Noojee: Forest Trails, Waterfalls and Railway History

Noojee lies on the Latrobe River and is surrounded by native bushland and tall tree ferns. In town, nature experiences meet a defining railway history: a historic timber trestle bridge, a heritage centre and murals tell different stories about the place and its surroundings. There are also forest trails and a loop walk to waterfalls. You can tailor your stay to whether you prefer to be outdoors, discover history or combine both.

Railway history that shapes the town

The Noojee Trestle Bridge is 21 metres high and 102 metres long. It was originally built in 1919, burned down in 1939 and was rebuilt in the same year. Its story is part of a landscape where the former railway line remains an important theme: it was in operation from 1919 to 1954. The Noojee Rail Trail follows this historic railway line, offering a way to get to know Noojee from the perspective of its railway past.

The Noojee Heritage Centre also focuses on local history. It includes a replica of Noojee’s historic, century-old railway station and displays the historic J-550 steam locomotive in a static exhibition. If you’re travelling with children, you’ll find tangible starting points here for talking about rail travel in the past and the importance of the railway to the town.

The public murals explore further chapters: they tell of the bushfires of 1926 and 1939, the thriving timber industry and sawmill, and the historic railway line. Their subjects also include the region’s flora and fauna, river and waterfalls. The murals invite you to see the surroundings anew with these stories in mind; they also offer a different perspective from the bridge and the heritage centre.

Forest trails and waterfalls

The Noojee Trestle Bridge is the starting point for several walking and cycling trails through the forest. Its base can be reached from a gravel car park and is suitable for picnics. This means a visit to the bridge can also be an outdoor experience, rather than focusing solely on the history of the structure. The bridge lies along the old railway line through the Noojee Bushland Reserve and the town of Noojee.

One specific hiking option is the Toorongo & Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk in the Toorongo Falls Reserve near Noojee. The easy loop is 2.2 kilometres long and takes about an hour. Along the way, moss-covered rocks and tree ferns shape the experience of nature. The approximate duration and stated distance make it easy to assess if you’d like to plan a shorter walk during your stay; it is still a loop with its own destination and character.

You can also see a waterwheel that is at least a hundred years old on the Waterwheel Walk. The waterwheel adds a historic note to the walk. For families, this offers different themes around which to shape a shared stay: railway history, forest, waterfalls and an old waterwheel.

Noojee as a base for your stay

When looking for a holiday rental in Noojee, you can use the focus you want for your stay as a guide. If you’re mainly interested in the town’s history, you can make the bridge, heritage centre and murals the focus. For more time outdoors, the forest trails described here, the loop walk in Toorongo Falls Reserve and the Waterwheel Walk offer different ideas.

Discover more places

You can also discover Toolangi, Romsey, Fingal, Bentleigh East, Talbot, Swifts Creek, Marysville and Quambatook as other travel destinations.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.