Melba Gully National Park

Welcome to Melba Gully, often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Otways.' As a scholar of environmental history, I find this pocket of cool temperate rainforest particularly fascinating. It is a remnant of the vast rainforests that…

As we step onto Madsens Track, we are entering what many naturalists call a 'green cathedral.' This path is named after the Madsens, a local family with a long history in the region. The track is well-maintained but can be…

Here we stand at the site of the 'Big Tree,' an Otway Messmate that was once the undisputed king of this forest. Standing over 60 meters tall, it was a majestic specimen that had survived for centuries, only to fall in May 2009. …

Look up toward the canopy, the uppermost layer of the rainforest. These towering trees are primarily Mountain Ash, or Eucalyptus regnans, the tallest flowering plants in the world. …

Descending into the mid-layer, we find ourselves surrounded by a sea of tree ferns. There are two main types here: the Rough Tree Fern and the Smooth Tree Fern. …

Listen to the sound of falling water as we approach Anne’s Cascade. This is one of the many streams that descend from the surrounding hills, carving through the sandstone of the gully. …

Finally, we reach the ground layer, a world of decomposition and hidden life. This is where all the fallen leaves, bark, and branches from the canopy and mid-layer end up, slowly breaking down into rich, dark soil. …

As we conclude our walk through Melba Gully, I hope you have felt the profound connection to the ancient world that this park provides. We have moved through the layers of the rainforest, from the towering Mountain Ash to the…