Yea River Walk FS0037 Tim Sanders – Toolangi Forest Education Service ISSN 1440-2262

February 2004 Yea River Walk FS0037 Tim Sanders – Toolangi Forest Education Service ISSN 1440-2262

Walk Information within the state forest are used for timber production. 1 Skill level – Basic Fauna Fitness level – Average Distance – 1.5 km There is an array of wildlife to be found on the Yea River Duration – 1 hour return Walk. Just stop walking and listen to the bird calls. Look closely and you may see the birds that are making those The Yea River Walk begins behind the Toolangi Forest calls. Species to look out for include King Parrots, Discovery Centre on the north side of Main Rd. It is an Crimson Rosellas and Kookaburras. There are also easy 1 hour walk which passes through Messmate Lyrebirds living in this forest. If you are lucky you may get (Eucalyptus obliqua), Narrow Leafed Peppermint (E. to see one. Ringtail possums, Sugar Gliders and Greater radiata) and Mountain Grey Gum (E. cypellocarpa) forest, Gliders fossick in the forest at night but are very rarely before reaching Mountain Ash (E. regnans) forest. The seen during the day. Wallabies and Wombats are also Yea River runs through the forest providing the visitor active at night but you may be lucky enough to see one with a feeling of tranquility. during the day. A wide variety of plant species can be seen on the Yea River Walk. Take note of the different bark types of the Weeds eucalyptus tree species that form the canopy along the Unfortunately there are many introduced plant and animal track. You may see the Tasman Flax-Lily (Dianella species in Australia and this forest is no exception. tasmanica) with it’s distinctive purple berries. There are Blackberries, Holly and English Laurel are common two tree-fern species along the track – the Rough Tree-fern throught this forest. The seeds are transported via animal (Cyathea australis) and the Soft Tree-fern (Dicksonia droppings, mainly birds. Other weed species can be antarctica). Watch out for Forest Wire Grass (Tetrarrhena introduced into the forest environment by domesticated juncea), a rampant forest floor species. animals, humans and cars. The Yea River walk contains interpretive boards Yea River beautifully hand painted by local Toolangi artist David The Yea River is full of aquatic life including platypus and O’Gradey. They tell the story of the forest as a journey many fish species. The viewing platform provides an through time. excellent vantage point to see the river. The water here Wonders of the Forest flows from the slopes of Mt. St. Leonard and joins the Goulburn River and eventually the Murray River just Our forests have not appeared by accident. Millions of upstream of Echuca. years of evolution including continental drift, climate change and fire have resulted in the eucalypt forests we For more information have today. The forests are the lungs of the earth, The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Forest is responsible for managing Victoria's State Forest. For help produce and maintain our soils and filter our water for further information contact the Department of our rivers and catchments. Sustainability and Environment office at Toolangi 5962 Timber History 9203 or DSE's Customer Service Centre on 136 186. These forests have an interesting timber history. Early Visit DSE’s website settlers lived and worked in the forest, cutting and milling http://www.dse.vic.gov.au the giant Mountain Ash trees. The 1939 fires destroyed then select “Forestry”. many lives and sawmills. The Forest Today This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw Today, areas of forest like this one are important as they of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes are set aside for public recreation, education, inspiration, and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other water catchment and biodiversity protection. Other areas consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication 1 To assist visitors in choosing walks, the walks are classified by skill level and fitness level. For a description of these classifications, refer to the Forests Note ‘FS0020 - Bushwalking in State Forest’

© State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment Page 1 Yea River Walk FS0037 0 Shahid Sajjad 10. Ser-Odyn Sarantsatsral 9. Azhar Manan 8. Savaad Felich 7. John Davis 6. Ingo Kleinert 5. Mika Ebata 4. Brigid Cole-Adams 3. Allan Cosio 2. Leon Puruntatameri 1. 9 SCULPTURE WALK l LEGEND Shelter Discovery 8 Tree l To Kinglake, Yea & Yarra Glen

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This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.