The Den of Nargun is a place of great cultural significance to the Gunaikurnai people, especially the women. Traditionally Gunaikurnai men were not allowed down to the Den of Nargun or the Woolshed Creek valley. Please treat this place with respect. Stories were told around campfires about how the Nargun would abduct children who wandered off on their own.
The Nargun could not be harmed with boomerang or spears. These stories served the dual purpose of keeping children close to the campsite and ensuring that people stayed away from the sacred cave.
Featuring the Bluff lookout with views of the Mitchell River, green rainforest pockets and Woolshed Creek, the Den of Nargun Loop is also part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, which explores Gunaikurnai Aboriginal history and culture.
Location: Mitchell River National Park
Distance: 5km return
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Grade: Level 3 – Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep sections, a rough surface and steps.
Start: Den of Nargun picnic area
Finish: Den of Nargun picnic area
This idyllic setting in the middle of the bush has made Minneha'ha Falls a popular weekend destination. A rocky waterfall enclosed in a deep valley west of Yarram, remote but still within a few steps from the road and your campsite. Despite being only a relatively small river, in winter/spring there was a loud and powerful flow of water gushing down the near vertical rock face, into the pool below.
Directly in front of the falls there is a lawn area which makes a perfect spot to lay out a picnic blanket for an uninterrupted view of the falls from across the pool. From the adjacent car park you can also walk up a little track, past the water tank, and down the other side to the top of the falls.
Downstream of the falls next to the Albert River, you will find the campground with unpowered camping sites. The campsites are on relatively flat, open ground with a grassy covering, and come with their own fire pits and communal toilets.
Hidden within the green, rolling hills of the Strzelecki Ranges, the meandering Agnes River cascades from a 59m height over rocks into a deep picturesque gorge, forming Agnes Falls. Pack a picnic and bird watch in this protected pocket of old forest and native bush land.
With impressive gorge views, cascading falls, an abundance of wildlife and unique, protected forest, Agnes Falls is a hidden patch of serenity near the Gippsland coastline. A 200m walking track leads from the car park to the falls viewing area, where you can see the Agnes River tumble over rocks and into the steep, sheltered gorge below. The falls are even more spectacular in wet seasons and after heavy rain.
The reserve protects a small remnant of the forests that once covered the Strzelecki Ranges, and the tall eucalypt canopy and diverse understorey of shrubs, ferns and trees are home to a range of birdlife. Keep an eye out for playful Grey Fantails and Eastern Yellow Robins darting through the low trees and shrubs, and listen for the calls of Kookaburras, Crimson Rosellas and Currawongs.
Relax in the grassy picnic ground beneath towering Blue Gums, leafy Blackwood and Silver Wattle trees, keeping watch for wildlife. You might even spot a Swamp Wallaby bounding through the shrubbery, or catch sight of a possum or owl coming out in the evening.
The Tarra Valley loop is is a wondrous hike through the magnificent Tarra Valley, home to some of the best primeval rainforest in Victoria. This trail features an array of waterfalls, including Cyathea Falls and Tarra Falls, and many endangered Slender Tree-ferns (Cyathea cunninghamii), as well as ancient specimens of Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii).
There's a great picnic area in the Tarra Valley - perfect for a quiet lunch with your friends and family. During the walk you'll have great views of the Ninety Mile Beach and surrounds, as well as the chance to observe the recovering native forest, decimated by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
Southeast of Balook, in the Tarra Bulga National Park, this captivating Mack's Creek loop trail features damp rainforest gullies, 11 creek crossings and magical waterfalls due to frequent rain. Starting at Mack's Creek Hall, you will pass through recently harvested plantations leading to extensive Mountain Ash forests, with gullies and rare Hazel Pomaderris shrubs. A steep section of the track leads to one of the numerous crossings of Mack's Creek.
See the Strzelecki Ranges' most attractive waterfall, situated among unusually large filmy-ferns (Hymenophyllum species). Enjoy scenic views of Yarram and Alberton townships and also the Ninety Mile Beach and Corner Inlet. The trail passes through a mosaic of farmland, plantations and native eucalypt forest. The latter is ideal for spotting a sleepy koala or two.
You will also walk through a warm temperate rainforest in danger of extinction. And see firsthand the bush rehabilitation, including blackberry and willow removal, and regeneration with substantial rainforest tree plantings. Walk along the historic coach road between Balook and Yarram and enjoy spectacular coastal views.
Mack's Creek Loop is a 25.2km, Grade 3 hike located in Tarra Bulga National Park. The hike should take around 7 hrs to complete. For more track information visit Information for hikers | The Grand Strzelecki Track - Walks of discovery in the Great Forest, National Parks and hidden wild places of the Strzelecki Ranges.
Situated north west of Maffra in the foothills of the Victorian Alps. The Avon River winds majestically through the 5700 ha. reserve, over time sculpting beautiful gorges from the surrounding landscape. Complementing this is dry open forest with a diversity of wildflowers as well as rocky escarpments and several high peaks with sweeping views of the surrounding area.
The Channel is the centrepiece of the reserve; a magnificent gorge created by the Avon River carving its way through the silt and sandstone over millennia. The steep sides of the gorge are covered in native vegetation, with shady Casuarinas in abundance. Crags punctuate the riverbed, creating a system of pools and rapids that provide important habitat for aquatic life.
The Avon Mount Hedrick Scenic Reserve also offers some great mountain biking opportunities with back country trail riding. Mostly created by motorbikes but offering a unique riding experience over rocky, technical terrain. With trails such as Middle Track, Last Hurrah, Stairway to Hell, Zimmy's Descent and Caves Track to explore, the Avon Mount Hedrick area is perfect for the adventure rider.
The reserve provides for a variety of activities including picnicking, camping, walking, sightseeing, horse-riding, fishing, swimming and car touring.