Low sandy forest and rare heathland around Lakes Entrance

Overview

Colquhoun State Forest sits just inland from Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland, close enough to feel part of the coast but with a distinctly bushland character of its own. It forms part of a broader stretch of public forest between Bruthen, Nowa Nowa and the Gippsland Lakes, and is one of the more accessible state forests in the district. The country here is generally low and gently undulating rather than rugged, with long sections of open eucalypt forest and sandy soils that give the area its dry, scrubby feel.

This is a place where the forest itself is the drawcard. Rather than dramatic peaks or deep valleys, Colquhoun is known for its wide tracts of lowland bush, its quiet creek lines and the sense of moving through a large, continuous forest close to the coast.

Highlights

The appeal of Colquhoun State Forest is in its broad lowland scenery and the contrast between dry open ridges, sandy flats and greener creek corridors. Mississippi Creek is one of the better-known natural features in the area, and the surrounding forest has recognised landscape values as well as patches of protected lowland vegetation.

The setting also helps explain why this forest feels different from the higher country farther north and west. Around Colquhoun, the land is flatter and more open, with long runs of eucalypt forest instead of alpine views or steep escarpments, giving the whole area a spacious, coastal-plain character.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable times to spend time in Colquhoun State Forest. The milder weather suits longer walks, and spring is especially good for seeing the forest when heath and understorey plants are in flower. One of the local threatened plants, Colquhoun grevillea, flowers from July to February, so the warmer half of the year can be particularly rewarding for anyone interested in native flora.

Winter can also be appealing if you prefer cooler temperatures and quieter bushland, while summer often brings hotter, drier conditions that change the feel of the forest considerably.

Plants and Animals

Colquhoun supports important lowland forest habitat and is home to a number of threatened plants and animals. Official sources note that it supports threatened species, and it is also recognised as important habitat for the glossy black cockatoo, with black she-oak stands mapped in the forest as part of habitat protection work.

The standout plant here is Colquhoun grevillea, a Victorian species found only in a small part of East Gippsland, with its known wild populations occurring in Colquhoun State Forest. It grows in heathy open forest on sandy or gravelly soils and is associated with a mix of eucalypts including silvertop, white stringybark, red stringybark and messmate. That gives the forest much of its character on the ground, with a dry, heathy understorey beneath open gum forest rather than dense wet bush.