On July 19, 2008, a cold and wintry day, I did a 4 km return hike along the Rifle Range Gully Track, in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of the Melbourne CBD.
This gated track follows the Rifle Range Creek Gully, linking Bartlett Rd and George's Track.
My route started at the junction of Falls Rd and Bartlett Rd, near the Olinda Falls, and ended at the junction with the strangely named KC Track. There was a change in altitude from 460m to 300m - steep!
This forest was once an uncontrolled logging area and was virtually burnt out in the bad fires of 1969. The track winds its way through tall regrowth timber past beautiful ferns.
Sadly, the creek was only a trickle, due to the extended drought.
The track passes through a protected designated lyrebird habitat, and I encountered one bird on my journey, which crossed my path and then went back into the jungle.
Only minimal maintenance is made to the track, as a service to walkers - there are many fallen trees to climb over and care is needed as there are slippery sections.
The origin of the name "Rifle Range" is unknown.
See the full set of Photos
This gated track follows the Rifle Range Creek Gully, linking Bartlett Rd and George's Track.
My route started at the junction of Falls Rd and Bartlett Rd, near the Olinda Falls, and ended at the junction with the strangely named KC Track. There was a change in altitude from 460m to 300m - steep!
This forest was once an uncontrolled logging area and was virtually burnt out in the bad fires of 1969. The track winds its way through tall regrowth timber past beautiful ferns.
Sadly, the creek was only a trickle, due to the extended drought.
The track passes through a protected designated lyrebird habitat, and I encountered one bird on my journey, which crossed my path and then went back into the jungle.
Only minimal maintenance is made to the track, as a service to walkers - there are many fallen trees to climb over and care is needed as there are slippery sections.
The origin of the name "Rifle Range" is unknown.
See the full set of Photos
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