Plan Your Trip to Tarra Bulga National Park

Hidden deep within Victoria’s Strzelecki Ranges, Tarra Bulga National Park is a world of towering mountain ash trees, fern-covered gullies, and cool rainforest air. It’s one of the last remaining pockets of ancient temperate rainforest in the region. Here’s how you can make the most of a trip to this luscious part of Victoria. 

Victoria’s Timeless Rainforest

Hidden in the Strzelecki Ranges, just three hours east of Melbourne, Tarra-Bulga National Park feels like stepping into another green world. This cool-temperate rainforest is simply bursting with towering trees and luscious gullies. And home to lyrebirds, wallabies, wombats and more than a hundred bird species, it’s comes to life with the flapping of wings and the rustling of leaves.

One of the last remaining forests of its kind in Victoria, this fantastic national park protects a rare ecosystem that once blanketed much of Gippsland. Because unfortunately, much of the region’s original forest has been cleared over time, due to heavy logging.

Tarra-Bulga is one of the few places you can visit where this beautiful forest still stands just as it once did thousands of years ago. As a result, visitors come today for the winding trails, the wildlife and the iconic suspension bridge.

But it’s the feeling of the forest that stays with them; the freshness, the stillness, and the sense of stepping into something timeless. Tarra-Bulga is more than a walk in the forest; it’s a glimpse into an ancient world.

Here’s what you need to know about Tarra-Bulga National Park to get the most out of your visit.

Getting There

Tarra Bulga National Park sits in the Strzelecki Ranges, about a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne.

The most direct route is via Traralgon, winding through farmland before climbing into the forested hills around Balook village, where the visitor centre marks the park entrance.

And the drive from Melbourne, Traralgon, or from wherever you’re arriving, is worth taking slow, because the scenery shifts from open paddocks to dense rainforest as you cruise. In fact, the last stretch feels like you’ve entered another world.

If you’ve got time, stop at Tarra Falls or take a short detour along Grand Ridge Road for sweeping views over Gippsland.

Things to Do in Tarra Bulga National Park

From gentle loops to deeper trails, Tarra-Bulga rewards anyone willing to follow where the forest leads. Here are some of the best bits of the national park, and the things you can do to get the most out of your visit.

Walk the Corrigan Suspension Bridge

The park’s most iconic spot, the Corrigan Suspension Bridge, stretches across the rainforest canopy, offering spectacular views of the lush green valley below. It’s a short, easy walk and a must for first-time visitors. Even if you’re scared of heights, it’s not so bad, because the towering trees make you feel suspended amongst the canopy!

Picnic Spots

The Tarra Valley and Bulga picnic areas are perfect places to pause. You’ll find tables, barbecues, and plenty of shade; lovely spots to unpack lunch and listen to the forest.

Wildlife & Photography

Keep your eyes open for lyrebirds weaving through the undergrowth, wallabies grazing in clearings, and flashes of crimson rosellas overhead. Plus, the soft, shifting light makes Tarra Bulga a dream for photographers, especially in the early morning when mist hangs between the trees and every shade of green comes alive.

Take a Walk

To really know Tarra Bulga, you have to walk it, step by step through the cool, green quiet.

Fern Gully Nature Walk

An easy 1 km loop starting near the Tarra-Bulga Visitor Centre, the Fern Gully Nature Walk is the park’s signature experience. The trail crosses the famous Corrigan Suspension Bridge, suspended high above a deep fern gully, before looping back through towering Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech. It’s short, peaceful, and beautifully shaded — a perfect introduction to the rainforest and ideal for families or anyone wanting a slow wander through the green.

Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk

For a deeper experience, head to the Tarra Valley car park and follow the 1.4 km return trail that winds along Tarra River. The path is narrow and lush, weaving through dense tree ferns and moss-covered roots, with the sound of running water never far away. It leads to Cyathea Falls, a delicate waterfall tucked within the forest. This walk feels quieter and more immersive than the main visitor area — a real glimpse into the park’s wilder, older side.

Forest Track

Starting where the Lyrebird Ridge Track ends, this longer (4km) circuit loops back to the Visitor Centre via a section of the old Yarram–Balook Road. The trail leads you through tall mountain ash forest, a cool rainforest gully, and a rare stand of hazel pomaderris. With a few steeper, uneven sections along the way, it’s best suited to walkers looking for a bit more of a challenge.

Mountain Hickory Track

This scenic circuit (5.9km) follows parts of Goomballa Road and Grand Ridge Road, winding between Tarra Bulga National Park and nearby state forest. You can begin at either end of Grand Ridge Road, but bring a map since the trail isn’t signposted. Named for the uncommon Mountain Hickory Wattle, which blooms with yellow flowers in spring, it’s a peaceful walk through varied forest and quiet surrounds.

When to Visit

Tarra-Bulga is worth visiting any time of year, but each season has its own rhythm. Here’s what you can expect at each time of year.

• Spring brings a burst of new growth, wildflowers along the tracks, and active wildlife. It’s one of the best times for walking and photography, but you’ll probably still need a rain jacket!
• Summer offers a cool, green escape from the heat, with shaded trails and the sound of trickling water cutting through the stillness.
• Autumn slows everything down; the air turns crisp, the colours deepen, and the forest feels especially peaceful after rain. Come prepared, because it can be wet at this time of year.
• Winter is when Tarra-Bulga feels most dramatic, with mist curling through the trees and the air carrying that unmistakable (and rather chilly) rainforest freshness.

Practical Tips

A visit to Tarra Bulga feels remote, and that’s part of its charm, but that also means a little preparation goes a long way.

The weather here can shift quickly. Sitting high in the Strzelecki Ranges, the park is often several degrees cooler than Melbourne (which is a blessing on hot summer days!), with misty mornings and sudden showers even in summer. So it’s wise to pack layers, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy shoes or boots, especially if you’re walking after rain.

There are no cafés, shops, or petrol stations within the park, so bring your own food, water, and snacks. However, the picnic areas at Tarra Valley and Bulga are perfect for a home packed lunch surrounded by nature.

It’s worth nothing that the roads leading into the park are narrow and winding, and can be slippery when wet. Take your time, enjoy the drive, and be prepared for the odd hairpin turn!

Finally, Tarra Bulga’s rainforest ecosystem is delicate. Stick to marked tracks, avoid trampling vegetation, and keep noise low so you can spot wildlife, if you’re quiet, you might even hear the call of a lyrebird echoing through the trees.

Where to Stay near Tarra Bulga National Park

When hiking and exploration are on your to-do list for the day, a comfortable bed and plush amenities are always welcomed.

So, after a day spent on the trails, Mantra Traralgon is exactly where you want to land; it’s modern, fresh, and quietly comfortable. The rooms are light and airy, the beds are the kind you sink into, and the location puts you right in the middle of town without losing that easy, relaxed feel.

Looking for more to see and do in the area? Check out this Ultimate Guide to Traralgon.