Local Vic

Noojee is one of my favorite places to visit any time the year. Tucked into a lush valley along the Latrobe River in Gippsland, Noojee feels like a quiet pause between mountains and forest. Some people refer to Noojee as a ‘Valley of Rest.’

The drive to Noojee is one of Victoria’s most scenic short routes, and the beauty lies not just in the destination but the journey itself. Noojee is a popular pit stop for those going towards the Mount Baw Baw ski fields but I think it deserves more time.

Route Guide to Noojee

• Noojee is approximately 125 km east of Melbourne and 38 km north of Warragul.
• Most scenic route is via Warburton Highway (C425) through Yarra Junction and Powelltown. Allow around two hours each way (longer if you stop which you should).
• Enroute, we recommend stopping Gladysdale Bakehouse for snacks and coffee break.
• Powelltown is a historic timber settlement, and then meanders deeper into fern-filled gullies that feel like they’ve never been touched by time.
• Before reaching Noojee, you can also take a slight detour to Loch Valley. Here the short Loch Valley Tramway Walk follows an old timber tramline through the forest. It is a gentle 40-minute loop which is a quiet introduction to the region’s logging past. Take in the scent of eucalyptus and the sound of trickling creeks which are your constant companions.
  Start/ finish: McCarthy Spur Rd, Noojee.

The name Noojee comes from Aboriginal language and is often interpreted as “valley of rest” or “place of repose.” Noojee once belonged to the Wurundjeri tribe, who cherished its lands long before the arrival of European settlers.

What to see & do in Noojee

Noojee Trestle Bridge & Rail Trail

This historic wooden trestle bridge is perhaps the first thing people get to see and is Victoria’s highest surviving timber trestle bridge.

Local Legend: Bridge No. 7 — Burnt Down and Rebuilt in 1939

The Noojee Trestle Bridge is the last survivor of seven similar timber trestle bridges that once carried the Warragul–Noojee branch railway line, opened in 1919 to access the timber country in the surrounding hills.

At 102 metres long and 21 metres high, supported by 19 sets of timber piles, it was an engineering achievement of its era and the only way to get the timber out of the steep country north of the town. The line operated until 1954, when it was closed and the track lifted. On Black Friday, January 1939, the bridge burned to the ground. In the same year, it was rebuilt — the repair gangs working through winter to restore the structure. The remaining six bridges of the original seven have since been lost to fire, flood or dismantling. No. 7 was restored again in 2022, with new decking, pile repairs and handrails installed.

Today, it stands as a quiet relic, draped in moss and surrounded by ferns, echoing the town’s timber heritage.

The Trestle Bridge is accessible two ways: a 3 km walk from the Noojee Heritage Centre on School Road (flat, easy, suitable for families, following the old railway alignment through eucalyptus forest) or a short drive to the car park directly at the bridge base off Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road.

The bridge is best appreciated from both angles; one from below to understand its scale and from the top to experience the forest views. The curved structure catches light differently at different times of day; late morning in autumn, when the forest floor catches warm light through the surrounding mountain ash and tree ferns, is ideal for photography.

Noojee Heritage Center

The Noojee Heritage Center is a recent addition, located just a few metres away from Noojee Pub.

Here, you get to see a replica of the original Noojee railway station with a J550 steam class locomotive, a railway goods shed and a 1960 Louvre Van Carriage. It’s interactive and family-friendly. Kids love pretending to keep the steam train running by tossing in sticks!

There are a couple of Tramway Walks from here, including the Water Wheel Walk and Ralph Cornwall Loch Valley Tramway Walk (5km return). You can also do the Trestle Bridge Rail Trail (an easy 6 km (return) which is one of the oldest wooden trestle bridges in Victoria! There were many others that have now been destroyed so seeing this still standing is quite interesting and a must-do if you are in the area.

Toorongo Falls & Circuit Walk (6 kms from Noojee Pub)

Visit the Toorongo Falls and Amphitheatre Falls which are 600 metres apart.

The complete circuit walk is a 2.2-kilometre loop that meanders through cool temperate rainforest, where moss carpets tree trunks and the air smells of rain. The track splits:

• One path leads to Toorongo Falls that shows off a 25-metre cascade tumbling down a fern-lined rock face.
• The other leads to Amphitheatre Falls which is smaller, quieter but equally beautiful.

It’s an easy, peaceful walk suitable for most visitors. Read more about the falls at Toorongo Falls Circuit Walk, Noojee.

Marvel & Meet the ‘Ada Tree’

Rising more than 75 metres tall with a base circumference of 15 metres, this mountain ash tree is considered to be one of Victoria’s largest living tree (surviving fire and storms)! It’s super huge and you will be in awe of its size.

It is estimated to be over 300 years old which means it was already a mature forest giant when the first European settlers arrived in Port Phillip.

The tree is believed to be named after Ada Mortimore (née Hansen), a local resident who knew the surveyor who first documented it. Discovered publicly in 1986, it survived the Black Friday fires of 1939 that destroyed most of the surrounding forest probably because of the creek gully where it stands that provided just enough moisture to protect it. It is now protected within the Ada Tall Trees Reserve.

Ada Tree Walk : The walk from the picnic area is 3.2 km return and takes around 90 minutes at a relaxed pace. Dogs are welcome on lead. It is an easy walk, suitable for all fitness levels and doable for all ages. There is a sheltered picnic table and toilet facilities close to the car park.

Glen Nayook Bushland Reserve (12 km from Noojee, towards Drouin)

This easy 1.5 km return walk offers a beautiful tree-fern gully walk

Cafés, Trout and Country Charm

We love our drives here and often travel for lunch at the Noojee Pub or Toolshed Noojee. For me, the beautiful location overlooking the river makes it extra special.

For something a bit more relaxed, stop at Little Red Duck Café, where you can enjoy homemade cakes, hot coffee, and local produce. The café’s riverside setting makes it perfect for a slow morning or afternoon pause.

A visit to Alpine Trout Farm lets you experience hand-feeding and catching rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon in mountain-fed ponds. If you’re interested in catching a trout or salmon, this is the perfect place. What’s more, they provide BBQ facilities, making it an ideal setting for a picnic by the waterside.

Location & distance guide to Noojee

Route: Noojee is located 126 km east of Melbourne via the Princes Highway and 38 km north of Warragul.

Travel Tip: As with most small towns, many cafés and shops in the region close early, especially on weekdays. Plan your meals or carry some snacks if you’re staying late at the waterfalls or trestle bridge.

All Images copyright @ashimaelectric