Rubicon Heritage and Dam Walk

The Rubicon Heritage Walk is a spectacular 3.9 kilometre loop walk, a 2 hour drive north-east of Melbourne.

It winds through lush Mountain Ash – the tallest flowering tree in the world – and down into cool temperate rainforests of ancient myrtle beech trees.

The Rubicon Valley Historic and Cultural Features Reserve was set aside to protect the area’s historic sites and values. Timber harvesting used to be the major industry of the region, beginning in the early 1900s. There were eight sawmills operating in the forest in the first half of the century.

Highlights along the way include crossing an impressive timber trestle bridge, a look inside a small heritage-listed sawmill and walking along the aqueduct that feeds the Royston Power Station.

You can extend the walk by continuing on past the power station to the Rubicon Dam, creating a 11.6 kilometre return walk. The track through the forest here follows the aqueduct and is wide and relatively flat. You’ll pass smaller wooden trestle bridges before arriving at the dam wall.

Enjoy a picnic at the picnic shelter at the dam and take photos of the cascading water and peaceful dam below. Return back along the same track to rejoin the heritage loop track at the power station.