The Tallarook State Forest is a popular area for adrenaline junkies, the area covers  1500 hectares of land which is a perfect place for camping, biking, hang gliding, rock climbing, car and motorcycling touring, horse riding and bushwalking. One of the most popular spots in the area is Mt Hickey, otherwise know as Mount Tallarook, this is the highest point in the area and it offers breathtaking scenery.

Nestled on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, the town of Tallarook was formerly a central to the territories of the Goulburn Aboriginal tribes, they coined the term Tallarook which means ‘call of the wattle birds’.

For more information about the town and surrounds please contact the friendly staff of the Seymour Visitor Information Centre, located in the Old Court House on Emily Street, Seymour, Victoria.

Telephone: 03 5799 0233

Email: [email protected]

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Yea is a delightful township found in the north east of  Victoria, just over 100 Kms from Melbourne and 35 minutes from the Hume Hwy. Yea is a popular tourist destination with many travelers stopping for the fine food, restaurants and cafes as they explore the region.  The Yea Accommodation styles range from hotels, motels, caravan parks, b&b’s and cottages. You can find out more by calling the Yea Visitor Information Center.

Please Note: Our New Visitor Information Center concept plans can be seen in the following image, this center will be open early next year, so watch this space.

Yea is the perfect place to indulge in that weekend getaway, being so close to Melbourne. The many accommodation styles in yea ensure that everyone’s needs are catered for. Yea is surrounded by rivers, streams, wetlands, hills and valleys and has the longest rail trail passing right through the Yea Township. You can discover an entirely new experience riding your bikes through the country side of Yea either to Yarck, Alexandra, Mansfield or to Seymour.  No matter what the direction the scenery and experience will impress upon your memories.

Yea has a very impressive hidden secret… just on the Northern side of the Yea Township you will find the Yea Wetlands.

The ephemeral Yea Wetlands is situated on 32ha of crown land between two branches of the Yea River.  The Yea Wetlands is cared for by a committee of management and some very proud and enthusiastic community members who have attracted funding to create beautiful improvements  that deliver ecological, social and economic benefits to the environment and community.

You can find in the wetlands of Yea, the fossils of some of the earliest known land plants in the world, dating back 400 million years ago! Also keep an eye out for the sacred Kingfisher as you meander along the beautiful boardwalks.

The Yea Wetlands is a must see for visitors planning a trip to Yea.

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It wends its way slowly over creeks that sparkle with a tempting golden glitter in the sunlight. It travels along the side of rocky outcrops with cascading waterfalls spectacular after local rainfall. All the time takes you through the wooded hills and hidden valleys. With a rich treasure of wildlife visitors often stumble across a wallaby grazing along the side of the road or a wombat heading somewhere with serious intent.

Occasionally echidnas can be seen going about daily business or bluetongues sunbaking in the morning rays. Koalas are often seen snoozing in the trees or at certain times of the year the thick clouds of butterflies can extend for hundreds of metres.

The views, the bush smells, the sounds of birds just take your breath away and leave you with a heartfelt experience. There is so much to experience that it’s worth a day trip to take your time and explore Molesworth Scenic Trail. Have
lunch or tea at the local pub and stay at ‘Bonnie Brae Farmstay’ or Molesworth hotel for the night before continuing your journey.

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Alexandra, Victoria, Australia is a town blessed with quaint historic village, breathtaking mountain ranges and majestic waterways. Alexandra offer lots of attractions, a wide array of affordable yet comfortable accommodations, heaps of things to do, great choices of places to eat, and excitingevents that you won’t dare miss.

Walk leisurely along the wide tree-lined streets of Alexandra there you’ll see their post office, national bank and law courts, and discover the towns heritage buildings and monuments. Revive the past at the Timber Tramway and Museum (located at the Alexandra Railway Station) that displaysartefacts from the timber industry of the last century. There you can see a recreation of the bush sawmill and tramway era of the Rubicon valley from 1900 to 1950.

Enjoy the walk through unruffled bushland, native wildlife and scenic views of Mt Buller on the trails of Lake Eildon National Park. For watersport enthusiasts, sail around Lake Eildon in a rented houseboat, relax and enjoy the view or experience the thrill of water sports like waterskiing, kayaking and wakeboarding. You’ll find some of the best trout fishing spots in Victoria in the nearby waterways, especially the Goulburn River and Eildon Pondage.

The striking Cathedral Range State Park offers invigorating hikes to the furrowed pinnacles for wonderful views over the valleys and farmland, you can also try rock climbing for more adrenalin rush. Fishing and camping are other popular activities that can be enjoyed in this park.

There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month known as the Community Produce & Craft Market from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June.

Alexandra has a horse racing club which schedules around four race meetings a year including one on New Years Day and the Alexandra Cup meeting in March. Golfers play at the Alexandra Golf Club on Gordon Street,or at the course of the Stonelea Country Estate on Connellys Creek Road. You can take a ride on a locomotive or join in the fun of the local community market. Birdwatching enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to McKenzies Reserve, which is home to many species of native birds.

Alexandra is just 130 kilometres from Melbourne along the Maroondah Highway. Stop off and enjoy one of the many wineries in the district or treat the kids to a picnic in the forest at one of the well-maintained picnic grounds along.

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This page provides information about the area, plus the best food, attractions and activities around the township.

• The Yarck Hotel T: 5773 4226 – Bike friendly

The Yarck Hotel/Pub is a friendly, country pub that serve hardy, quality meals. The Hotel has a special $20 lunch menu and is Bike Friendly.  Don’t miss pot and parma on Thursday nights, it’s always very popular with the locals. The pub caters for functions, events and parties. The Yarck Hotel is open Wed – Sun visit www.yarckhotel.com.au for more details  T: 5773 4226

• The Yarck General Store – T: 5773 4204 Bike Friendly
  

In the hub of the Yarck Township  ‘The Yarck General Store’  is famous for it’s pies. The General store is bike friendly and is open 7 days a week. They have a wide range of delicious pies, cold drinks and great coffee. Most importantly, they are a bike friendly tourism store.

• The Giddy Goat Café – NOT bike friendly – AVOID THIS PLACE
  

BIKERS STAY CLEAR OF THIS ONE – ‘The Giddy Goat Café’  has had terrible reviews from rail trail riders  and bikers have experienced that the cafe is anything but bike friendly.  The owner does not like you using her toilets or filling up your water bottles and doesn’t hold back telling riders!  So if you are a bike rider, head across the road to the Yarck General Store for a warmer welcome to Yarck.  The Giddy Goat Cafe Is not always open, she has her 2 untrained dogs in the back eating area outside who are often licking the plates from customers who have finished their meals.

 Staying in Yarck – what accommodation is there?

‘The Churches’ – T: 5773 4233 Offer luxury accommodation with breakfast. These old Churches have been fully renovated into beautiful B&B’s. It’s really worth spoiling yourself for the weekend.

Yarck Hotel – T: 5773 4226 The Yarck Hotel has 2 small rooms that are available for $60 a night. They are basic, but comfortable and suit those on a budget.

Avalon Reign – T: 0419 333 659 A country farm house on an equestrian property, Avalon Reign provides a family friendly experience for bikers or horse riders who would like to stay on a property with secure yards and water.

Woodlea Cottage – 5797 6368 – Lovely B&B Accommodation close to Yarck Township – Horse friendly and bike friendly accommodation providers

Yarck offers a number of activities and attractions. These include:

Holistic Equitation Yarck – A team of qualified equestrians who offer transformational experiences through the way of the horse. Horse clinics, Horse education, Healing and Horse Starting

Rail Trail Bike Tours – RAIL TRAIL SERVICES For all your Rail Trail needs such as Bike Hire, Transfers, Repairs, Packaged Tours – The best and only tour provider for the www.greatvictorianrailtrail.com.au contact Mark

The Rail Trail has recently been renamed from Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail to the Great Victorian Rail Trail

The Yarck Community Markets

Koala Country Orchards – Cherry Farm Gate Sales – In the cherry season, you can follow cherry trails, set up by helpful owners and pick and purchase fresh cherries.

White Feather Healing – Long time local, Sande Cornelius, has an extensive background in equestrian pursuits working with Olympic trainers all around the world and training her own horses to a very high level. A life time of working with horses and many other animals, Sande has developed a highly attuned ability to communicate with animals. If you or your animals would like a one on one reading/healing or over the phone consultation call Sande to arrange a time on

Tamara Fox Equestrian –  ” Foxgrove Horse Health and Riding Centre” Holistic Horse Health, Agistment and Horse Riding Lessons

The Barefoot Blacksmith – Andrew and Nicky Bowe run the Barefoot Trimming Centre just outside of Yarck Tel: 4773 4306

Around Yarck are vast areas of high country land with stunning scenic beauty. What are you waiting for? Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic in the bush. In the centre of the township, behind the Yarck Hotel is the Yarck Recreation Reserve. Here you will find toilets, BBQ facilities and an undercover children’s playground coming from Melbourne if you turn right at the main intersection in Yarck and drive about 800m up the dirt road, you will come to the very old and historic  Yarck old cemetery.

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There are lots of things to see and do in and around the town as it is located close to Strathbogie Ranges, Harrops Folly Sanctuary, Mount Paradox, Merton Creek and Kippings Bridge.

A wide range of accommodation and places to eat is also available.

Merton is a town for adventure seekers, nature lovers, and peace seekers. Merton is for all travelers alike. Visit Merton now.

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Bonnie Doon is a small township situated on the Maroondah Highway just 21 km west of Mansfield, Victoria.

Originally called Doon, the township was on the Brankeet Creek. The name was changed toBonnie Doon shortly before 1900, and in 1956 the town was moved to higher ground when Lake Eildon was enlarged.

The name “Doon” was given by an early settler, Thomas Nixon, probably after the Doon Loch in Scotland.

Bonnie Doon draws tourist on the lookout for the water activities of Lake Eildon and along with neighboring Mansfield, the township also serves as the doorway to the Victorian High Country.

The Visit Bonniedoon website provides information about the area, plus the main attractions and activities here.

Delicious Meals

You can satisfy your hunger in an open kitchen setting at Heights Bar and Bistro. They are open 7 days a week during the winter and most days throughout the rest of the year and has a menu that differs over the seasons. In winter, Heights Bar and Bistro operates as a hot takeaway restaurant only, while in summer, the focus is on the a la carte menu.

You can also satisfy your thirst as Heights Bar and Bistro is fully licensed and offers a selection of local wines, beers and mixers, as well as soft drinks and juices. There is also a bar area for those wishing to have a quiet drink.

Accommodation

Choose from various great deals of accommodation:

Caravan Parks – Enjoy the serenity of bonnie doon’s charming park and area.

Inn – Perfect to those looking for an affordable place to stay overnight.

Bed and breakfast – Relax and feel at home, B&B’s are an ideal setting for city slickers looking for a place that has plenty of SERENITY.

Luxury self contained accommodation – Perfect for a weekend get away to relax in the beautiful bush setting environment.

Lots of Activities and Beautiful Sites

A lot of locals in the surrounding region, use Bonnie Doon as a weekend destination with its countless activities such as bush walking, fishing, water skiing, boating, horse riding, trail biking, and off-road 4WD. Many motor cycle and car clubs use Bonnie Doon as a base for their weekend rallies around Lake Eildon and the King Valley.

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Maindample was named after the Maindample Pastoral Run near the twin hills known as The Paps and was first surveyed as a township and area in 1875.

However, the township was well and truly established by 1868 with the gold rush era and boasted five hotels and three stores with an estimated 1000 miners actively seeking their fortunes in the area but was known only as Maindample Settlement prior to its surveying.

With the decline of gold the township started to shrink and by 1899 there were only about 10 houses and two hotels, one store and a blacksmith shop remaining – two of the houses belonged to the Railways and were lived in by railway gangers and their families.  It was often the wives of those gangers that manned the railway gates and met the trains for passengers and ticket sales.

A police ‘camp’ was also stationed at Maindample from about 1868 to 1870 and manned by Mounted Constable Michael Kennedy – the same known for his part and death in the Ned Kelly shootout at String Bark Creek.

The railway line was busy having been established but was not officially opened until 1891, catering for goods and passenger services. From 1895 to 1969 it remained that the railway gangers wife acted as the station caretaker and postmistress.  The local post office was moved from a private residence to the railway house and remained there until it transferred in 1969 back to Arthur and Kath Breadon, with Kath retaining the role of postmistress until 1989.

Today the township of Maindample has changed dramatically – it has no store, no railway and since the last remaining hotel – The Bridge Inn – burnt down in July 2010, no hotel. The Maindample motel however, still remains and is currently operating under caretaker management.

Maindample remains a thriving country settlement with more than 50 homes established in its centre and many more on outlying farms in the immediate area.  Maindample boundaries are now considered to be from Lockhart’s Road to the west through to Pap’s Lane in the east and to McGill’s Lane on the Midland Link; encompassing many farms and with an estimated population of around 350.

Along the rail trail through Maindample much of the history and attractions are hidden.  These hidden treasures include Alcheringa Colored Wool and Crystal Gem Shop, just a short walk or ride up McKee’s Lane (about 200 metres) – opposite the gateway to ‘Tara’.

A little further along is the township of Maindample itself which offers its recently established Community Park with one universal toilet, children’s playground and barbecue facilities. A community project over the past three years this park is still progressing and will in the near future hopefully become the ‘hub’ of this community.

And only 200 metres along the pathway is Maindample Whistle Stop – a little resting place in the gardens of Pam and Peter Mahoney.  This newly established drink stop will cater for the thirsty traveller with cold drinks, tea and coffee and small snacks – mainly operating on weekends but at other times an ‘honesty’ system provides free cold water, canned soft drinks – and your donations go to charity.

After leaving the Whistle Stop you cross the Royal Town Creek – named after the gold rush mining fields called Royal Town and the road named the same. The creek starts its flow high in the hills above Mansfield and joins with Doolam Creek which then flows on down on into Lake Eildon.  Once over the bridge you pass on the left the homestead and property of Clairemont.  Claremont was one of the first properties settled in the district after the breakup of the bigger pastoral runs of Maindample and Junction (now Bonnie Doon).

It boasts having hosted the first football matches in the district. Today it is a family home and still boasts its own private airstrip. The old shearing and machinery sheds can be viewed from the rail trail which takes a left turn and meanders down alongside the home paddock of Clairemont.

From Clairemont you cross the Midland Link and travel through Black Swamp on your way to Mansfield.  Black Swamp at one time flooded severely after heavy rains, and although drainage has been put in place, the gravel road through this area still becomes hazardous at times.  Through the Black Swamp and on the right as you travel great views of The Paps can be seen through the avenue of trees that line this part of the trail.  Along this section is another rest stop – still considered to be Maindample – and which regular travellers call –“The Tea Room” – is it just a shelter with table and seats for the weary to stop a while and rest before continuing their journey into Mansfield.

The now disused rail line has been transformed into a popular shared pathway for walkers, cyclists and horse riders – although a separate bridle path follows much of the trail off the chirt surface.

The Great Victorian Rail Trail commences at Tallarook, just off the Hume Highway and meanders its way through valleys and cuttings to Mansfield, some 134kms – making it the longest rail trail in the state of Victoria.  It was officially opened in 2011 by the Hon Simon Crean who praised the work of contractors, officer and councils of three shires – Mansfield, Murrindindi and Mitchell, planners and all those who had envisaged what could be done with this established link between many towns.  An offshoot of the trail also leads visitors into Alexandra, giving cyclists and hikers another avenue to ‘stay over’ within the region.

Information gained from Maindample History – by Sheila Hutchinson

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The Mansfield Arts community is rich and vibrant its a special event when locals and visitors enjoy the wonderful color of this township. Click for more information and the event that’s not to be missed.

If you are passing through or looking for great advise and information drop in to the Mansfield Visitor Information Center situated at the entrance to town.

When you visit Mansfield or Mt Buller in Victoria’s North East you will enjoy the delights of a premium tourism region. The calendar of events is always full and exciting keeping this region buzzing and a popular place for Melbournians! Also high on the activities list is the Mansfield Rail Trail. The trail is the longest in Victoria and passes through townships such as Bonnie Doon, Yarck, Yea, Alexandra and Seymour. Many visitors and bike enthusiasts are taking several days to ride the entire trail making Yarck their midway stop over. There are many activities to keep you busy once you have arrived in Mansfield, including horse riding on the high country trails, the local Mansfield Zoo, cool climate wineries, bush tours or you can just relax and enjoy the varied sights. Mansfield and Mt Buller have a lot to offer all year round and did not earn the reputation as Victoria’s Adventure Capital for nothing!

Click here to keep up to date with Mansfield’s latest calendar of events. When you visit Mansfield or Mt Buller in Victoria’s North East you will enjoy the delights of a premium tourism region. The calendar of events is always full and exciting keeping this region buzzing and a popular place for Melbournites!

Make Sure you check out What’s On so you don’t miss out on the many events that fill up the local calendar such as the bush markets, music festival, theatrical productions, rodeo, mountain bike excursion or the famous Targa High Country Car Rally.

The Mansfield Township has a very busy and diverse retail hub and is an active, vibrant community with many of the locals originating from Melbourne having fallen in love with the place on their holidays.   Many of the local Mansfield businesses and tourism operators are featured on this website. We hope you enjoy your stay when you visit Mansfield and Mt Buller.

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