After running Myrtle Gully Circuit and Tanglefoot Loop as two separate events on Saturday, we returned to Toolangi State Forest on Sunday 24 September 2017 to combine them into one longer hike.
Six of us took part, including me as the hike leader. The event was advertised as a 17.5-kilometre Grade 3 circuit that would take approximately six hours. It was intended for hikers with some previous experience, while those uncertain about the distance had been encouraged to try one of Saturday’s shorter events first.
Our completed hike was longer than advertised. My Garmin recorded 20.55 kilometres, 815 metres of elevation gain and a completion time of four hours and 49 minutes. The additional distance was largely attributable to a side trip of more than four kilometres to a viewing platform and back.
Our combined Toolangi hike at a glance
- Date: Sunday 24 September 2017
- Location: Toolangi State Forest
- Distance: 20.55 kilometres
- Walking time: 4 hours 49 minutes
- Total ascent: 815 metres
- Participants: Six, including the hike leader
- Trail type: Circuit with an additional return side trip
- Advertised difficulty: Grade 3
- Terrain: Earthen forest tracks, hills, fern gullies, boardwalks and potentially muddy or slippery sections
Combining two forest circuits
Myrtle Gully and Tanglefoot Loop share parts of the same track network around Wirrawilla in Toolangi State Forest.
Myrtle Gully passes through particularly lush fern forest and cool, damp gullies. Tanglefoot adds more distance and climbing through mountain ash forest, with wider views from the higher parts of the route. Combining the two creates a substantial forest hike with greater variety than either individual circuit.
Our event began from Wirrawilla car park at the end of Quarry Road, off Sylvia Creek Road. We followed Myrtle Gully Circuit before crossing onto the Tanglefoot section rather than returning directly to the car park.
The longer combination was designed for hikers comfortable spending several hours on the trail. Rain had fallen overnight and further rain was possible during the day, so participants were warned to expect wet, muddy and slippery conditions.
Among ferns and mountain ash
Toolangi State Forest is around 60 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. It occupies part of Victoria’s Central Highlands, where mountain ash forest, fern-filled gullies and cool temperate rainforest create a deeply shaded walking environment.
The Traditional Owners of the forest are the Taungurung people, with Wurundjeri Country extending across the area to the south.
Some of Toolangi’s mountain ash trees rise far above the surrounding understorey. Looking upwards from the track reveals a canopy that can be difficult to appreciate from a distance.
Closer to the ground, tree ferns and other moisture-loving plants fill the gullies and line long sections of the trail.
The forest is also known for its superb lyrebirds. They can be elusive, but their calls and mimicry are often heard carrying through the gullies.
Extending the route to the viewing platform
The published Myrtle Gully and Tanglefoot combination was expected to cover approximately 17.5 kilometres. During this event, we added a return side trip of more than four kilometres to reach a viewing platform.
The diversion brought our total Garmin distance to 20.55 kilometres and contributed to the 815 metres of accumulated ascent.
From the viewing point, the enclosed forest opened into broader views across the surrounding valley. This provided a rewarding contrast to the long sections spent beneath the tree canopy.
Despite covering more distance and elevation than planned, we completed the route in four hours and 49 minutes—more than an hour faster than the original six-hour estimate.
Completion times will vary considerably with group pace, trail conditions, navigation, rest stops and time spent at the lookout. Our recorded time should therefore be treated as an account of this particular outing rather than a standard completion time.
An unusually curious echidna
One of the most memorable parts of the day was an encounter with an echidna on the track.
Unlike the echidna observed during the previous afternoon’s Tanglefoot hike, this animal appeared unusually curious and followed the group for a short distance.
We stopped to watch as it approached and sniffed around our shoes.
At the time, I interpreted the animal’s behaviour as friendliness and gave it a brief pat on the head. The echidna lifted its head towards my hand, which made the encounter feel particularly unusual.
Looking back, I would handle this differently today. Wild animals can experience stress even when their behaviour appears calm or curious, and becoming accustomed to people can reduce the natural caution that helps them survive.
The best approach is to remain still, keep a respectful distance and allow the animal to choose where it goes. Wild echidnas should not be touched, fed, surrounded or moved unless assistance is required under the direction of an authorised wildlife rescuer.
The photographs remain part of the record of this hike, but the lesson is equally important: a close wildlife encounter is best enjoyed without physical contact.
Preparing for a longer forest hike
Participants were asked to carry two to three litres of water, along with lunch or substantial snacks. Although the forest can feel cool and damp, a 20-kilometre route with more than 800 metres of ascent still requires adequate hydration and energy.
Suitable hiking clothing and footwear were also important. Denim was discouraged because it can become heavy, restrictive and slow to dry when wet.
Hiking poles can help with stability on muddy inclines and slippery ground, while gaiters may provide some protection from mud, wet vegetation and leeches. Neither replaces careful footing or appropriate judgment about conditions.
Anyone planning a similar route should also carry an offline map of Toolangi and surrounding areas or navigation device. Several trails intersect around Wirrawilla, Myrtle Gully and Tanglefoot, making it possible to follow a different loop or add substantial distance unintentionally.
Three Toolangi hikes in one weekend
This event completed a full weekend devoted to Toolangi State Forest.
On Saturday, Myrtle Gully and Tanglefoot had been offered as separate hikes so members could select a manageable distance. On Sunday, the two routes were combined for hikers wanting a longer and more physically demanding day.
Across the three events, we experienced fern gullies, towering mountain ash, elevated forest views and two separate echidna encounters. The combined Sunday route demonstrated how interconnected trails can be used to create a much larger adventure from a familiar starting point.
With six hikers, more than 20 kilometres covered and 815 metres of climbing, it became our most substantial Toolangi outing of the weekend.
Planning the combined route
The Green Trails Myrtle Gully and Tanglefoot Loop guide describes the original 17.5-kilometre circuit. Our group extended that route with a return side trip to the viewing platform, producing a Garmin distance of 20.55 kilometres.
Trail Hiking Australia does not appear to have a page matching our exact route. Its Toolangi State Forest trip report describes a comparable extended hike combining Myrtle Gully, Tanglefoot and a side trip to Mount St Leonard, but it should not be assumed to follow precisely the same track as our 2017 event.
Before visiting, check the official guide to Toolangi State Forest. Access, road conditions and walking tracks can change following heavy rain, storms, fire or forest-management work.
Green Trails group hikes are organised and managed through Meetup. You can view the original Myrtle Gully and Tanglefoot Loop event and join Green Trails Day Hikes to discover future walks.