The Valley - Olinda Firest

The Olinda Forest is one of my favourite locations, relatively close to the Melbourne CBD, in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

A special place is the Valley Picnic Ground, reached from Silvan rd and Boundary Rd, from which several hiking tracks may be explored.

I visited the Valley on Friday afternoon November 6, 2009, then followed KC Track, then along Rifle Range Gully Track, and back to the picnic ground, about 3 km in total.

This area is a protected lyrebird habitat, and these shy creatures may occasionally be seen on Rifle Range Gully Track.

After leaving the Valley, I visited the Woolrich Lookout, which overlooks the Forest - this offers wonderful panoramic views across the Yarra Valley towards the Yarra Ranges and beyond.

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Olinda Forest in early spring

I visited the Olinda Forest and Woolrich Lookout on September 12, 2009, 35 km east of the Melbourne CBD.

Starting at and returning to the locked gate on Silvan Rd, I went along Price's Track and then into Bridge Track, descending to the bridge across the Lyrebird Creek.

The Lyrebird Track, leading off Bridge Track, is now impassable, due to to overgrown vegetation, fallen trees, and branches, and is no longer maintained.

Bridge Track is no longer signposted and care is needed, due to large fallen trees.

After the hike of about 3 km, I drove up to the Woolrich Lookout, at the top of Silvan Rd, adjacent to the Olinda Arboretum. There were some excellent views across the Upper Yarra Valley towards the Yarra Ranges.

My "candid camera" took some shots of other visitors having a good time near the Lookout!

The day was hot and humid, with a top of 30 degrees, the highest early-September temperature ever recorded for Melbourne!

See the full set of Photos of my visit, which include some historical images of the Victorian Railways Steambus of year 1905, which was a popular mode of transport to the hills in that era!

Rock Track Circuit Hike, Olinda

On Friday afternoon June 19 2009 I went up to the Woolrich Lookout, Chalet Rd, Olinda.

This offers magnificent panoramas over the R. J. Arboretum across the Yarra Valley, extending from Mt Slide in the west, to Mt Littlejoe, in the east.

The various other peaks included Mt Tanglefoot, Mt St Leonard, Mt Monda, Mt Riddell, Mt Toolebewong, Ben Cairn, Mt Donna Buang, and Mt Littlejoe.

From there, I did a 3 km circuit hike, which took me along Dam Rd, past the dam, along Rock Track to Lookout Rocks, then on Golf Course Track (adjacent to the Golf Course), up the hill to Chalet Rd, and back to the car park.

See the full set of Photos of my visit!