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Central - Places to visit

Please note: Many State forest recreation sites and tracks were destroyed in the February 2009 bushfires. To check which areas are currently closed, please see recreation areas affected by the 2009 fires.

The forests of the Central area provide excellent opportunities for fishing, recreational four-wheel-driving, camping, mountain bike riding, bushwalking, horse riding and trail bike riding. Popular destinations include:

• Snobs Creek Falls in the Rubicon State Forest, located on Snobs Creek Road off the Goulburn Valley Highway near Eildon. The Falls offer spectacular views as they drop more than 100 metres over a series of rocky outcrops. The pristine waters of Snobs Creek are an important supply to the Snobs Creek Fish Hatchery six kilometres below.
  
• Rubicon Valley Historic Area, in the Rubicon State Forest, shows the rich history of human influences on the forest over the last century. It includes the first State owned hydro-electric scheme, with four power stations and associated dams, racelines and pipelines and a network of access tramlines and trestle bridges. The Historic Area also includes a number of sites that are important reminders of timber harvesting such as mill sites, old machinery and sawdust heaps. The routes of many of the timber tramways associated with the bush sawmills can still be discerned.

The following information sheets cover these and other locations in the area.

Kendalls Camping and Day Visitor Areas (PDF - 257 KB)
Lower Big River Camping Areas (PDF - 299 KB)
Marysville State forest (PDF - 615 KB)
Rubicon Valley Historic Area (PDF - 356 KB)
Snobs Creek Falls (PDF - 320 KB)
The Tanglefoot Track (PDF - 534 KB)
Toolangi Sculpture Trail (PDF - 130 KB)
Upper Big River State Forest (PDF - 362 KB)
Yea River Walk (PDF - 130 KB)


Activities

Camping The Big River area is popular for recreational use. There are opportunities for camping, fishing, deer hunting, canoeing, gold fossicking, bushwalking and vehicle touring. There are more than twenty-five camping grounds along the Big River from the northern end along the Jamieson Eildon Road, known as the Lower Big River Camping Areas, through to the Big River Camp at the southern end in the Upper Big River State Forest, most easily accessed from Marysville and the Woods Point Road. The Kendalls Camping and Day Visitor Areas, situated within the Rubicon Valley Historic Area in the Rubicon State Forest, provide excellent opportunities for camping, bushwalking, picnicking, fishing, mountain biking and recreational driving. They consist of two large camping areas, Kendalls A and Kendalls B, connected by a short, picturesque walking track. The campsites are on the western bank of the Rubicon River. The surrounding forest is an important catchment area for the hydro-electric power stations situated at various locations along the Rubicon valley. The Rubicon State Forest is also a very important area for hardwood production.

Walking There are a number of walks in the Marysville State Forest though many are still closed as a result of the 2009 bushfires. The Tanglefoot Track, a spectacular walk through the majestic Mountain Ash forest of the Toolangi State forest, has added to the appeal of an area that has been attracting walkers for many years. The track, which delves into fern gullies and cool, temperate rain forests, provides a magical experience for visitors. The track is 9km one way, taking about 3 hours. The Yea River Walk begins behind the Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre on the north side of Main Rd. It is an easy 1 hour walk which passes through Messmate, Narrow Leafed Peppermint and Mountain Grey Gum forest, before reaching Mountain Ash forest. The Yea River is full of aquatic life including platypus and many fish species. The viewing platform provides an excellent vantage point to see the river. The water here flows from the slopes of Mt St Leonard and joins the Goulburn River and eventually the Murray River just upstream of Echuca. The Toolangi Sculpture Trail showcases the works from the international scupture event held at the Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre in 1996. The sculptures are the work of a diverse group of top professional artists from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Eight of the original sculptures are still visible along the trail. They are all in different states of decay as intended. Information boards along the trail give you some basic information about the artist and the inspirations behind their work.

Four-wheel Driving The Central FMA region is a popular destination for four-wheel drive enthusiasts. There are many tracks suitable for four wheel drives and the hinterland provides challenging but enjoyable driving. The camping sites in the Big River area are well positioned for exploring the region by four-wheel drive.

Cycling Mountain bike riding is a popular recreational activity in forest along existing roads and tracks. Many of the roads wind through picturesque forest and receive little traffic. Specific information on tracks can be obtained from the DSE Office nearest your riding destination.

Picnicking Key picnic sites include Kendalls Camping and Day Visitor Areas in the Rubicon State Forest. These sites include picnic areas with basic facilities (commonly toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables) in picturesque park and forest settings. These picnic grounds are accessible by car and linked to nearby short walking opportunities throughout the forest.

Scenic Driving The Keppel Lookout Forest Drive in the Marysville State Forest offers splendid views of Marysville and the Steavenson Falls River Valley. The drive is approximately 11 kilometres and in 20mins in driving time.