Hamer Forest Aboretum in early summer, Olinda

One of my favourite places is the R.J. Hamer Arboretum, Olinda, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is surrounded by the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with plantations dating back to the 1975.

Many walking tracks pass through the Arboretum, some of them named after the plantation species.

I visited the Arboretum on Friday December 16, 2011.

My 3 km circuit hike started at the small car park at the junction of Silvan Rd and gated Mathias Track. My route followed the Manna Gum Track, then along Poplar Track, on to Mathias Track, to Red Dog Hut, then back on a 4WD track through Birch plantations, back to Mathias Track and then to the car.

There were displays of early summer wildflowers!

There were good views north to the Yarra Ranges and Mt St Leonard, from Mathias Track and the Chalet Lookout.

Se all of the Photos of my visit!

Hamer Arboretum at Olinda in mid-winter

Warramate Hills

Nib Nab Nob Lookout

Arboretum from Woolrich Lookout

SIlvan Rd in the gloom!

One of my favourite places is the R.J. Hamer Arboretum, Olinda, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is surrounded by the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with plantations dating back to the 1975.

Many walking tracks pass through the Arboretum, some of them named after the plantation species.

I visited the Arboretum on Wednesday afernoon July 13 2011, 2010.

My excursion included the Woolrich Lookout (with amazing views towards the Victorian Alps and Yarra Ranges), quaintly named Nib Nab Nob Lookout, following the unsealed Silvan Rd through the Arboretum and the Yarra Ranges National Park.

Sadly, the weather was bad, overcast, gloomy, and raining, and some of the photos reflect these dismal conditions.

Most of the non-native trees were sleeping, and will awaken in august, generating a mass of color across the Arboretum.

See all of the Photos of my visit.

Olinda - Hamer Forest Arboretum Hike

These pictures were taken on Monday February 14, 2011, in the RJ Hamer Forest Arboretum, Olinda, 40 km east of central Melbourne.

The 126 hectare Arboretum has plantings from the mid-1970s, and is adjacent to the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

My 4 km circuit hike started at the junction of Mathias and Silvan Rds, then along unsigned Poplar Track, on to the "Jungle" track through the Arboretum, reaching Red Dog Hut on Mathias Rd, and back to home base.

Large trees had fallen across the track!

Many of the tracks in the Arboretum are named after the tree species through which they pass.

The RJ Hamer Arboretum land is a small part of the original Dandenong and Woori Yallock State forest, proclaimed over 110 years ago. A succession of fires destroyed the original eucalypt forest and during 1948-1955, and softwood trees were planted on site as part of plans to improve Victoria's timber supplies.

The fires of 1962 destroyed the majority of these post-war plantings and the government then investigated the future use of the area. Plans were developed for the establishment of an exotic forest Arboretum to be used as part of a firebreak for the Olinda township. The RJ Hamer Arboretum is the first known occasion in which a forest style Arboretum was completely established by planting. A basic planting design was completed in 1970 and planting was carried out for the next 15 years.

See all of the Photos of my hike!

Hamer Olinda Arboretum in Winter

Poplar Track

Manna Gums Track

Poplar Track

One of my favourite places is the R.J. Hamer Arboretum, Olinda, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is surrounded by the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with plantations dating back to the 1975.

Many walking tracks pass through the Arboretum, some of them named after the plantation species.

I visited the Arboretum on Thursday afernoon June 24, 2010.

My 3 km circuit hike started at the small car park at the junction of Silvan Rd and gated Mathias Track. My route followed the Manna Gum Track, then along Poplar Track, on to Mathias Track, then on a 4WD track through Birch plantations, back to Mathias Track and then to the car.

Many of the trees were sleeping for the winter!

There were good views north to the Yarra Ranges and Mt St Leonard, from Mathias Track and the Chalet Lookout.

See all of the Photos of my visit!