Six secluded picnic areas for your post-iso getaway

Words by Tehya Nicholas
Images Supplied

As the end of lockdown approaches and our love of the humble picnic reaches its triumphant peak, we have taken it upon ourselves to round up some of the lesser known picnic areas you can unfurl your rug on once restrictions ease. Here are six spots to soak up the spring air, munch on cheese and biscuits and enjoy your newfound freedom.

Sanatorium Lake
Mount Macedon #onehourout

Untarnished bush land, a bright shimmering lake, and ample space to spread out, Sanatorium Lake is a hidden gem within the Macedon Ranges for picnics, nature walks and wildlife watching. A man-made lake originally constructed for a nearby hospital (which was actually never built), the lake is now shrouded by towering eucalypts and a wet fern gully that gives it a fairytale feel. Thanks to the picnic facilities and public toilets nearby, you could practically stay all day.

Check out the facilities here

Mount Franklin Reserve
Hepburn Springs #onehourout

Fancy picnicking in a volcanic crater? Here’s your chance. Deeply sacred to the traditional owners the Djara Wurrung people, Mount Franklin Reserve is one of the more unique locations to enjoy a day on the green. In spite of it’s proximity to Melbourne, this spot is still off the beaten track and mostly enjoys the company of resident kangaroos and wallabies. If you’re lucky, you may get to meet a few while you enjoy some nibbles.

Click here for more info

Kennett River
Great Ocean Road #twohoursout

On the banks of the Kennett River lies this idyllic picnic spot just a stones throw away a rainforest walk, a pristine beachfront and best of all, glow worms! Sit amongst the leafy reserve, drink a kombucha and keep an eye on the eucalypts for koalas in the daytime, and if you’re feeling up for a nighttime adventure, look out for the glow worms on the embankment near the bridge. The perfect day out.

Tips for how to get there

Blue Rock Lake
Moe #twohoursout

One of the larger picnic spots on this list, Blue Rock Lake is the family’s dream locale. There’s plenty of wide open grassland for the kids to run around, water sport access (we’re talking kayaking, fishing, swimming, boating) and oodles of shady spots to take refuge in and crack open a cold one. If you happen to catch an Australian Bass, you may even be able to cook it up at one of the BBQ’s dotted around the place. Delish.

Find out more here

Dunkeld Arboretum
Dunkeld #threehoursout

Find your inner peace at Dunkeld Arboretum, the botanic garden overflowing with giant red gums, birdlife and picturesque viewpoints to settle for a few hours. The arboretum is centred around a pristine lake and features walking trails, a jetty to while away the time and even a labyrinth for walking meditation! We recommend bringing a rug and picnic kit, as there are no tables here just yet.

Click here for more

Lions Park
Lakes Entrance #threehoursout

For the lovers of a salty breeze, Lions Park along Eastern Beach Road could be the ultimate picnic spot. With the ocean in front and parkland all around, good views abound – which we all know make the picnic a whole lot sweeter. The park itself features a playground (with a built-in trampoline!), picnic tables and toilet facilities. Once you’ve finished picnicking, wander through the boardwalks and sand dunes and brave a dip in the ocean.

More information here

We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Goulburn River & Ranges Road Trip

Words by Amanda Kennedy
Images supplied

Central Victoria was sometimes seen as a drive-through rather than a drive-to area; a place where you’d stop to use the restroom facilities, grab a coffee or fuel up the car.  Our Goulburn River and Ranges Road Trip proves otherwise.

Goulburn Rover Things to DoIt is a place that is filled with a rich history, both recent and more ancient. A place of sweeping landscapes, enchanting waterways and stunning scenic drives, all within an easy drive out of Melbourne.

Head north-east from Melbourne firstly to Marysville and Eildon then on to Yea.  From Yea it’s over to Trawool and Tallarook before heading north to Seymour, Avenel then Nagambie and finally arriving at Euroa.

Marysville
#oneandahalfhoursout

EuroaOn the edge of the Yarra Valley is the (in)famous Black Spur Drive. Marvel as the road twists and turns beneath towering eucalypts and movie-worthy mist. Soon enough you arrive in Marysville, a pretty little town with a big heart. It is also a convenient jumping-off point to visit Lake Mountain, with plenty for adventure seekers no matter the time of year.

If you want to stretch the legs a little further, Steavenson Falls (Victoria’s tallest with a drop of 84m) is just the ticket. Be well-rewarded for an easy 250m walk from the carpark with sensational views of one of the region’s most iconic waterfalls.

Eildon
#twohoursout

Lake EildonNext up is the town of Eildon and one of Victoria’s largest man-made lakes, with a whopping 500km coastline. Lake Eildon was created in the 1950s with the damming of the Goulburn River for supply of drinking water, hydro-electricity generation and irrigation.

Naturally this makes it a popular spot for all the water recreational activities you can think of: boating, fishing, kayaking, waterskiing, sailing and house boat hire. It’s also an ideal place to just kick back and watch the changing reflections of the clouds and hills on the water.

Yea
#oneandahalfhoursout

Yea WetlandsOur next stop is Yea – yay! A perennially popular stopping-off point to refuel both the car and the driver, Yea easily recalls the grandeur of the area’s gold mining past with historic buildings and graceful wide streets. It is also where the Goulburn River meets the Yea River and the Yea Wetlands, a treasure trove of flora and fauna.

Yea’s historic Gothic-styled railway station is beautifully preserved with its red brick façade. It’s a great place to pick up The Great Victorian Rail Trail or allow the kids to let off some steam at the playground.

Trawool
#oneandahalfhoursout

TrawA short drive and it’s on to the district of Trawool, for there is no township as such. It is here that the Goulburn Valley Hwy plays cat and mouse with the Goulburn River and its lagoons. Holiday makers have been visiting Trawool Valley from the early 1900s to take in the area’s scenic charms and it’s easy to see why.  A visit to the iconic Trawool Estate will not disappoint.

Tallarook
#onehourout

Tallarook Farmers’ MarketNext stop is Tallarook and the start of the 134 km Great Victorian Rail Trail connecting Tallarook to Mansfield. Whether you choose to explore the trail by foot, by bike or by horse it certainly offers a unique way to take in some fresh air. Like so many townships along this great drive, a weekend trip to the farmers’ market is a great way to sample local produce and stock up at the same time. Since 2009, locals and visitors have been filling up their baskets and supporting producers and makers alike at Tallarook Farmers’ Market on the first Sunday of the month.

Seymour
#oneandahalfhoursout

Food SeymourA short drive from Tallarook is Seymour, located on the banks of the beautiful Goulburn River. Very much the platonic ideal of a country town with its wide, welcoming streets and riverside parks, Seymour has always been a major stop on the Melbourne-Sydney route. The area has also had strong military connections since the establishment of a nearby training camp prior to WW1 and then later Puckapunyal Army Base.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during blueberry season (summer) a stop-off at Blue Tongue Berries needs to be top of the list. The Brewer’s Table is your best bet for quality local food, craft beer and cider. While your wine needs are all taken care of with a visit to Wines By Sam, Sam Plunkett’s cellar door in the expertly refitted old Seymour dye works building.

Avenel
#oneandahalfhoursout

AvenelThe historic township of Avenel was established in 1849 as a stop-over point between Melbourne and Albury. It is also known as the place where Ned Kelly’s family lived in the 1806s. Ned is now known as a bushranger and outlaw, but he was once hailed a hero after rescuing a young boy from drowning in a local creek. Fowles Wines is the perfect lunch spot; after all who can resist a wine with the name Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch?

Nagambie
#oneandahalfhoursout

Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal ArtNagambie calls and it’s our next stop. It is little wonder wineries are a great drawcard of Nagambie and surrounds. The cool climate (influenced by the Goulburn River and Lake Nagambie) combined with the area’s red sandy loam soil adds up to a distinctive wine region.

Look no further than the historic Tahbilk Winery and Mitchelton wineries for evidence. Situated within the Mitchelton estate in a disused underground wine cellars you’ll find the Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art, regional Victoria’s largest indigenous art gallery, celebrating the art of Australia’s First People, including local Taungurung people.

Euroa
#twohoursout

EuroaOur last stop is Euroa at the foothills of the Strathbogie Ranges. You’re definitely in Kelly country now – Ned Kelly and his gang bank robbed a local bank here in 1878. These days the town is a good base to explore the nearby Strathbogies, take a scenic drive to the Gooram waterfalls or perhaps take a quick dip in one of the popular swimming holes if weather allows.

Whether you are seeking a nature-lovers paradise, a taste of the region’s best restaurants and wineries or a relaxing getaway full of country hospitality, a Goulburn River and Ranges Road Trip has it all. Murrindindi, Mitchell and Strathbogie regions are an easy drive out of Melbourne with no end of things to experience whatever the season.

We suggest you plan to stay a while.


DOWNLOAD GOULBURN RIVER & RANGES ROADTRIP MAP

Goulburn River Road TripDiscover the huge variety of attractions across the region with this printable map. Download here.

Or use our helpful itinerary to plan your trip around the region.

 

 

 

 


 

We wish to acknowledge the Taungurung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

 

Five Favourite Forest Walks

Words by Richard Cornish
Images supplied

There is something about the primal beauty of mature trees that feeds our body, our brain and our soul. The sun filtering through the canopy, the cloak-like protection from the weather outside, the fragrance from the living leaves, and the earthy aroma from those dead and decaying into the soil. Walking in nature is hard-wired within us. 

The fresh air cleans our lungs, the vistas ease our eyes and the act of walking itself promotes an overall feeling of wellbeing. There is also the Japanese concept that people are embracing called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. This refers to the therapeutic effect the aromatic compounds emitted by the trees are said to have on peoples’ wellbeing.

Whether you’re into forest bathing or not, here are some of our favourite places to reinvigorate your body and soul, with a stroll in Victoria’s native forests.

1. Mountain Giants, Dandenong Ranges
#onehourout

Here, the mountain ash trees tower above the cool clear waters of Sassafras Creek, their smooth creamy bark shining like columns. The mute-coloured forest erupts with red and blue and swooping and squawking, as a family of Crimson Rosellas fly noisily in shallow arcs. There’s a brilliant flash of sapphire as a little Superb Wren dances about to impress his mate. Somewhere, under the ferns on the hill above, comes the noise of a wagtail, kookaburra, currawong and cockatoo, and then there’s a lyrebird showing off his repertoire of near-perfect impersonations.

Walk quietly along the Sassafras to Monbulk trail and there’s a good chance you’ll experience all this. It’s 12km one way, starting at the Sassafras Hall, and perfect for a half day walk.

If you don’t have time for the entire walk, try a section of it. We would recommend the 4km walk from Sassafras Hal to the 1950s Kalista Tearooms (103 Monbulk Rd) – this is one of many walks in the forest of the Dandenong Ranges, which can range from short to strenuous.

When the weather is wet the well-made tracks at the RJ Hamer Arboretum offer forest bathing amongst dark and mysterious exotic conifer plantations.

After a walk through the forest giants, try pastries and light meals at the highly recommended Prosperina Bakery and Café (361 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras). For a bowl of warming soup or great dish of roast pork and cabbage try Seasons Restaurant at Cloudehill (89 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda). The best reference for forest walks in the Dandenong Ranges is https://explorethedandenongs.com.au/ 

2. Seaside Forest, Bells Beach
#oneandahalfhoursout

There is a certain tough beauty about the west coast bush. The prevailing winds bring salt-laden breezes from the surf-pounded coast, stunting the banksias and colourful correas, and twisting the trees – sending many on a leeward tilt. Under the canopy of the ironbark trees there is a sense of stillness; their bark is such a deep red that it is almost black.

After rain, the almost invisible moss swells and grows deep green, cloaking these hardy trees with another layer of life. Late winter and spring see the wattle burst into their tiny pom poms of yellow, and below them are the small but intricately beautiful terrestrial orchids.

This is the forested part of the Iron Bark Basin walk, an 8km hike from Bells Beach to Point Addis. Much of the forest is regrowth, the ancient ironbark removed for firewood to feed the jarosite mine – a mineral compound that was mined and used to colour the paint on Victoria’s famous red rattlers trains in the 1920s. This walk weaves through the forest, around groves of grass trees and opens out onto clifftop lookouts, offering breathtaking views of Bass Strait and the ochre-colored cliffs of Point Addis. In summer, bring your towel and bathers as Point Addis beach is popular with families.

A casual eatery and bar focusing on seasonal produce awaits you at the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (100 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea).

For more information, head to https://www.surfcoastwalk.com.au/.

3. The Rainforest,  Great Otway National Park
#threehoursout

Soon, parts of the forest at Melba Gully will take on autumnal hues of deep red and vermillion. These are the juvenile leaves of the myrtle beech – an ancient forest tree that covered the earth from Papua New Guinea to Antarctica millions of years ago.

Under them are unfurling fronds of tree ferns and a thick mat of deep forest litter. Along the 1.2km Madsen’s Track Nature Trail in the Great Otway National Park you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back millions of years, when Australia was part of the mega continent Gondwanaland.

Many of the species that were around back then still inhabit this damp, dark forest. The raised walkway takes you deep into this forest, interlaced with babbling brooks and the sound of waterfalls in the distance. At night, the forest comes alight with thousands of glow worms dotting the undergrowth and sheltered nooks like natural fairy lights.

If you’re travelling to Otway Ranges National Park through Apollo Bay, order a serve of fish and chips at the Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op (2 Breakwater Rd, Apollo Bay).

This is one of the many walks in the Great Otway National Park, which can be accessed via the Great Ocean Road. Some of the tracks have been closed for winter and early spring for repairs. Visit https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/ before you leave for track and camping information.

4. Ancient River Red Gums, Barmah
#threehoursout

With a massive girth and twisted limbs ending in stumpy hollows, the old river red gum is old. Very old. It was most likely a sapling when Shakespeare was writing his sonnets. But then the river red gum forests are ancient; they have been there since the Dreamtime. Ask the Yorta Yorta indigenous people – this is their home.

A vast forest of silver barked eucalypts whose wood is the deep, red-colour like the flesh of people. You get a sense that they are more than alive when you walk amongst them. The big trees hold – in their limbs and inside the nooks and crannies of their trunk – birds, possums, insects, spiders and lichens.

On a warm spring day, the sounds of buzzing bees and flying beetles, all feeding on the nectar in the tree’s flowers, fill the forest with a low-pitched hum.

Some of the best walks can be found at Barmah, about 30 minutes north-west of Echuca. Start at the Dharnya Cultural Centre, where you’ll learn how to identify the numerous canoe and scar trees in the forest as well as how to look for a clay oven – mounds of baked earth where the Yorta Yorta people would have cooked their meals of fish, turtle, mussels and freshwater crayfish.

From here start a series of walks ranging from short to several hours. For coffee nearby try The Forest Door (3 Maloney St, Barmah) or for some more substantial pub grub try the American Hotel in Echuca (239 Hare St, Echuca).

5. Errinundra Plateau, Errinundra National Park
#sixhoursout

Mist and fog are not uncommon up on the Errinundra Plateau. Moist air rolls in from the coast and gathers around this ancient forest, some 1000m above sea level. Here, ancient mountain plum pines grow amongst giant granite tors – both covered in moss and lichen and creating a world so beautiful yet foreign that it could have been devised by the mind of Tolkein. This is a land of towering old-growth shining gum trees (some 80m tall), of plunging ravines and soft, silent trees fern groves.

There are a series of walks cut into this wild forest that allow you to travel back in time to the Gondwanaland rainforests and later, when the people of the Kurnai Nation walked the ridgelines throughout the seasons.

This is remote and rugged country, accessible only by mountain tracks shared by massive logging trucks. The roads can be impassable after rain. Make sure you bring water, food and protective clothing.

There’s excellent coffee and fresh bakery items at Wild Rye Bakery at Cann River (14a Princes Hwy, Cann River). There is a range of eateries in Orbost, but book in for a sunset dinner of really decent pub grub at The Marlo Hotel, on the banks of the mouth of the Snowy River. (19 Argyle Parade, Marlo)

Grampians Road Trip with Tim Bone

Like many Victorians, Tim Bone’s (Masterchef 2019) first experience of the Grampians was campfire songs and orienteering at school camp.

There is so much more to explore in this region which is rich in wildlife, indigenous history and fantastic food and wine. So we thought it would be fun to send Tim back out on a Grampians road trip to rediscover the region with fresh eyes.

 


PLAN YOUR OWN GRAMPIANS ROAD TRIP

Explore Ballarat’s Great Outdoors

Words by Della Vreeland
Images Supplied

Ballarat’s cool-climate might make for some chilly winter days, but it also works to create some profoundly rich natural surroundings.

Many a time when friends and family visit my neck of the (literal) woods, they can’t help but comment on the lushness of the land, the green that surrounds and the serenity that abounds – regardless of the season.

And while my hometown is best known for its heritage, its burgeoning food scene, and of course its gold-rush history, there’s no doubt the great outdoors play a part in the creation of its marvel.

So if you’re thinking of hitting up Ballarat and harnessing your inner-adventurer, take a look at the itinerary below and start planning your special outdoor adventure.

The Flats, Mooroopna

On February 4th 1939, Jack Patten led a mass walk-off of about 170 people from Cummeragunja reserve near Barmah. Conditions on the reserve were oppressive and unliveable. Successive government actions isolated and degraded the way of life for the mostly Yorta Yorta people who lived at the reserve. In what was the first-ever mass strike of Indigenous Australians, the people of the reserve settled on the other side of the river on the flats near Mooroopna.

Today, walking through the flats with the aid of good interpretive signage and aided by an attitude of stillness, absorbing the story of the people who moved out of oppression to make their home on these river flats is a visceral experience. Listening to the stories, understanding the ancient stories, and knowing the darker more recent past.

There are organised walks that run on an ad-hoc basis, which you can find out more about from River Connect. Uncle Reuben tells the story of his mother and grandmother, how the women would leave town to be here on the river flats to give birth hidden in the safety of tree hollows because babies were taken at that time under the White Australia Policy. He also tells the stories of the people who made simple but free lives here.

“How do we learn more, gain more understanding, Uncle?”

“Spend more time on country. Take it in. Listen to the stories. Pass them on.”

It’s a simple message, and it’s the responsibility of every Australian. It’s also a really simple thing to do. Get out of the car, and take a quiet walk on country. In places like The Flats and Gawa Reserve, the signs really help. But the message is the same. Spend some time on country and spark a little understanding.

Melbourne Design Week is coming to East Gippsland with ‘Waterfront’

Images Supplied

If you’ve ever been interested in design or in our state’s waterways, Melbourne Design Week have got the perfect program for you.

Australia’s largest international design event, Melbourne Design Week is back with an exciting regional addition to the roster: the Waterfront program, hosted in both the state’s capital and East Gippsland.

Presented by Centre for Architecture Victoria | Open House Melbourne, Waterfront runs as a complementary program to Melbourne Design Week from March 26 – April 5. The large scale event explores Melbourne and Victoria’s water sources and how we engage with them through design.

Through a series of guided and self-guided tours, talks, workshops and exhibitions around the Lakes District in East Gippsland, participants will be educated about and engaging with the region’s waterways and the important role design plays in their overall health – with a particular emphasis on Care, Community and Climate.

Supported by the School for unTourists, the new program will take a deep dive into the post-fishing communities of Lakes Entrance and Lake Tyers specifically, and provides invaluable insight into the future of the environment and the people who live there.

Events include a series of walks, tours, talks, kayaks and boat trips, and even a water-inspired dinner event honouring all things seaweed. Each one is led by either Traditional Owners, local community members, designers, artists and marine experts, giving participants a wide range of perspectives that should not be missed.

A full program of scheduled events can be found on Melbourne Design Week’s website. We recommend the (free!) Metung Hot Springs pop-up bathing and site tour on April 4th. You’d be crazy to miss it.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Waterfront, Melbourne Design Week
WHERE: East Gippsland
WHEN: March 26 – April 5, 2021
MORE INFO: Melbourne Design Week

The iconic Great Southern Rail Trail is being extended

Images Supplied

Australia’s most southern mainland rail line, the Great Southern Rail Trail is about to get a little longer.

If there was one trail to rule them all, we’d probably pick the Great Southern. Down in Prom Country, just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, it traverses through Gippsland’s most picturesque towns (Leongatha, Stony Creek, Buffalo, to name a few), showcasing some stunning natural scenery along the way.

And now, thanks to the Andrews Labour Government’s $1.3 million funding, works have begun to extend the trail by 36 kilometres, meaning there will be even more natural beauty to behold, more cardio to complete and more trail mix to eat along the way.

Popular among walkers, cyclists and horse riders, the trail will be extended from 72 kilometres to 108 kilometres in length, connecting Nyora with Welshpool with a shared gravel track and eight bridges.

Construction is expected to be finished by February 2023, and once completed will start at Nyora and pass through Loch, Bena, Korumburra, Kardella and Leongatha. It will then join an existing rail trail that runs through the towns of Koonwarra, Meeniyan, Fish Creek, Foster, Toora, Welshpool and finishes at the freshly minted Long Jetty at Port Welshpool.

The project is partly funded by the Regional Infrastructure Fund, alongside the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and is estimated to create seven full-time jobs for the region, as well as attract an addition $4 million in tourism each year. Great news for a region hit hard by COVID-19.

If the lush rainforests, crystal blue waters and green pastures of the rail trail weren’t calling you before, then they certainly will when there’s even more to discover.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Great Southern Rail Trail is being extended
WHEN: February 2023
MORE INFO: Great Southern Rail Trail

Falls to Hotham hike gets eco-glamping upgrade

Images Supplied

The popular Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing hike has had a summer upgrade with an unforgettable tree-top experience.

Alpine Nature Experience has organised an all-inclusive hike from Falls Creek to Mount Hotham that lets you enjoy the popular picturesque hike, but maximises comfort at the same time.

The night before you head off on your hike, you’ll be treated to a night in luxury accommodation – and the luxe treatment continues from here. The next morning, not only will you be transported to the starting point of the hike, there’s also no need to carry your pack or a tent; all your belongings will be transported between sites for you, so you’ll just need to carry a light day pack.

When you arrive at Blair’s Hut Campground for the night, not only is the campsite set up, but dinner will also be ready for you. But this is no ordinary campsite; Alpine Nature Experience will hoist your tent off the ground and between the trees, offering a truly unique camping experience. For dinner, locally-sourced meals will be provided, and other locally-sourced snacks will also be on offer throughout the hike.

The next morning, your belongings will be transported back for you, and you can enjoy a post-hike night back in your luxurious accommodation.

The all-inclusive two-day hike can be self-guided or you also have the option of booking an experienced guide to help you along the way. You can also add return transport to and from Melbourne if you’d like.

To ensure you can fully enjoy the experience, numbers are strictly restricted to just 10 people at a time, and dates are also limited.


THE DETAILS

WHAT: Falls To Hotham Crossing – All inclusive Curated Hike
WHERE: Falls to Hotham Crossing
WHEN: Selected dates only from January to March.
FIND OUT MORE: alpinenatureexperience.com.au/summer-bookings