If you like visiting hidden gems in Australia, then I have a gem I recently uncovered in Victoria’s Gippsland. Yep, come with me on a visit to Noojee.
Noojee was a complete surprise to me. I had heard about it and that it had a famous trestle bridge, but I questioned why I would go to a town to look at a bridge. Then I thought, why not!
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Where is Noojee?
Noojee is a town located 125km east of Melbourne. To get there you drive along the Warburton Highway which is in the lower Yarra Valley area. Before you get to Warburton (a great town of the Yarra Valley to visit) you turn onto the C425 and follow it all the way down to the C426 which is the Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road. This leads you straight into Noojee.
If you are coming from somewhere in Melbourne it can take around 2 hours to reach by car. You can also get to Noojee on public transport. Take a V/Line train from Flinders Street Station, Melbourne to Warragul, then catch the route 89 bus to Noojee. This can take around 3.5 – 4 hours.
Why visit Noojee?
For a small town in the midst of the Noojee State Forest, nestled in the foothills of the Great Diving Range and the ski area of Mt Baw Baw, Noojee (surprisingly) has some great things to see and do. Not only adults will love Noojee, but any kids visiting Noojee will love it too!
What to See and Do in Noojee and Surrounds
Before you even arrive in Noojee you will be driving through the Noojee State Forest dominated by tall, towering Mountain Ash forest and wet forest types of trees. If you open your car window you can smell how fresh the air is. What most people come to Noojee to see is the Noojee Trestle Bridge. This is where I headed first, and it didn’t disappoint.
Noojee Trestle Bridge
The Noojee Trestle Bridge is the highlight of any visit to Noojee.
Built in 1919, it’s the tallest surviving wooden trestle bridge in Victoria. It is an incredible piece of engineering and was the largest bridge of its type in the Southern Hemisphere – and that is saying something.
It was part of the train service running between Nayook (15km south-west of Noojee) and Warragul (50km south of Noojee). Often referred to as Number 7, it was one of seven bridges along the train track.
The primary purpose was to transport timber from the forests around Noojee to Warragul. It also transported people and livestock along the line and at its peak in 1943, there were two daily services. As road haulage became popular in the late 1940s, rail services decreased.
However, in 1954 a special passenger train service ran to take locals to Warragul for the Royal visit of the recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, the rail line was progressively closed and dismantled and some destroyed by fire. But Number 7 remained. It sat in the Noojee Forest until 1989 when the then Department of Conservation Forests and Lands (now the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) engaged engineers to report on the bridge’s structure. Possibly to dismantle it like the other.
The report, thankfully, came back positive with much of the bridge in a good state, but some areas needed repairing or replacing. And so, repairs and restoration began. Thank goodness they did, as now you get to see and enjoy this wonderful piece of history.
To find the Noojee Trestle Bridge, it is well signed as you drive along the C426. It is before Noojee town if driving from Melbourne. Turn off the C426 when advised by the sign and follow the road to the bridge. It appears through the trees. It is a short walk from the carpark.
Make time to view it from a distance. Walk across it taking in the views and underneath it to look up at this interesting structure.
See the Noojee Trestle Bridge from a distance, on the top and underneath
Other things to see and do in and around Noojee
Once you have spent time with the Noojee Trestle Bridge head into Noojee town as there are others things to see and do.
Gladys Sanderson Park
Driving into Noojee I found it is a small town. On looking for a place to park the car, I found the Gladys Sanderson Park. This park is right on the river and there were a couple of people fishing. The park is named after Gladys Sanderson, known as ‘The Angel of Noojee’.
Gladys was the assistant postmistress at the Noojee Post Office at the time of the fires that ravaged much of Victoria in 1940. As fires closed in on Noojee Gladys was the only person in the town who could operate the telephone switchboard that was the only link between isolated families in the area and between Noojee and Warragul. Families were saved by Gladys not leaving her post on the switchboard. Gladys stayed until the Post Office caught fire and then she took refuge in the La Trobe River. Once the fire had passed Gladys was back at her post. She was awarded the medal of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘gallantry and devotion to duty’.
Gladys Sanderson Park by the La Trobe River
Noojee Heritage Centre
After visiting Gladys Sanderson Park, we drove to the nearby Noojee Heritage Centre – we probably could have walked but didn’t realise how close it was!
The Noojee Heritage Centre is great for history buffs, train lovers and anyone who wants to learn a lot more about Noojee. It tells the story of the region’s timber industry, railway history and the resilience of the local community.
Noojee Heritage Centre
Noojee Hotel
Noojee town is very small, and there are a couple of places to get a meal or snack however, I soon learnt you cannot come to Noojee and not enjoy a meal at the famous Noojee Hotel.
Sitting on the banks of the La Trobe River the large country pub features a large wooden deck and outdoor seating areas overlooking bushland, a grassy area and the river and, has a dinosaur out the front! Yep, a local resident sculpted a T-Rex out of bull ferns in the early 1960s. It rotted but in 2015 the owner of the pub restored a version of this dinosaur and it greets you as you arrive at the pub.
Open for lunch and dinner, it is a great place to unwind in a relaxed atmosphere. And the food was pretty good too! You can get typical Australian pub food at this gorgeous pub.
Find Noojee Hotel @ 411 Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road, Noojee VIC 3833.
great place to eat is the Noojee Hotel
Alpine Trout Farm
When driving to Noojee, we past the Alpine Trout Farm, but didn’t stop as our aim was to see the Noojee Trestle Bridge. But we stopped on our way home (but it was closed)!
If you love fishing and eating trout then you might want to visit the Alpine Trout Farm. There are different types of trout you can catch, clean and cook. I thought about catching my own lunch, but decided to save myself for a pub meal at the Noojee Hotel – which I had heard great things about.
Toorongo Falls
A short drive from Noojee town is the stunning Toorongo Falls. It is located in the Toorongo Falls Reserve and is very scenic. The falls can be reached on a 2.2km loop walking track. You will walk through lush rainforest and pass crystal-clear streams before seeing the Toorongo Falls and Amphitheatre Falls.
If you are feeling a bit hungry after your drive from Melbourne there are picnic tables and a toilet block at the start of the walking track. Sit amongst the towering mountain grey gum and mountain ash eucalyptus.
If looking for somewhere to stay in Joojee, there are two campgrounds in the reserve.
Toorongo Falls Campground One is an open, grassy camping area with expansive flat campsites along the beautiful Toorongo River. The campsites are suitable for tent and vehicle-based camping with fire pits and picnic tables. It can be accessed year-round by all vehicle types and is suitable for large caravans. It’s close to the Toorongo Falls Walk.
Toorongo Falls Campground Two is a flatter large, grassy camping spot further up the road, good for small caravans and campervans. It is closed each year from early June until September school holidays.
Ada Tree
Up a long dirt road you can find the Ada Tree. The Ada Tree is a giant mountain ash estimated to be over 300 years old and one of Victoria’s largest trees. It is around 76 metres tall and has a circumference of 15 metres.
The Ada Tree can be reached by a walking track that starts at the Ada Tree car park and picnic area (after the drive along the dirt road). The walk winds through cool temperate rainforest with groves of ancient myrtle beech, sassafras and tree ferns to reach a viewing platform overlooking this impressive tree.
The 3.6 kilometre loop walk takes about 1.5 hours to complete, returning to the car park.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Noojee
Noojee is one of those destinations that surprises you, and it definitely surprised me. From historic landmarks and fascinating local history to great food, fishing and beautiful waterfalls, it makes for a perfect weekend escape or great Melbourne day trip. If you are only visiting to see the trestle bridge and to eat at the pub, a day visit is perfect however, I’d make it a couple of days if you want to see the waterfalls and Ada Tree.
Other Victorian Gems to visit
This sounds like a great day trip, visiting the historic trestle bridge, walking to the waterfalls, and enjoying a relaxing lunch at the pub along the river.
My visit to Noojee and the trestle bridge was a great day trip, however, next time I’ll stay a couple of days as there is so much to see and do in the area – I was totaly surprised!
We are planning a return visit to Australia next year. So interesting to read about the hidden gem of Noojee. I can see why the Noojee Trestle Bridge is a highlight of things to do on a visit. And we would not miss a stop at Toorongo Falls. A great small town when we get to the Melbourne area.
I hope you can visit the Noojee Trestle Bridge on your next visit. It is well worth the drive.
Noojee Trestle Bridge looks like a true gem you discovered! Still standing strong from 1919, the bridge has some impressive history. I would love to visit the Toorongo falls too. It reminds me of the Agnes falls we discovered – also en route from Lakes entrance towards Melbourne. This part of Australia has some hidden gems indeed.
Noojee Trestle Bridge is a true gem. One I wasn’t expecting and I’m so glad I found it. I hope you can too on your next visit.