Summary

The Mt Black walking tracks are best for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness and agility due to the steep incline, loose surfaces and the presence of motor bike and 4WD ruts and erosion.

Description

The entry to the Mt Black walking track is 800m from the Melville’s Lookout directional sign. Keep going along Mt Black Quarry Rd to the entrance on the right. There is no sign. This location is a great place to walk. The tracks are well defined up and down the inclines, but disappear along the ridge-line. Rock litter can be unstable, be mindful.

Topography and Geology
The National Park is composed of forested hills and gullies. At 300m, Mt Black has the highest elevation of any hill in the area. The sand stone ridges are a result of a folding earth’s crust. The views from these hilltops are terrific. This makes for enjoyable bushwalking. Look out for fossilised sea shells from an ancient sea bed.

Flora
Ancient Giants
Spectacular stands of huge old grass trees (Xanthorrhoea australis) up to three metres high can been seen in this part of the National Park. Grass Trees are common in the Mt Black area. They are very slow to grow and flower most often following bushfire.

This National Park comprises Victoria’s largest remaining box – ironbark forest, consisting of open woodland including ironbark, grey and yellow box and stringy bark. The understory features blackwood, gold dust wattle, silver wattle and drooping cassinia. The latter (also known as Chinese Cassinia or Scrub) is an opportunistic coloniser that is considered a bush fire enhancer. Green rock fern is a common ground plant in milder months.

Wildflowers are abundant in spring, but may be found in smaller numbers at any time. They include grassland wood sorrel, tall bluebells and greenhood orchids, with others according to the season. Rare crimson spider orchids may be also seen.

Fauna
Eastern grey kangaroos, echidnas, antechinus and goannas may be encountered. Threatened species you may be lucky enough to see are the squirrel glider (tuan) and in winter the Swift Parrot.

Birdlife
Red and Little Wattle Birds, Honeyeaters and Parrots enjoy the canopy when eucalypts are in flower. Sociable White-winged Choughs are common and White-throated Tree Creepers are often seen trunk running, Cockatoos abound and Gang Gangs can be spotted. For the birdwatcher there is an abundance.

Pests
Cinnamon Fungus
Areas of Heathcote-Graytown National Park are infected with the soil borne disease know as Cinnamon Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomic). To prevent the spread of this disease visitors are requested to stay on formed tracks and take note of signs that restrict public access.

Damage from 4WD and motorbikes is significant on the walking tracks of Mt Black. Watch your footing.

March flies can be a problem in Autumn.

Amenities
Car parking
None other

Cautions
Steep climbs
Limbs may fall
Slippery surfaces
No potable water
Be equipped for hiking
Visitors must be self-reliant
Native flora and fauna are protected

Restrictions
No dogs
No firearms
No camping
Take rubbish with you.
Fires only in places provided
No 4WD or motor bike access

2888 Views

Points of Interest

1. Ruts and erosion

Motor bikes and 4WD have abused these walking tracks, making surfaces unstable. Take care with your footing.

2. A fossil opportunity

For a short section, just below the ridge line, sandstone rocks litter the ground. If you turn some over you might just get lucky and find an ancient sea bed fossil.

3. Beginning of the ridge line

It is recommended to walk the full length of the ridge line before heading back down. The area is curiously clear of debris, the views through the tress are grand. take care not to get lost.

4. Trig Point

Still present and accounted for, but sadly vandalised, the Trig Point marks the true peak of Mt Black at 300m.

5. She oaks

Another feature of the area are the beautiful she oak groves. You tend to stumble across the beautiful nuts first, then find yourself surrounded.

6. Views west

With a little bit of investigation you will find the views and stands of grass trees to share them with.

7. Fungi and rock fern

The ground cover varies from season to season, always offering something new. In autumn and winter fungi and green rock fern emerge in abundance.

8. The rocks

It is an honourable practice, to appreciate a rock. Quartz seams and laminates such as this are an alluring attraction of the National Park.

9. View to Melville's Lookout

Coming back down, the track levels briefly to provide a clear view of Bob's Bluff, the home of Melville's Lookout.

10. In the gully

The pretty gully that runs down from Bob's Bluff is even prettier when there has been rain.

11. Mt Black Quarry

As you approach the area opposite the track up to Melville's Lookout, you pass through remnant granite block cuttings left behind after completion of the Goulburn Weir wall in 1890.

12. Wildflowers

Wildflowers are a special attraction often overlooked out of season. In fact, for much of the year there will be wildflowers present, such as this mid winter shiny everlasting. You just have to look.

Features

Nature trail