Touring the Yarra State Forest
For those looking for a quiet weekend escape from Melbourne, the forests of Victoria’s Yarra Ranges offer plenty of opportunities to leave the suburbs behind. With winding forest roads, historic timber towns, scenic lookouts and secluded campsites, the region is well suited to a short touring adventure.
A recent weekend trip through Yarra State Forest took in Gembrook, Kurth Kiln State Park, Seven Acre Rock, Powelltown and Starlings Gap, providing a great mix of touring, sightseeing, walking and camping.
While much of the route is accessible to AWDs and camper trailers, some roads are better suited to smaller touring setups than caravans. If you are planning to explore the area, it pays to consider the road conditions and the capabilities of your vehicle before heading into the forest.
Coffee and country roads in Gembrook
The journey began with a drive towards Gembrook, a charming little town on the edge of the Yarra Ranges. It is the sort of place that makes a good first stop on a weekend touring itinerary, with an easy-going country atmosphere and somewhere to grab a coffee before heading deeper into the forest.
From Gembrook, the route continued towards Kurth Kiln State Park, following the roads through the forest and gradually leaving the more populated areas behind.
The scenery quickly changes as the roads wind through tall trees, making this part of the journey as much about the drive as the destination.
Taking the road to Seven Acre Rock
From Kurth Kiln, the trip continued along Beenak Road towards Seven Acre Rock. The road was manageable in an AWD, although there were muddy sections, sharp turns and some tighter, more uneven sections.
For a capable AWD, this made for an enjoyable forest drive. However, it is a different proposition when towing. The combination of narrow roads, sharp corners and muddy or uneven sections means this route is probably best avoided by larger caravans.
Arriving at Seven Acre Rock Lookout, the effort was rewarded with sweeping views across the surrounding ranges. A short walk from the car park leads to the lookout, making it an easy stop for travellers who want to stretch their legs without committing to a lengthy hike.
There is also a small picnic area and toilet facilities, making Seven Acre Rock a practical place to stop for a break.
It was also a particularly good spot for a travelling four-legged companion, with plenty of space around the lookout and an easy walk from the car park.
A stop in historic Powelltown
From Seven Acre Rock, the road descended towards Powelltown, a historic timber town with a fascinating connection to the region's logging history.
Today, Powelltown is a relatively quiet settlement with some simple amenities. There is a pub, a cricket ground and the relaxed atmosphere you would expect from a small country town.
Sometimes, that is all you need.
A short walk along the Reids Tramway Walk provided an opportunity to explore a little more of the area's history before heading back into the forest.
The former tramways are a reminder of just how important timber was to this part of Victoria, with the forest once supporting a significant logging industry.
Camping at Starlings Gap
From Powelltown, it was time to find somewhere to spend the night. The destination was Starlings Gap, a quiet forest campground surrounded by tall trees.
The access road is well formed, but there are still plenty of sharp corners, uneven surfaces and rocky sections to negotiate. An AWD or camper trailer is well suited to the trip, while larger caravans may find the access challenging.
The campsite itself is peaceful and relatively simple, with toilet facilities and plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding forest on foot.
One of the more interesting features is an old steam boiler, a relic of the local logging industry dating back to the 1930s. It provides a tangible connection to the history of the area and is well worth a look while exploring the campground.
There is also a longer walk of around 11km to Ada Tree for those looking to make a bigger day of it. With daylight disappearing and temperatures dropping, however, this trip called for a more relaxed evening around camp.
One thing to be aware of when planning a stay at Starlings Gap is the campsite layout. This isn't necessarily the type of campground where you simply pull your vehicle directly onto your campsite. Vehicles are parked in a designated area, with the individual sites located a short walk away.
On a busy weekend, this could be an important consideration when deciding what camping equipment to bring. Fortunately, the campground was quiet during this visit, allowing the camping setup to be arranged comfortably near the parking area.
At Starlings Gap, the Tiegear Caravan Bundle came in handy, with the guy ropes and springs used to secure the awning and provide extra peace of mind as the weather moved in.
With the awning properly secured, there was no need to spend the night worrying about a sudden gust turning the campsite upside down.
Settling in for the night
Once camp was established, it was time to get dinner underway.
A hearty beef stroganoff with rice cooked over the fire was an ideal meal after a day spent travelling through the forest.
The evening was almost completely windless, which made sitting around camp particularly comfortable. The downside was that keeping the fire going became a little more challenging, with barely a breeze to provide the oxygen needed to keep it burning strongly.
After dinner, there was just enough time to enjoy a few minutes of stargazing before clouds rolled in and rain began to fall.
With the forest around camp and rain tapping away through the night, it was a peaceful way to finish the day.
One of my top priorities is to always keep the setup clean and organised, so I always bring my Navigator Kitchen Buddy with me.
The Navigator Gear Kitchen Buddy with Adaptable Straps keeping all those camp-kitchen essentials organised and close at hand under the awning. The pocket is large enough for the olive oil, salt and pepper while the smaller nets keep all my seasoning secured.
From cooking utensils to the bits and pieces you reach for throughout the day, having everything in one place makes setting up and packing down that little bit easier.
An easy morning and the journey home
The following morning started with the essentials: coffee, breakfast and packing up camp.
There was no need to rush, and that is one of the appealing things about a short forest camping trip. Once the camp kitchen was packed away and everything was secured, the route continued towards Yarra Junction and Launching Place before heading home.
The trip covered plenty of ground without requiring a long-distance journey, making this section of Victoria a worthwhile option for a weekend touring escape.
Touring Yarra State Forest
The Yarr State Forest area offers a great combination of forest driving, history, walking and camping within reach of Melbourne. It is particularly well suited to travellers with an AWD, camper trailer or smaller touring setup who are comfortable navigating unsealed and occasionally uneven roads.
For caravan travellers, however, route planning is important. Some of the roads around Seven Acre Rock and Starlings Gap feature sharp corners, uneven terrain and narrower sections that aren't ideal for larger caravans.
For those with the right setup, though, the rewards are well worth it. From the views at Seven Acre Rock to the timber history of Powelltown and the peaceful surrounds of Starlings Gap, this corner of Victoria delivers exactly what many weekend campers are looking for: a quiet forest, a good campfire and a chance to slow down for a couple of days.
Sometimes, you don't need to travel hundreds of kilometres to feel like you've properly escaped.
Yarra State Forest: A Weekend Touring Adventure in Victoria