Granite Ridges and Eucalypt Forest in the Pyrenees

Overview

Pyrenees State Forest sits in the central Victorian goldfields near Avoca, about 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. This is a rugged section of the Pyrenees Range, where forested slopes, rocky high points and folded ridgelines give the area a more mountainous feel than much of the surrounding countryside.

Much of the forest has long been valued for its mix of scenery, bushwalking, wildflowers and wildlife. Part of the area is now included in the newer Pyrenees National Park, formed from 10,600 hectares of the state forest together with the Landsborough and Landsborough Hill nature conservation reserves.

Highlights

The character of Pyrenees State Forest comes from its range country. Steep hills, exposed rock and elevated lookouts give wide views across the foothills and farming country beyond, while the forest itself shifts between tall stringybarks, messmates and box ironbark.

This is also a place of strong seasonal contrast. After cooler, wetter months the slopes can carry a rich display of wildflowers, while the drier months bring out the harsher, more open feel of the range and its rocky spurs.

Best Time to Visit

Spring is often the most rewarding time to be here, when the forest is generally at its greenest and wildflowers are more noticeable through the understorey. Autumn is also a good fit for walking, with milder temperatures and clearer days that suit time on the ridges and lookouts.

Winter can be pleasant for shorter days out, especially when low cloud and fresh growth give the range a quieter feel. Summer tends to be drier and more exposed, so the scenery is still striking, but the experience is usually less forgiving for long walks.

Plants and Animals

The forest supports mixed eucalypt communities with extensive patches of mature trees, and that variety is part of what gives the Pyrenees its distinctive look. Around the higher and rockier country, the vegetation shifts with aspect and soil, creating a mosaic rather than one uniform forest type.

Wildflowers are one of the area’s standout features, and the broader Pyrenees landscape also protects threatened species including the highly restricted Pyrenees gum, a tree found only in this part of Victoria. Birdlife and other native animals are part of the everyday background here, especially in the quieter gullies and along the less disturbed slopes.