Starling Gap Ada Tree Circuit Hike (25km)

Winding through the towering forests of the Yarra State Forest, the Starling Gap Ada Tree Circuit is a 25-kilometre hike rich in both natural beauty and historical intrigue. Allow around six to seven hours for the full circuit, which traces the remnants of a once-busy network of timber tramways and sawmills that shaped the early 20th-century logging industry in this region. It’s a walk that invites you to slow down, observe, and reflect — not just on the landscape, but on the layered stories beneath your feet.

The hike begins at Starling Gap Campground, the site of the old Portas Mill, which has long since returned to forest. From here, follow Big Creek Road for about 3.6 kilometres before keeping an eye out for a signposted VHC walking track on your right. This well-worn path leads gently uphill for roughly a kilometre before you reach a less-defined track branching left. Here, the trail slips into the cool, shaded stillness of a mature Mountain Ash forest, where myrtle beech, tree ferns and sassafras cluster together in the damp gullies.

Before long, you’ll reach the site of the New Ada Mill — one of several abandoned mill sites scattered along this route. Many of these are not immediately obvious, their timber structures having long decayed into the soil, but with a little attention you’ll notice rusted machinery, moss-covered rails, and subtle earthworks hinting at what once stood here. Continuing south, the trail brings you to a four-way junction — a key point on the circuit.

From the junction, veer east and follow the trail that shadows the Little Ada River toward one of the walk’s highlights: the Ada Tree. This giant mountain ash is one of Victoria’s most significant trees, both in size and age. Estimated to be over 300 years old, it towers around 76 metres high with a base circumference of 15 metres. Standing beneath it, surrounded by silence and filtered light, it’s hard not to feel a sense of reverence. This tree has withstood storms, fires and decades of change — a living reminder of the ancient forest that once blanketed much of this landscape.

After spending time with the Ada Tree, continue south on Federal Track to reach another trail junction. Turn west here and follow the path past the New Federal Mill site, eventually looping back to the earlier four-way junction. Before heading back to camp, consider a short detour south to the Ada No. 2 Mill site — a ten-minute return walk that’s well worth the time. Of all the sites along the circuit, this area offers perhaps the clearest glimpse into the forest’s industrial past, with the most visible and widespread remnants of milling infrastructure.

To complete the circuit, follow the Ada River Walking Track as it meanders north-west, guiding you past the Ada No. 1 and original Ada Mill sites before arriving back at Starling Gap.

There’s a timeless quality to this part of the forest. Old sawdust heaps and moss-covered tramway cuttings are still visible nearby, hinting at how nature has gradually reclaimed what industry once cleared. On weekends, the site can draw a few bushwalking groups, but there’s often still plenty of room to find a quiet spot and enjoy the solitude.

Whether you’re there for the towering forests, the rich history, or simply the pleasure of a long day on foot, the Starling Gap Ada Tree Circuit offers a grounded, rewarding experience — one that brings together the human and the wild in a landscape that continues to evolve.