INFORMATION FOR HIKERS
While many parts of The Grand Strzelecki Track are graded easy to medium, other parts are challenging and require a degree of fitness and experience. Overall, the Track is Class 4 under the Australian Standard which means that some parts are narrow foot track with minimal infrastructure provided, requiring self-sufficiency, navigation skills (although it is generally well marked) and responsibility for your own safety. Please read the Track Protocols and study the map notes before commencing your walk and plan accordingly. Billys Creek and Macks Creek are unsuitable for mountain bike use.
There are four possible entry points to start your walk: The west section at Morwell National Park Junction Road car park and the east section at Tarra Bulga National Park Visitors Centre car park (Balook), Tarra Valley Picnic Area car park and Macks Creek Hall.
The atmospheric climate is very cold in winter with possible snow and receives an average rainfall of 1700mm each year. Summer can still be hot at times. There are creek crossings on some tracks. Be prepared with warm and extra clothing. Toilet paper and small shovel. Plastic bag for carry out rubbish. Bushmans Insect Repellent against ticks, leeches, march flies and mosquitoes. Also consider gaiters in the warmer months against snake bites and flowering thistle.
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THE TRACKS
PLEASE ENSURE YOU NOTE ANY TRACK DIVERSIONS BELOW THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE
Map 1 and 2 – Park to Park (2 days) Morwell NP to Tarra Bulga NP
Day 1 from Morwell NP to Jumbuk Rest Area via Junction Road Car Park and Billys Creek. 13.1km. 7+ hours.
Day 2 from Jumbuk Rest Area to Tarra Bulga NP via Road 31, Road 57, Mountain Hickory Track, Goombala Road and Grand Ridge Road. 13.8km. 4.5 hours.
This is not a loop track and requires a car shuffle or car storage at Mountain-Top Experience in Morwell.
Camping suggestion: Jumbuk Rest Area.
Car park suggestion: Morwell National Park car park via Junction Road or Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre car park.
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Map 3 – Tarra Valley Loop (1 day) – Balook to Balook via Forest Track, Diaper Track to Cyathea Falls and Tarra Falls, Great Forest Walk, Butlers Track, Duncans Track, Mountain Hickory Track, Goombala Road and Grand Ridge Road. 22.8km. 8 hours.
Camping suggestion: Pattison Rest Area or Tarra Valley Caravan park.
Car park suggestion: Goombala Road opposite Pattison Rest Area, Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre car park or Tarra Valley Caravan Park if you are a paid patron.
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Map 4 – Mount Tassie Loop (1 day) – Balook to Balook via Link Track, Drysdale Road, West Face, Pine Trail Track and Mount Tassie and Duffs Sawmill Heritage Trail. 18.3km. 6.5 hours.
Camping suggestion: Pattison Rest Area, Morningside Rest Area or Forget-Me-Not Falls.
Car park suggestion: Goombala Road opposite Pattison Rest Area or Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre car park.
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Map 5 – Mack’s Creek Loop (2 days) Balook to Balook
Day 1 from Balook to Macks Creek Hall Rest Area via Forest Track, Wild Cherry Track and Roberts Road. 13km. 5 hours
Day 2 from Macks Creek Hall Rest Area to Balook via Old Coach Road. 12.1km. 4 hours.
Camping suggestion: Macks Creek Hall Rest Area or Bird Road Bridge Rest Area.
Car park suggestion: Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre.
CURRENT TRACK DIVERSION ON WILD CHERRY TRACK MACKS CREEK LOOP
The Wild Cherry Track has been diverted as shown in red at the TBNP park gate, moving away from Macks Creek for 200 metres or so, then returns to the Wild Cherry Track again. It will pass through and nearby some old plantation pines, but the river will be heard along all along this diversion. Directional markers have been moved to assist and pink barrier tapes and pink ribbons have also been added.
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A must do from the Tarra Bulga NP Visitor Centre is the walk to Corrigans Suspension Bridge (20 minutes), then from the bridge both Ferngully Walk rainforest (15 minutes) and Scenic Track (30 minutes) back to the Tarra Bulga NP Visitor Centre. Another short loop walk from the Tarra Bulga NP Visitor Centre is the Forest Walk (1 hour 20 minutes).
CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT
The three loop tracks and park-park track enter parts of Tarra Bulga and Morwell National Parks, which both have a Parks Victoria policy not permitting cats, dogs, horses, firearms, campfires or generators within the park. Use of drones requires a Parks Victoria permit. Campfires are also not permitted at the free campsites or along The Track.
FREE AND PAID CAMPING AND ACCOMMODATION
Camping is not encouraged at the Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre in Balook, however there is access to public toilets and non-potable drinkable water (please sterilise water for drinking).
FREE CAMPING
REST AREAS AT JUMBUK, PATTISON, MORNINGSIDE, FORGET-ME-NOT FALLS, MACKS CREEK HALL CARPARK AND BIRD ROAD BRIDGE.
FREE CAMPSITES DO NOT REQUIRE BOOKING AND ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST IN BASIS.
CAMPING IS ALSO PERMITTED ON ANY TRACK SECTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARIES.
Jumbuk Rest Area
Pattison Rest Area
Jumbuk Rest Area along the ‘Park to Park’ walk and Pattison Rest Area in Balook can be used as day or overnight stops with no fee. They have a toilet, shelter, picnic table and non-potable drinking water (please sterilise water for drinking). Macks Creek Hall Carpark Rest Area, Bird Road Bridge Rest Area have no facilities. Morningside Rest Area and Forget-Me-Not Falls Rest Area have a picnic table. These rest areas are designed for hikers with swags or small tents only, with no access for campervans, caravans or motorhomes.
PAID CAMPING AND ACCOMMODATION
PAID CAMPSITES AND CABINS REQUIRE BOOKING AND ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST IN BASIS.
TARRA VALLEY CAMPING AND CABIN ACCOMMODATION (WITH DINE IN CAFE AND TAKEAWAY FOOD AND BEVERAGES)
Camping and cabin accommodation is available at the Tarra Valley Retreat in Tarra Valley with powered and unpowered tents sites and cabins with access to camp kitchen, laundry, showers, toilets, drinking water and firewood.
BOOKINGS ARE REQUIRED 60 DAYS AHEAD.
Phone +61 3 5188 0100 www.tarravalleyretreat.com.au
MACKS CREEK CABIN ACCOMMODATION.
Cabin accommodation is available at Glenwood Farm Holiday Cottage (Bed and Breakfast) located off Bulga Park Road along the Macks Creek Track Loop.
Phone (Julie) 0438 952 602 or (Steve) 0428 825 900 www.glenwoodfarm.com.au
MACKS CREEK HALL ACCOMMODATION.
Room accommodation is available at Macks Creek Hall for group hire at $100 per night with access to toilets, water and cooking facilities. Or camp outside for free with no facilities.
NOTE: IN THE EVENT THE HALL IS BOOKED FOR A FUNCTION, PLEASE CAMP AT BIRD ROAD BRIDGE REST AREA. IF YOU ARE UNSURE, PHONE JENNY ON 5186 1340.
Phone Jenny +61 3 5186 1340 mackscreekhall@gmail.com
Alternatively, accommodation is available in the surrounding towns of Traralgon, Morwell, Yarram and Churchill, all of which are located within an hour of The Grand Strzelecki Track.
ACCESS AND TRANSPORT
The ‘Park to Park’ section starts at Junction Road, Jeeralang Junction, about 5 km south of Churchill. Churchill is approximately 2 hours drive east of Melbourne via the Princes Freeway (watch for the Churchill and Federation University exit). If travelling by train on V/Line from Melbourne or Orbost, there is Latrobe Valley Bus Service to Churchill from Morwell Railway Station. Alternatively, a car hire can be made at Traralgon through Budget, Hertz and Avis Car Rentals. There is an RV parking area at Yinnar (limited to 8 places and 48 hours).
At the eastern end of the Track, the three loop walks radiate from the township of Balook, where the Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre is located. This network can also be accessed from Tarra Valley accommodation area, Tarra Valley Picnic Area within the Tarra Bulga National Park or Macks Creek Hall and Bird Road Bridge. Public parking is available at all of these places except the Tarra Valley accommodation area (unless you are a patron).
If travelling to Balook via the Princess Highway, continue until the exit sign to Yarram / Loy Yang, then at the traffic light just before Loy Yang Power Station, turn right following the brown tourist signs to Tarra Bulga National Park and Balook. Balook is 2.5 hours east of Melbourne via the Princes Highway or 3 hours via the South Gippsland Highway to Yarram. From Yarram, follow the signs north through Tarra Valley to Balook. The Traralgon-Balook Road from Loy Yang and the Tarra Valley Road from Yarram are bitumen, other roads are gravel. Macks Creek Hall is 15 minutes north of Yarram with gravel for the last 2 km, and a further 12km gravel to Balook.
There is no train service to Yarram but V/line run regular coach services from Melbourne to Yarram. There is also a bus service between Traralgon Railway Station and Yarram.
Transport storage, mini bus tours and transport (minimum 28 seats) is available through Mountain-Top Experience. Phone +61 3 5134 6876 www.mountaintopexperience.com
Car parking is available at the Tarra Bulga National Park Visitor Centre car park, Morwell National Park car park via Junction Road, Entry to Goombala Road directly opposite Pattison Rest Area and Macks Creek Hall car park.
THERE IS A NO WOOD FIRE POLICY ON THE GRAND STRZELECKI TRACK
Persons sighted or caught lighting a campfire will be reported and may face arson offences.