Just south of Traralgon in Victoria’s east lies some of the last remnants of indigenous eucalypt forests that once covered the Gippsland region. Tarra Bulga National Park is one of only four cool temperate rainforests in Victoria, with deep river valleys that are dominated by mountain ash and myrtle beech trees.
There are numerous walking tracks, camping spots and picnic areas to visit, and you can do some great animal spotting as the forest is home to yellow-tailed black cockatoos, currawongs, wombats, platypus and even owls and bats after dark. If you’re visiting in autumn, keep an eye out for over 200 different species of fungi.
The most popular route to explore is the Fern Gully Nature Walk which starts at the Bulga picnic ground and passes by the Corrigan suspension bridge. The bridge offers a spectacular view of the fern gully which covers the forest floor below.
There are a bunch of other walks you can take in the park including the 6.8-kilometre Forest Track and the short Rainforest Walk which takes you past babbling mountain streams, overgrown ferns and furry moss galore. Afterwards, take in a picnic at the Tarra Valley picnic area off Tarra Valley Road where your lunch will be framed by giant 30-metre-tall mountain ash trees.
Staying overnight? You can camp in designated areas in the park but there’s also guest cabins and a caravan park as well.
Note: Always check with Parks Victoria before heading out as some parks might have closures in place.