28.4"E
To Narbethong: 37°34'37.1"S 145°38'06.3"E
Acheron way:
Some great mixed age forest and rainforest:
From Narbethong: 37°32'38.0"S 145°40'20.7"E
To Warburton: 37°45'09.3"S 145°42'10.5"E
Gunyah scenic reserve:
Some gnarly remnant old trees and fern gullies:
From Grand Ridge rd: 38°31'32.8"S 146°17'37.7"E
To Toora Gunyah rd:
38°33'41.9"S 146°18'45.4"E
