Olinda Forest in mid-winter

These pix were taken in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, on June 18 2012, 35 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the scenery, environment and flora on a 3 km circuit hike starting at the Olinda Creek Rd, along Barges Track, Bartlett Track and return on the Olinda Creek Rd.

Many colorful winter Fungi were on display, on a very cold and overcast day!

See my animated Slideshow of the visit!

Silvan Forest in early winter

These pix were taken on June 9 2012 in the Silvan Forest, 40 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the scenery and fauna on a 3 km circuit hike, along the Olinda Creek Track, Messmate Track, and Boundary Track, starting opposite the main entrance of the Silvan Reservoir Park, on Stonyford Rd.

The winter Fingi have appeared in copious numbers!

See all of the Photos of my visit as a Slideshow!

Exploring the Woodduck Track, Kurth Kiln Regional Park

These pix were taken on a 2 km circuit hike along the Woodduck Track, Kurth Kiln Track, and Beenak Rd, in the Kurth Kiln Regional Park, 60 km east of Melbourne, May 15 2012.

The route was muddy, and passed through forest, with many colorful Banksia flowers in bloom.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Olinda Forest in late autumn

Pix taken on April 30 2012 in the Olinda Forest, 40 km east of central Melbourne.

They show the scenery and environment on a 3 km circuit hike along the Olinda Creek Walking Track, starting at the junction of gated Management Rd 13 and the Olinda Creek Rd.

Some colorful autumn fungi had appeared!

See the complete set of Photos!

Autumn Fungi in Olinda Forest

These pix were taken in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, on March 25 2011.

They show the scenery on a 3 km circuit hike starting at the Eagle Nest Picnic Ground, then along Hermon Track, George's Track, and Eagle Nest Track.

The first of the winter Fungi have appeared!

See all of the Photos of my visit

Olinda Forest winter hike

I visited the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges NP, on Tuesday afternoon August 3, 2010.

My 3 km circuit hike started at the junction of Olinda Creek Rd and gated George's Track, then along George's Track, into Barge's Track, then Bartlett Track, and on to Olinda Creek rd and back to home base.

Some interesting varieties of colored fungi were discovered, as well as pretty winter wildflowers.

This forest was logged from the 1850s until timber cutting ceased in 1968 when the land was set aside for "recreational use".

Major bushfires ravaged this Forest on many occasions.

See all of the Photos!

Nice winter colors in Sherbrooke Forest

On Saturday July 3, 2010, I ventured over to the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of central Melbourne.

It was a very cold and wet mid-winter day!

From thed Sherbrooke car park on Sherbrooke Rd, I followed the Sherbrooke Track, then Link Track, O'Donohou Track, and Hill Climb Track, reaching the Falls viewing platform.

My return was along Ridge Track and Sherbrooke Track, a total distance of about 4 km.

Many beautiful winter fungi had appeared, of all shapes, sizes and colors!

The tracks were very muddy, but that's expected!

The Sherbrooke Creek was flowing strongly, after recent heavy rains, and the Falls were good.

See all of the Photos of my trip, which include two historical images taken in year 1940.

Beautiful colored winter fungi in the Olinda Forest

On Wednesday June 30, 2010, I visited the Olinda Forest, in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of central Melbourne.

The purpose of my trip was to study and photograph Fungi populations in this former logging area, and I was certainly not disappointed!

Parking next to the gate on the Olinda Creek Rd, opposite Management Rd 13, I followed George's Track, then turned into Barge's Track, then into Bartlett Track, reaching Olinda Creek rd, then back to the car.

This circuit was about 3 km.

The variety, diversity, and colors of the many winter Fungi species were truly amazing.

See all of my Photos of these beautiful fungi!

Winter Fungus Discovery hike in the Olinda Forest

On Monday June 21 2010 I went on a "Fungus Discovery" hike deep in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of Melbourne town.

I parked at the entrance to Price's Track, off Silvan Rd, and proceeded to the junction with unsigned Bridge Track.

Descending this narrow track, I reached the ancient footbridge, which spans the Lyrebird Creek.

I returned the same way, through magnificent forest and fern gullies, a total distance of about 3 km on a very cold winter's afternoon.

There were myriads of beautiful fungi along the tracks, of all colors, shapes and sizes, along the tracks.

I am not a field naturalist, but the diversity of these winter fungi is truly amazing!

See all of the Photos of my trip!

Winter Fungi in the Olinda Forest

Colorful fungi emerge from their beds each winter in the hills around Melbourne!

On June 5, 2010, I went over to the Olinda Forest in the Dandenong Ranges National Park and found an enormous range of beautiful fungi on a 2 km hike around the Olinda Creek.

My exploration started at the Olinda Creek Rd, then along the gated Management Track 13 to the Creek, then along the Creek Track and return.

Creek Track runs parallel to the Creek, opposite the commercial Flower Farm, and is being closed off by Parks Victoria and is now only accessible as a dead-end track from Track 13.

See all of the Photos of my visit, including some historical images from the 1860s!