Buttongrass Nature Trail - Bunyip State Park

Pix taken on April 2, 2012, in the Buttongrass Nature Reserve, Bunyip State Park, 80 km east of Melbourne.

The 3 km circuit Trail starts on Guide Track, off Camp Road, and wanders through forest and heathland, where an extensive range of plants including hakea, wattles, tea-tree, mistletoe, swamp bush pea and button grass may be seen.

There are informative noticeboards at the start of the Trail to help identify the flora and fauna.

This tranquil path was created thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Bunyip State Park.

Near the end of the walk there is also the idyllic but mysterious Buttongrass Dam – although for anyone nervous about bunyip legends, they may prefer to keep their distance!

Deer inhabit the Reserve, and should not be confused with the bunyips!

The reserve, fauna, flora and infrastructure were severely damaged in the disastrous Bunyip Ridge fires of February 2009, and there has been amazing regeneration and regrowth.

Some blackened trail markers remain, as stark testimony to the intensity of the fires.

See the complete set of Photos of my visit, and the YouTube video.

Tonimbuk Bridle Trail - Bunyip State Park

These photos were taken on February 11, 2012, in the Bunyip State Park, 80 km east of Melbourne.

They show the scenery and flora on a 4 km (return) hike along the signed Tonimbuk Bridle Trail, starting at the Tynong North-Gembrook Rd.

The Trail is shared with walkers, horses, and cyclists and follows the Diamond Creek, which it crosses on small bridges on several occasions.

The trail passes through the Mortimer Picnic Ground, once the site of the Mortimer Timber Mill in years gone by.

The Trail was once a logging route.

See all of the Photos of my visit, and check out my YouTube video!

Exploring Tonimbuk - Bunyip State Park

These pix were taken on June 20, 2011 in the Bunyip State Park and adjacent forest, 65 km east of Melbourne.

They show the scenery and environment on a circuit route which took me from the Prince's Freeway through Tynong North, then to the tiny settlement of Tonimbuk and back to the Freeway.

The rusting remains of an old charcoal kiln were inspected off Tonimbuk Rd, and the nearby disused Aqueduct was explored.

This open aqueduct once carried water into Gippsland farms fom the Bunyip Weir, high up on the slopes of the Blue Range, but access is prohibited, being controlled by Melbourne Water.

There were good views of the various Ranges which comprise the Bunyip State Park.

There was a stop at the bridge where the Diamond Creek crosses the Tonimbuk Rd.

Bunyips are very shy creatures, but one was seen approaching the Tonimbuk Rd!

See al of the Photos of this adventure!

Tonimbuk - West Gippsland

These pictures were taken on April 25, 2011.

They show the scenery and countryside on a trip in the Tonimbuk area, 70 km east of Melbourne, in West Gippdland.

My journey was along the Monash Freeway, then on to the Tonimbuk-Gembrook Rd, through the Bunyip State Park, on to the Tynong North-Gembrook Rd, and back to the Monash Freeway.

There was a short hike between Steering Wheel Track and the junction of the Diamond Creek, then a stop to inspect the historical Charcoal Kiln.

There was also a visit to the old aqueduct near the Tonimbuk Rd.

Really excellent views to the Black Snake Range, and across the Park.

A drama on the Tynong North Rd, where a mob of kangas decided to hop along the road, for about 500 m - at least they kept in the left lane! These animals have problems in hopping along sealed roads, as there is no grip for their claws and they keep falling over!

See all of the Photos of my visit!