Toolangi: Discover forest walks and sculptures

Forest walks, a cool temperate rainforest loop and art among the trees give Toolangi its distinctive character. Travellers who enjoy combining exercise and nature experiences with a cultural touch will find a variety of ideas here, from a short stroll along a boardwalk to bush-track loops featuring artworks. A remarkable mountain ash tree is also among the discoveries described here.

Forest walks with different characters

The Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk is a loop through cool temperate rainforest in Toolangi State Forest. The walk is about 700 metres long, around 450 metres of which consists of a boardwalk wide enough for wheelchairs. These details help give an idea of the type and approximate length of the walk: the boardwalk makes up a large part of the route, but not the entire loop. Along the way, old myrtle beech and southern sassafras trees form a dense canopy. It shades the understorey throughout the year and gives this forest walk its character.

Another option is the Yea River Walk. This easy loop takes an hour and leads through open forest and mountain ash forest. In terms of the landscape described, it differs from the cool temperate rainforest of the Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk. When planning your day, you can decide whether you would rather explore a forest loop with longer boardwalk sections or an hour-long circuit through more open forest. The Yea River Walk is on land gifted to the people of Toolangi.

Walks, lookouts and a remarkable tree

Toolangi National Forest offers numerous walks and lookouts. This gives you different ways to spend time in the forest: you can focus on a walking route or include lookouts as destinations in your exploration. The routes described vary in features such as length, duration and forest type. If you are travelling with children, you can take these differences into account when planning your day together, rather than treating all forest walks as the same kind of outing.

A notable natural landmark is the Kalatha Giant, a mountain ash tree considered Victoria’s seventh-largest tree. A dedicated path was created to make it easier to access this natural wonder. This makes visiting one exceptional tree a possible focus in its own right, alongside the loops and lookouts.

Art in the forest: the Toolangi Sculpture Trail

The Toolangi Sculpture Trail also brings together forest and culture. It was established in 1996 with 11 artworks as part of an international sculpture event. A follow-up event in 2016 added another 16 artworks to the trail. Today, it comprises two bush-track loops featuring unique artworks in the forest. The loops give your exploration a clear structure: rather than setting out solely to experience the forest landscape, you can enjoy the artworks as part of the walk. This makes the trail especially interesting for travellers who want to combine nature and culture during their stay.

These interests can also play a role in choosing a holiday rental in Toolangi: first decide which experiences you want to make the focus of your trip, then search for accommodation with that travel destination in mind. Other destinations you can explore include Drouin, East St Kilda, Sunbury, Yanakie, Kew East, Venus Bay, Timboon and Rheola.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.