Victoria is full of stunning forest walks to try, as well as excellent places to admire autumn leaves. Combine the two and you’ll get La Gerche Forest Walk, a lovely trail that’s just outside of Creswick, and about 25 minutes away from Ballarat. Stretch your legs on this leisurely loop, and look up at trees that are over 100 years old. Dogs are welcome to come along, so you can go for amazing autumn adventures with your fluffy bestie.
La Gerche Forest Walk
This scenic circuit trail will take you through the nursery plantations surrounding the Creswick Landcare Centre, as well as original plantings from forester John La Gerche. These trees, which now tower over the landscape, were planted in an attempt to rehabilitate the land after it was impacted by mining. Wind your way through a mixture of conifers and deciduous trees from the Northern Hemisphere, as well as Australian natives like eucalypts. As you amble through the forest, you’ll encounter creeks, old stables and signs explaining the history of the area. Feel like you’re in an enchanted wood as you spot thriving mushrooms and green moss.
The walk is about 2km long, and takes roughly one hour to complete. If you’re bringing your dog with you, it must be on a lead. The circuit is a fairly easy walk with a gentle incline.
Near the trail, you’ll also find a carving of John La Gerche, which was crafted from a fallen Californian Redwood that was originally planted by him.
While you’re in the area, check out the new mountain bike park, Djuwang Baring, which features a whopping 60km network of trails.