Sherbooke Forest Circuit Hike - Tregellas Mill Track

These pictures were taken on Thursday afternoon September 16, 2010, in the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 45 km east of central Melbourne, on a 3 km hike.

My journey started at Grant's Picnic Ground, then along the Margaret Lester Forest Walk, Coles Ridge Rd, Tregellas Track, Bleakley Track and back to Grant's.

There are interpetative signs and reproductions of photos of the early 1900s along the Margeter Lester Forest Walk, depicting the Dandenongs in the early days.

The Tregellas Track passes the site of the former Tregellas Timber Mill, of which no trace remains.

Ther usual assemblage of parrots, galahs, and cockatoos were hanging out at Grant's Picnic Ground, waiting for the passengers from the next tourist bus to feed them with seeds!

See all of the Photos of my trip.

Kallista Hike in search of Lyrebirds!

There are several interesting walking tracks in the Kallista area, in the eastern section of the Dandenong Ranges NP.

Access is from small car parks along the Kallista to Emerald Rd, such as at Cook's Corner and Grant's Picnic Ground, some 30 km from the Melbourne CBD.

On Saturday afternoon May 16 2009 I explored some of these tracks, on a 5 km hike which took me along Hall's Track and Neumann's Track, to the junction of Paddy Track.

I started from the carpark at Cook's Corner.

Neumann's Track passes large open cleared spaces which were once potato farms in the 1940s, prior to their being acquired by the Government, for integration into the National Park.

Lybeirds live in the bushland adjacent to this Track, and are occasionally seen.

A mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos inhabits the area near Brendon's Corner, but they are seen mainly at dusk and early morning.

Bordering Brendon's Corner is Wallaby Paddock, the site of an early farm.

Neumann's Track links with Lyrebird Track, which ends at Grant's picnic ground.

See the complete set of Photos of my trip!

Sherbroooke Falls in early Autumn

On April 4, 2009, I did a 3 km circuit walk to the Sherbrooke Falls, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

My journey started at the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground car park, then along Sherbrooke Track, to the Falls viewing bridge, along Ridge Track and O'Donohue's Track, then along Link Track, and back to the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground.

Most of the walk was in the rain, through the mist - other walkers passed me, well rugged up and we exchanged pleasantries!

This section of the Forest is very pretty, at any time of the year, passing through tall timber and fern gullies.

New emergency signage has been placed at some of the track junctions, advising people in difficulties to ring OOO and quote the designated emergency number.

These signs are very prominent, white on blue background.

See the full set of Photos of this visit!

A Hike in the Sherbooke Forest to the Falls

This album shows the scenery, wildlife and features in the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, about 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

I visited this timeless beautiful forest on February 18, 2009, starting at the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground, on a 3 km circuit hike along the Sherbrooke and O'Donohue's Tracks, passing the Falls.

Sadly, the Falls were only a trickle, due to the extended drought.

The rosellas will always entertain you!

See my Photo Abum, of the trip, which includes an image of the Falls, as they looked around the year 1940.

A Hike along Neumann Track, Sherbrooke Forest

On October 7 2008 I visited the Sherbrooke Forest, in the Dandenong Ranges National park, 25 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

I did a 4 km (return) hike, starting at Grant's Picnic Ground, following Lyrebird Track and Neumann Track.

I explored Wallaby Paddock, the site of a farm of the 1940s - all that remains are the furrows in the cleared field.
One Kookaburra was watching me in the Paddock!

Back at Grant's, a cast of thousands had assembled - namely cockatoos, galahs, and parrots, a popular spot for their afternoon tea!

See the full set of Photos of my trip!

Sherbrooke Falls Circuit Walk

On August 22, 2008, I did a 3 km circuit walk to the Sherbrooke Falls, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 30 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

My journey started at the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground car park, then along Sherbrooke Track, to the Falls viewing bridge, along Ridge Track and O'Donohue's Track to the O'Donohue's Picnic Ground, then back to the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground.

Most of the walk was in the rain, through the mist - other walkers passed me, well rugged up and we exchanged pleasantries!

This section of the Forest is very pretty, at any time of the year, passing through tall timber and fern gullies.

New emergency signage has been placed at some of the track junctions, advising people needing assistance to ring OOO and quote the designated emergency number.

These signs are very prominent, white on blue background.

The full set of Photos

Tree Fern Loop Walk, Sherbrooke Forest

The Tree Fern Loop Track is a short (1 km) circuit walk in the Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 35 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

The walk starts opposite Grant's Picnic Ground, on the Belgrave-Monbulk Rd.

The walk passes stands of very old, large, tree ferns.

This part of the Sherbrooke Forest was heavily logged until the 1930s when tree felling ceased. A sawmill once existed near the site of the present-day Grant's Picnic Ground.

Nearby is the 1 km Margaret Lester Forest Walk, featuring many interpretative signs and photographs about the history of the area and the early settlers and timber cutters.

I completed these walks on Sunday August 10, 2008, on a bitterly cold day!

See the full set of Photos

Avards and Pound Creek Tracks, Sherbrooke Forest

On August 1, 2008, I braved the elements and ventured into the Sherbooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, 30 km east of the CBD.

My 3 km route started at the Micawber Tavern, on the Belgrave-Monbulk Rd, taking me on a circuit on the Avards and Pound Creek Tracks, deep in the forest.

These tracks are in the extreme south-west region of the Forest, and pass through magnificent tall timber and lush fern gullies.

The day was frightful - extremely cold and raining!

Avard's Track is very steep and slippery, with an increase in altitude from 273 m to 337 m. Care is needed.

Pound Creek Tk follows the scenic gully.

See the full set of Photos

Sherbrooke Forest winter nature walk

I visited the Sherbrooke Forest, 40 km east of the Melbourme CBD, in the Dandenong Ranges National park, on July 17, 2008.

My 3 km walking circuit started at the gate to Wattle Track, at Monbulk Rd, then on to Sherbrooke Track, past the Falls, over the Falls Bridge, along Ridge Tk and back to Monbulk Rd.

There were many interesting fungi growing on the old logs, in assorted designs, colours and varieties.

It was a cold winter's day, and the lyrebirds were not to be seen!

I passed seven other walkers - everyone was well rugged up - the Forest is very popular right throughout the year.

Beware - strange beasts live in the jungle, and giant bunyips may come out of their burrows and bite you!

See the full set of Photos

Lyrebird Walk in Winter, Sherbrooke Forest

On July 7 2008, a cold, wet, winter's day, I went up to the Sherbrooke Forest, 40 km east of the Melbourne CBD, in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, and explored the 4 km (return) beautiful Lyrebird Walk.

This links Grant's Picnic Ground with Cook's Corner, and passes through splendid tall Mountain Ash forest and fern gullies. Interpretative signs along the Walk describe many interesting features of the Forest, its inhabitants and evolution.

Sadly, I did not see any lyrebirds, but at Grant's Picnic Ground, the cockatoos and parrots were having a great time, feeding from bags of seeds purchased from the Kiosk!

See the full set of Photos

Selby Hill winter walk

Selby Hill is situated on the northern perimeter of the Sherbrooke Section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, 40 km from the Melbourne CBD, on Grantulla Rd.

Foden's Track descends from a small car park into the forest, reaching gated Neumann's Track.

I explored this interesting section of the Park on June 27, 2008, on a 4 km hike, following Neumann's Track westerly, past Neumann's Paddock, Brendon's Corner, and Wallaby Paddock.

These Paddocks were once farms in the 1900s, and furrows may still be seen in Wallaby Paddock, now the home of a family of Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Lyrebirds inhabit this part of the forest, but none were seen!

At night, gliders, owls, posssums and other nocturnal creatures appear from their nests.

This track is very popular with walkers.

The area was heavily logged in the early 1900s, then used for farming. The forest is mainly regrowth from the 1939 fires.

See the Photos

Winter in the Sherbrooke Forest - Dandenong Ranges National Park

Grant's Picnic Ground, Kallista, 40 km from the Melbourne CBD, is in the Sherbrooke Forest, part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Several interesting walking tracks start here, passing through superb forest and tree ferns.

The Picnic Ground is a very popular destination for visitors from all over the world. The Sherbrooke Kiosk sells bags of special screened seeds to give to the hordes of cockatoos, galahs, parrots anbd other birds which live in the forest!

Those birds really know what's good for them - some will perch on your head, hand, arm or shoulder!

In the early 1900s, a timber mill was located near the site of the present Picnic Ground.

I visited the Picnic Ground on June 22, 2008, a cold and overcast day, exploring the 3 km Lyrebird and Treefern Walks.

See the full set of Photos

Hillclimb Track, Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park

Hillclimb Track is in the Sherbrooke Section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, 40 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

It is steep and rocky in parts, and passes through superb forest and lush tree fern jungles.

I hiked this 4 km return track on May 12, 2008, starting at the National Parks gate behind the Mikawber Tavern on the Belgrave-Monbulk Rd. The track ends at the Sherbrooke Falls, and crosses Pound Creek, Sherbrooke Creek and Clematis Creek.

This track can become very slippery and muddy during or after wet weather, and special care is needed.

Parks Victoria has refurbished and repaired the footbridges, as the track is a popular, but physically demanding alternative route to the Falls.

The return hike can be completed in an hour, for anyone with a reasonable fitness level.

See the Photos of my trip!