What Are The Secret Forest In Melbourne?

Forest lives in Victoria.

Giant trees, spectacular geological occurrences, human sorrow and triumph, the development of rare creatures, and frequent bushfires all find their natural habitat in the forested mountains that enclose Melbourne.

Water

The mountains we see today to the east in Melbourne have been formed by water. Western geologists and indigenous Australians place a premium on water's role in shaping the continent's topography, although they arrive at their conclusions differently. For example, how the land was constructed is described in detail in a Kulin creation myth.

Various creatures participate in a complex food chain in the waterways' streams, and rivers. Our pure water comes from the rain and snow that the mountains collect.

Changing the scenery

The mountains to the east of Melbourne were formed through a combination of geological processes and prolonged, steady erosion from nearby water.

From 500 Ma to the present, there have been five distinct stages in this development:

500-370 million years ago, during the period of assembly

About 500 billion years ago, the eastern half of the Australian continent was not present. Then, during the 130 million years between now and 370 million years ago, eastern Australia was pieced together from several continental fragments that migrated westward from the Asian plate (due to plate tectonic processes, or continental drift) and smashed into the preexisting crust.

Crustal mountains were formed when the crust was folded and twisted along the line of impact due to continental collisions. Scree, boulders, and landslides would have been regular sights in the lowlands.

The collision heated enough of the crust that has been pushed downhill to melt the rocks. Once the magma cools and crystallises inside the distorted sedimentary rocks, the result is granite.

From 290 to 270 million years ago, the Earth was glacial.

Gondwana, a member of Australia, was situated near the south pole during the Permian period (290–270 Mya). Australia's polar location meant that a large ice sheet blanketed much of the continent at this time.

This ice sheet would have evaporated as Gondwana migrated northward to lower latitudes. Mountain glaciers in the eastern Australian highlands would have constituted the ice age's penultimate phase of activity.  These glaciers, whether highland or valley, carved deep Shaped basins thru the rugged landscape.

Between 250 and 200 million years ago, mountains were formed.

Similar to the present-day Andes Mountains in South America, a large subduction zone bordered the eastern edge of Gondwana. In a subduction zone, the edge of a continent is lifted while the underside of another continent slides beneath it due to tectonic plate collision.

Peaking between 260 and 230 Ma, this process was the final significant mountain-building event to impact the eastern Gondwana edge. The highlands of southeastern Australia wouldn't exist without its contributions.

The early-formed granite in the highlands would have been exposed to the persistent and severe erosion caused by rivers & glaciers when the highlands originally developed some 370 million years ago.

After this final stage of mountain formation, rivers would have rapidly sliced into the high topography, accelerating the erosion rate.

Stage of separation, between 100 and 70 million years ago

At around 200 Ma, Gondwana split into smaller continent fragments, and the current continents started to take upon their present identities. After Antarctica broke off and moved to the south, Australia arose from eastern Gondwana.

Rift zones form when the crust thins and stretches before rupturing along a line of extension. This process is the inverse of mountain development. The crust is torn apart within these zones, and molten rock rises from the mantle to fill the void. The East African River Basin in Kenya and the Red Mediterranean Rift & Gulf of Suez are excellent examples of active rift zones.

Rifting caused the formation of cliffs and mountains that dropped precipitously into the newly formed oceans. The creation of fresh rivers to drain these precipitous cliffs initiated a new period of erosion throughout the southern coast of Australia.

Catchments of today's mountains, as of zero million years ago

South Eastern Australia's present-day highlands are all that remain of a mountain range that began its long and winding journey around 500 billion years ago.

Continual erosion is destroying the landscape. Until the highlands from south-eastern Australia have worn away and the terrain has returned to a flat, undulating plain, the current rivers will continue to erode the country for millions more years unless something else happens in the meantime to create mountains!

Origins of the Yarra River

History of Kulin's Origins

The mountains contained Moorabool, the "big water."

The huge water needed to be released, so the Wiradjuri Chief Barwood dug a canal up the valley with a stone axe. But Bah Baw was there to stop him. Moving north, he was once more halted by Don Buang with his siblings.

After meeting Yan-yan, another Wurundjeri man, Barwood headed west and took a shortcut across the hills to get to Warr-an-date. Yan-yan carved a passage using his stone axe to release Morang, the "big water," from his land.

Together, they renamed the area where the rivers Moorool and Morang converged Oink. Its Yarra Creek was created as it continued to make room for the Moorool and Morang rivers.

After repeated attempts to find softer ground, they finally reached the area where the floods surged out, forming Port Phillip Bay.

Biological organisms that can survive in aquatic environments

The shade of the trees protects the water in forest streams. As a result, the amount of plant matter produced (primary production) in the stream is low because of the lack of sunshine. Therefore, there is extremely little chance of primary producers in this ecosystem, and thus very little chance of animal life.

Forested streams have been found to rely on the leaves, bark, and wood of the surrounding trees for their food supply.

Even though animals living in streams have a hard time digesting this type of organic matter, it is quickly colonised by a wide variety of aquatic fungi and bacteria.

Some aquatic bug larvae and other aquatic invertebrates can eat these microorganisms by feeding on huge pieces of organic materials like leaves. Despite their low nutritional value, the leaves transport high-quality food in the form of microorganisms.

Degradation occurs more rapidly when fungi and bacteria can colonise a greater area of the leaves as they are bitten into tiny pieces.

The breakdown of organic waste is a crucial biological process that maintains the quality of wooded stream habitats.

A definition of "catchment," or the source of Melbourne's water.

The forested mountains to the west of downtown Melbourne house a system of weirs & dams that supply the city with water. The city of Melbourne receives high-quality water from its municipal system. The primary causes of this are related to the geology and administration of the forests of the catchment areas.

In the presence of mountains, warm, humid air rises, cools and condenses into precipitation (rain and snow). Because of this, the mountains receive far more precipitation than the lowlands around Melbourne.

A portion of the precipitation hits the ground and flows directly into the rivers, while the majority is 'caught' by the thick undergrowth and eventually seeps into the groundwater. Groundwater is stored in porous aquifers below the water table and seeps to the surface as springs and creeks.

Because of this groundwater, creeks can continue to flow even when weather conditions are dry. Since these streams flow through such an ancient landscape, most dissolved material that could disintegrate was washed away long before humans used them as water sources. As a result, the water is of the highest quality.

In the 1870s, authorities started reserving water catchment regions and forbidding cultivation and logging in the surrounding dense forests. The original motive was to protect Melbourne's water supply from contamination by fertilisers, silt, or human habitation.

As it became clear that "untouched" mature forests generate greater stream-water flow than logged forests, the debate shifted to the quantity of water available.

Melbourne's high-quality water supply is largely thanks to the city's catchment protection strategy, although debate persists over the industry's impact on water purity and availability.

Officials worry that cutting down trees will cause water quality to deteriorate, reservoirs to fill up, and additional treatment to be required before the water can be used for human use.

Experts in the timber industry defend the practice of scientific logging, arguing that it is possible to harvest catchment regions without negatively impacting water quality or quantity.

In a typical year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection will log approximately 300 ha (out of a total of 157,000 ha) of water catchments. Creating buffer states alongside streams and constructing drains on forestry tracks are two measures that can be taken to lessen the negative impact on water quality and yield. In addition, since fire trucks need easy access, Melbourne Water keeps the roadways in good shape.

Many in the water industry see the forest as a potential boon for Melbourne's suburbs by the clean water it provides. In addition, part says that using a portion of the forest water for irrigation systems north of the range is fair compensation for the loss of forest land caused by Melbourne's expansion.

Amazing surveying and engineering went into constructing reservoirs, dams, and water canals to bring water from the hills to Melbourne's homes. Damming valleys and rerouting waterways was a challenge that engineers rose to. Visitors' favourite aspects of their time in the Mountains Oak area are the picnic places created by landscaping the regions around the dams with imported trees.

Many watershed regions are off-limits to the general public, except bushwalkers (on designated trails), academics, and emergency responders. However, the watershed area is now included in either Dandenong Ranges Nature Reserve or Kinglake National Park.

This has resulted in the preservation of significant swaths of Mount Ash woodland, which is now almost entirely in its natural "wilderness" state. These changes show how the forest's monetary worth (in this case, its function in providing water again for the city) has encouraged the protection of natural regions.

Geological Shifts

Much Australian flora and fauna are only found in the thick eucalypt woods inside the hills east of Melbourne. They're very different from the ones on other continents. It stands to reason that this would be the case, given that Australia is an island whose plant and animal life are distinct from other continents.

Woods of a different kind can be found in the sheltered, moist gullies and along southern faces; these forests are distinct from the trees and shrubs forest but eerily similar to those of New Zealand or Central America, both of which are divided by the oceans.

Antarctic fossils show evidence of this chilly temperate rainforest. What may have caused this to occur? Evidence from rock, relics, and animal and plant taxonomy suggest a dramatic history of shifting continents, climates, and evolutionary processes.

This enchanted wood is located approximately an hour outside of the city of Melbourne.

Massive trees, ancient tree ferns, and a creeping mist roll in on a cold winter morning. You can find this magnificent natural woodland in the Dandenong Ranges, located just an hour's drive southeast of Melbourne.

This region is a photographer's paradise and offers countless opportunities for picturesque drives and discoveries of hidden jewels. This River Ranges National Park is home to three attractions worth visiting.

With a Black Spur on the Rope

A Black Spiral Drive is a segment of the Neutral Highway that can be accessed from Healesville's east. Amidst the towering mountain ash trees and bright tree ferns (some of which reach heights of several metres above the ground), the path winds.

The forest thins out along the many twisting turns, revealing the verdant gullies above and below.

If you must stop to take Instagram shots (and you should, because it's stunning), do so cautiously. Parking is scarce and is only accessible via the westbound route back towards Healesville.

We recommend making the trip out of Awareness and Awareness from west to east if you haven't been there before, but if you want to stop and snap pictures of the forest on the way back, you should turn around and go the opposite direction. Avoid danger first, then take pictures.

Art Exhibit Featuring a Tropical Rainforest

If you want to go deeper into the Dandenong Ranges, you can follow the tougher C507 route south into Warburton from Black Bull Drive, which heads east towards Narbethong. It's just as beautiful as the rest of Black Hawk Drive, but there's a lot less traffic and many more places to pull over.

Stop by the Rainforest Gallery en route to Warburton to explore a native woodland and babbling stream.

Ancient trees abound. The path, 350 metres long, travels right through the gully, past the stands of Birchwood & ancient Myrtle Oak trees. Rainforest Gallery is most beautiful whenever the river is clearest, and fog blankets the canopy above. So take it easy, catch your breath, and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.

Those majestic redwood trees in California

Make sure to leave enough time after lunch in Warburton to see the massive California Coastal redwoods in East Bracknell. Trees that were established in the early 1900s and allowed to grow unchecked have now reached great heights, with only their trunks remaining visible. Carry a picnic and take a stroll among the soaring natural pillars.

Conclusion

Geological processes and long, continuous erosion from surrounding water developed the mountains to the east of Melbourne. There have been five stages of this evolution from 500 Million to the present: Crustal mountains were formed when the crust was folded and twisted along the line of impact due to continental collisions; Gondwana, a part of Australia, was located near the south pole during the Permian period; and eastern Australia was pieced together from several continental fragments that migrated west from the Asian plate during the 130 million years between now and 370 million years ago (290-270 Mya). As Gondwana moved north to lower latitudes, this ice sheet would have melted. During the last stage of the ice age, mountain glaciers in the eastern Australian highlands would have carved deep, shaped basins across the difficult environment.

Gondwana's eastern margin was produced by a massive subduction zone between 260 and 230 Ma. The highlands of southeast Australia couldn't have formed without this phase, which was the last major mountain-building event to affect the eastern end of Gondwana. At some point between 100 and 70 million years ago, Gondwana broke apart into smaller continent fragments, and the modern continents began to take on their present identities. A new period of erosion began throughout the whole southern coast of Australia as cliffs and mountains emerged along the rift lines and plunged steeply into the forming oceans. The highlands of modern-day South Eastern Australia are all left of a mountain range that emerged some 500 billion years ago and has since made a tortuous trek across the continent, with continuing erosion degrading the terrain along the way. If nothing else happens to generate mountains, current rivers will continue to erode the area for millions of years until the highlands from south-eastern Australia have worn away and the terrain has returned to a flat, undulating plain.

Bah Baw was there when Wiradjuri Chief Barwood tried to dig a canal up the valley with a stone axe. Barwood took a shorter route to Warr-an-date by heading west after meeting Yan-yan, another Wurundjeri guy. After freeing Morang (meaning "great water") from his land with his stone axe, the locals gave the confluence of the Moorool and Morang rivers the new name of Oink. After many failed attempts to reach the softer ground, they arrived where the floods had originally burst out, creating what is now known as Port Phillip Bay. Streams in forested areas get their nutrients from fallen leaves, bark, and tree trunks and are quickly colonised by numerous aquatic fungi and bacteria species.

A vital biological activity that keeps woodland stream ecosystems in good shape is the decomposition of organic debris. The geology and management of the forests in the catchment areas are largely responsible for Melbourne's high-quality municipal water supply. Melbourne's catchment preservation policy is largely responsible for the high quality of the city's water supply. Warm, muggy air rises in a mountainous environment, where it is cooled and condenses as precipitation. Most of this rain falls to the ground and is 'caught' by the dense vegetation before it seeps into the groundwater or makes its way to the rivers. This water is collected in aquifers below the ground's surface and eventually makes its way to the surface in springs and creeks. Most dissolvable materials were swept away from these streams long before humans used them because they flow through such an ancient landscape.

Water catchment areas were set aside in the 1870s, and officials banned farming and logging in the surrounding forests. However, water availability became a point of contention as it became apparent that "untouched" mature forests generate greater stream-water flow than logged woods. Officials are concerned that deforestation would lead to a decline in water quality, a buildup of sediment in reservoirs, and the need for more water treatment before it can be used by humans, even though the industry's impact on water purity and availability is hotly debated. Timber experts defend scientific logging, saying it's possible to cut down trees in catchment areas without compromising water quality or availability. Approximately 300 hectares (ha) of water catchments are logged annually by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

One way to mitigate water quality and crop yield damage is to install drains on forestry roads and establish buffer zones next to streams. Some see uIn addition, using some of the forest water for irrigation systems north of the range as fair compensation for the loss of forest land brought on by Melbourne's expansion. It is supported by many in the water industry who see the forest as a potential boon for Melbourne's suburbs because of the clean water it provides.

Engineers in Melbourne rose to the task of constructing reservoirs, dams, and water canals to transport water from the hills to the city's residents. A large portion of the watershed is protected as part of Dandenong Ranges Nature Reserve or Kinglake National Park, making it inaccessible to the general public. As a result, large sections of Mount Ash's forest have been kept in their original "wilderness" condition. Rocks, artifacts, and the classification of animals and plants all point to a complex and eventful past where continents moved, temperatures changed, and species evolved. You can find this magical forest about an hour outside of Melbourne, and it's a great place to go for scenic drives and to look for hidden treasures.

From Healesville's eastern side, travellers can gain access to the Black Spiral Drive section of the Neutral Highway. It curves through a thicket of mountain ash trees and vivid tree ferns, giving way to views of forested ravines on either side. Inconveniently, the only way to get to the limited parking is to drive back west, towards Healesville. Black Bull Drive travels east towards Narbethong; however, if you wish to venture farther into the Dandenong Ranges, you may take the more challenging C507 route south into Warburton. On the way to Warburton, stop by the Rainforest Gallery to wander through a native rainforest and gurgling creek filled with massive, ancient trees. Relax, take a deep breath, and take in the breathtaking views of the mountains. After lunch, plan to visit East Bracknell to see the towering California Coastal redwoods.

Content Summary

• Victoria is home to many different types of forests. For example, the forested mountains surrounding Melbourne are home to everything from giant trees to unusual species to frequent bushfires.
• Mountains can be seen today to the east of Melbourne, formed by water.
• The importance of water in forming the continent's topography is recognised by both Western geologists and indigenous Australians, albeit in different ways.
• A Kulin creation myth, for instance, provides a detailed account of the process by which the Earth was formed.
• Many species work together in the ocean, rivers, and streams to form a complicated food chain.
• Pure water for human consumption is gathered from precipitation in the mountains.
• Transitioning to new surroundings
• Geological processes and slow, persistent erosion from adjacent water is responsible for the mountains' formation to the east of Melbourne.
• There have been five stages of this evolution from 500 Ma to the present:
• In the time frame of 500-370 million years ago, during assembly
• The eastern half of Australia did not exist until about 500 million years ago.
• The eastern part of Australia is made up of multiple continental chunks that drifted westward from the Asian plate (due to plate tectonic processes, or continental drift) and slammed into the preexisting crust during the 130 million years between now and 370 million years ago.
• Due to continental collisions, the crust was folded and twisted along the path of contact, creating crustal mountains.
• In the lowlands, debris like scree and boulders and natural disasters like landslides would have been commonplace.
• The crust pushed downhill by the collision got hot enough to melt the rocks.
• Granite is the consequence of magma crystallising within deformed sedimentary rocks as it cools.
• There was a glacial period on Earth from 290 to 270 million years ago.
• During the Permian era, Australia's sister continent Gondwana was close to the south pole (290–270 Mya).
• During this time, much of Australia was covered by an enormous ice sheet due to its polar location.
• As Gondwana moved north to lower latitudes, this ice sheet would have melted.
• The presence of mountain glaciers in the eastern Australian highlands would have characterised the penultimate phase of the ice age.
• Gondwana's eastern margin was marked by a massive subduction zone, much like the present-day Andes Mountains in South America.
• When two continents collide, one is pushed up and the other slides under it, creating a subduction zone.
• The activity reached its height between 260 and 230 Ma, marking the end of the last major mountain-building event to affect the eastern margin of Gondwana.
• Without it, the highlands of southern Australia wouldn't exist.
• Once the highlands were established, around 370 million years ago, the early-formed granite would have been subjected to the continual and severe erosion caused by rivers and glaciers.
• The rapid river cutting into the high topography after this final stage of mountain development would have greatly increased the erosion rate.
• This split occurred between 100 and 70 million years ago.
• The continents began to take on their current identities at roughly 200 Ma when Gondwana broke into smaller continent fragments.
• Australia emerged from eastern Gondwana after Antarctica split apart and relocated to the south.
• Crust rift zones develop when the crust thins and extends before cracking along an elongational fault.
• This method works in the opposite direction of mountain formation.
• The crust is ripped apart within these zones, and the mantle's molten rock rises to fill the void.
• A result of rifting was the creation of mountain ranges with sheer drop-offs into the oceans.
• A new era of erosion along Australia's southern coast was sparked when new rivers were carved to drain the cliffs.
• Beginning zero million years ago, the modern mountains' catchments
• The highlands of modern-day South Eastern Australia are all that remain of a mountain range that first rose there about 500 billion years ago.
• The terrain is slowly being destroyed by erosion.
• Unless something else happens to generate mountains in the meanwhile, current rivers will continue to erode the country for millions of years until the highlands from south-eastern Australia have worn away and the region has returned to a flat, undulating plain.
• Wiradjuri Chief Barwood constructed a canal with a stone axe higher up the valley to unleash the massive flood.
• However, Bah Baw was present to thwart his plans.
• As he continued his journey to the north, he was once again detained by Don Buang and his siblings.
• Barwood took a shorter route to Warr-an-date by heading west after meeting Yan-yan, another Wurundjeri guy.
• Yan-yan constructed a tunnel using his stone axe that allowed Morang, the "great water," to flow through and out of his territory.
• Oink is the new name they gave where the rivers Moorool and Morang meet.
• As it expanded to accommodate the Moorool and Morang rivers, it gave rise to Yarra Creek.
• Once the floodwaters had receded, they could approach the region that would become Port Phillip Bay on the softer land they had been searching for.
• Aquatic life forms are biological entities that can live in water.
• It's safe to drink the water in forest streams because of the trees overhead.
• Due to the lack of sunlight, there is a shortage of plant materials (primary production) in the waterway.
• As a result, primary producers—and by extension, animal life—are highly unlikely to exist in this ecosystem.
• It has been discovered that forest streams get their nutrition from the leaves, bark, and wood of the trees in their immediate environment.
• Stream-dwelling animals may have difficulty breaking down this kind of organic debris, but a wide range of aquatic fungi and bacteria swiftly colonises it.
• The larvae of certain aquatic insects and other aquatic invertebrates can consume these microbes when they feed on large pieces of organic material like leaves.
• The leaves may not have much in the way of essential nutrients, but the bacteria they carry are excellent sources of nourishment.
• When leaves are nibbled into smaller and smaller bits, fungi and bacteria can colonise a larger area of the leaves, speeding up the degradation process.
• A vital biological activity that keeps woodland stream ecosystems in good shape is the decomposition of organic debris.
• An explanation of the term "catchment" refers to the area from which Melbourne draws its water.
• Weirs and dams are located in the forested mountains west of Melbourne's central business district.
• Rainfall forms as warm, humid air rises, cools and condenses in the vicinity of mountains (rain and snow).
• That's why it rains so much more in the highlands than in the lowlands near Melbourne.
• Some rain falls on the ground and runs off into the rivers, but the vast majority is "caught" by the dense vegetation and seeps into the Earth.
• The water table is below the level at which groundwater is held in porous aquifers, eventually emerging as springs and creeks.
• Groundwater ensures that waterways keep flowing, even in dry periods.
• Most dissolvable materials were swept away from these streams long before humans used them because they flow through such an ancient landscape.
• This means that the water is of the greatest possible quality.
• Water catchment areas were set aside in the 1870s, and officials banned farming and logging in the surrounding forests.
• The original goal was to keep fertilisers, silt, and even people out of Melbourne's water supply.
• Water availability became a point of contention as it became apparent that "untouched" mature forests generate greater stream-water flow than logged woods.
• However, there is an ongoing dispute regarding the industry's effect on water purity and availability, even though the high-quality water supply is largely attributable to the city's catchment preservation policy.
• The government is concerned that if trees are cut down, reservoirs will fill up, and more treatment will be needed before the water can be utilised for human use.
• Timber experts defend scientific logging, saying it's possible to cut down trees in catchment areas without compromising water quality or availability.
• Approximately 300 hectares (ha) of water catchments are logged annually by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
• One way to mitigate water quality and crop yield damage is to install drains on forestry roads and establish buffer zones next to streams.
• In addition, Melbourne Water ensures the roads are always passable for fire trucks.
• As a result of its relatively pure water, many in Melbourne's water business consider the forest a possible windfall for the city's suburbs.
• The reservoirs, dams, and water canals built to transport water from the hills to Melbourne's residences required incredible surveying and engineering.
• Engineers took on the challenge of damming valleys and rerouting streams.
• The imported trees used to landscape the areas around the dams are the most popular feature of the Mountains Oak area among visitors.
• Besides bushwalkers (on established paths), researchers, and emergency responders, many watershed zones are off-limits to the general public.
• As a result, large sections of Mount Ash's forest have been kept in their original "wilderness" condition.
• These alterations demonstrate how the monetary value of the forest (in this example, its role in replenishing the city's water supply) has prompted the preservation of natural areas.
• Several species of plants and animals are unique to Australia and can only be found in the dense eucalypt forests inside the hills east of Melbourne.
• The ones on other continents are nothing like them at all.
• This makes perfect sense, given that Australia is an island with flora and fauna unique among the world's continents.
• In the sheltered, damp gullies and along the southern faces, you'll find woods that are different from the trees and shrubs forest but hauntingly similar to those of New Zealand or Central America, which are separated from one another by seas.
• Traces of this cold temperate rainforest can be found in Antarctica fossils.
• Rocks, artifacts, and the classification of animals and plants all point to a complex and eventful past where continents moved, temperatures changed, and species evolved.
• You'll find this magical forest about an hour from Melbourne.
• The mist rolls in on a chilly winter morning with the massive trees and ancient tree ferns.
• The Dandenong Ranges, approximately an hour's drive southeast of Melbourne, is home to wonderful natural woodland.
• A photographer's dream, with endless chances for scenic drives and the discovery of hidden gems, this area is a must-visit.
• From Healesville's eastern side, travellers can gain access to the Black Spiral Drive section of the Neutral Highway.
• The trail twists among tall mountain ash trees and brilliant tree ferns (some of which grow to heights of several metres above the ground).
• The forest thins out along the many sharp curves, revealing the verdant gullies above and below.
• It's well worth stopping for Instagram photos, but please be careful if you do.
• Inconveniently, the only way to get to the limited parking is to drive back west, towards Healesville.
• If you've never gone to Awareness and awareness before, we suggest leaving in the western direction and returning in the eastern direction so that you can stop and take pictures in the forest on the way back.
• Stay out of harm's way, and only then worry about snapping photos.
• The scenery is on par with the rest of Black Hawk Drive, but there's far less traffic and more opportunities to pull over.
• On the way to Warburton, stop by the Rainforest Gallery to experience a native forest and bubbling stream.
• There are several old trees here.
• There is a 350-meter route that winds through the gully, past the groves of Birchwood and the ancient Myrtle Oak trees.
• Rainforest Gallery is most stunning when the clear river and fog cover the canopy above.
• Relax, take a deep breath, and take in the breathtaking vistas of the mountains.
• Those California redwoods are quite magnificent.
• After lunch in Warburton, drive to East Bracknell to observe the towering California Coastal redwoods.
• Large, unsightly trunk remains of trees planted in the early 1900s were allowed to grow unrestrained.
• Pack a lunch and spend the day hiking among the towering pillars of nature.