Just under 90 minutes northeast of Melbourne via the Yarra Valley, lies the beautiful Toolangi State Forest — perfect for a day trip or a long weekend escape.
Explore its thriving cool temperate rainforest, admire towering mountain ash trees and moss-covered creeks, and walk its quiet nature trails.
Spanning approximately 38,000 hectares, the forest stretches from the Yarra Ranges National Park in the south, to Murrindindi in the north. The forest also borders Murrindindi Scenic Reserve and Black Range State Forest.
Don’t miss the 700 metre return Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk, where you’ll encounter ancient myrtle beech trees and southern sassafras trees. Their dense canopy keeps the understory cool and shaded year-round. With wide, non-slip surface boardwalk and handrails, this is an easy and accessible walk for all visitors.
Just a short 8-minute drive from Wirrawilla is the large grassy Tanglefoot Picnic Area. Pack a picnic to enjoy at the picnic tables, or make use of the wood fired BBQ facilities.
From here, take the Kalatha Giant Tree Walk, a 500 metre trail winding through tall eucalyptus, tree ferns, mountain pepper and wattle trees. The Kalatha Giant, estimated to be over 350 years old, towers an impressive 73 metres tall with a 16-metre circumference.
For a longer adventure, try the Tanglefoot Loop — a 10km return trail which winds under large mountain ash and 1939 regenerated forest into fern gullies and over several timber bridges.
Or, intersecting the northern end of the Tanglefoot Loop is the Myrtle Gully Circuit — a 9 kilometre loop through lush cool temperate rainforest, featuring boardwalks and creek crossings.
Download the More to Explore app to read more about these two walks.
For an overnighter, camp among the mountain ash and California redwoods at Walindjerri Camp, or head north to Murrindindi Scenic Reserve north of Toolangi State Forest where you can choose from over seven riverside options dotted along the Murrindindi River.
Explore these sites in a scenic loop from Healesville
Start your day in Healesville and enjoy these forest sites as a loop. Begin with the Wirrawilla Rainforerst Walk, then continue onto the Kalatha Giant Tree Walk and Walindjerri. Then via Narbethong, travel back along the Black Spur Drive that winds through the forest landscape of mountain ash and lush ferns.
Dogs in state forest
Dogs are permitted in Toolangi State Forest but not permitted in any part of the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve.
Page last updated: 27/08/25