Toolangi combines forest art with trails through very different forest landscapes. Unique artworks are set along two bushwalking loops on the Toolangi Sculpture Trail; at the Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk, a dense canopy and shaded understorey define the route. The Yea River Walk offers a different experience: an easy, one-hour loop through open forest and mountain ash forest. There is also the Kalatha Giant, a mountain ash tree and Victoria’s seventh-largest tree.

Forest art on two loops

The Toolangi Sculpture Trail comprises two bushwalking loops featuring unique artworks in the forest. It was established in 1996 with 11 artworks as part of an international sculpture event. A follow-up event in 2016 added another 16 works to the trail. These two dates mark its establishment and a later expansion; the loops also connect the artworks along a defined route. Those seeking a cultural focus will find both a history of events and art in the forest here.

Two walks, different planning details

The distance and boardwalk can be considered separately when planning the Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk. The walk is approximately 700 metres long, with around 450 metres consisting of a boardwalk wide enough for wheelchairs. It is a loop through temperate cool rainforest in Toolangi State Forest. Ancient myrtle beech and southern sassafras trees form a dense canopy that shades the understorey year-round. The forest type, tree species and shade are among the defining features of this walk. If the boardwalk width matters to your choice, its approximately 450-metre length provides a specific planning detail.

The Yea River Walk is an easy, one-hour loop through open forest and mountain ash forest. It is on land gifted to the people of Toolangi, giving the walk description a historical connection as well as a duration. In comparison with Wirrawilla, the Yea River Walk is described by its duration and easy rating, while Wirrawilla is characterised by its approximate distance and wheelchair-accessible boardwalk section. The walks therefore offer different points of reference: one hour and an easy rating for one, an approximate distance and boardwalk details for the other.

Walks, lookouts and a single tree

Toolangi National Forest offers numerous walks and lookouts. If you want to consider lookouts as well as the duration of an individual walk, you can weigh this alongside the specific details for the loop walks. Different kinds of guidance are available: the duration or distance of a particular walk, and the numerous walks and lookouts in the National Forest.

The Kalatha Giant draws attention to a single tree: it is a mountain ash and Victoria’s seventh-largest tree. A dedicated path was created to make it easier to access this natural wonder. If you would rather focus on a notable tree than a route, you can make the Kalatha Giant a planning highlight in its own right.

Discover more destinations: Talbot, Cocamba, Smeaton, Bendigo, Mount Sabine, Portsea, Sale, Nicholson

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.