Take a hike
 Backyard Tourism: Baw Baw   By // 10:56, Tuesday 20 January 2015

… and if you do that up around Noojee way, you may just come across the Ada Tree, a giant mountain ash that’s around 270 years old.

First published in the 12 December 2014 edition of the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.


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There is much to do and see on and off the beaten track across Baw Baw. The Ada Tree, which towers over the landscape at 76 metres tall, is situated in the Yarra State Forrest and is one of the largest in the state.

And while you are up that way, you really must wander across the old trestle bridge. Just follow the old railway line trail from Noojee, surrounded by tall forest, to one of the only remaining timber trestle bridges in Victoria.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy any of our great West Gippsland walks. It’s also a good time to spend a day or two at Walhalla and scamper around Mt Baw Baw or Mt St Gwinear. They look rather different without snow!

A bit closer to Warragul is the Glen Nayook Rainforest Walk, which takes you through a delightful fern glen near Neerim Junction.


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There is so much to get you off your bum in the warm weather and it’s not far away. Try cycling or spotting wildlife. Visit our national and coastal parks.

We have hills in one direction and the sea in the other, offering everything from active recreation to remembrances of our past, day trips to longer holidays.

In fact, to have an enjoyable holiday you do not need to look beyond Gippsland: popular beaches at Inverloch and Phillip Island are not all that far away. If you prefer it a little less crowded, head east to Marlo or Cape Conran.

There are many reasons people may not look to Gippsland for their holidays. You may remember during the Aberfeldy bushfire almost two years ago, Melbourne TV news bulletins exclaimed “Gippsland is ablaze!” That kind of hysterical reporting sent Melbourne visitors in directions other than ours.

Gippsland is a big place and fire activity in one location does not make the whole region unsafe. As long as locals and visitors stay informed, monitor emergency information and seek advice if necessary, a fun summer in Gippsland can be enjoyed by all.

Destination Gippland figures show tourism generates around $837 million in direct economic benefits for the region annually by attracting 1.7 million domestic overnight visitors and 61,000 international visitors staying a total of 5.83 million nights. And of course there are day trip visitors.

As a result, tourism creates 4,850 full time jobs and supports over 1,300 businesses whose income is mostly from the visitor economy.

Enjoying the many facets of Gippsland while doing our bit for the local economy is a win-win. Get into Gippsland these summer holidays and tell your friends and family from elsewhere to do the same.


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For more my Greg visit his website, greatergippsland.com.

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