Summary

Starting and finishing at the historic village of Fish Creek in Gippsland, this has it all for fitter walkers - rural farmland, mountain climbs, fantastic views, part of the Great Southern Rail Trail.

Description

This is a great South Gippsland walk which is partly off the beaten track. This, combined with its distance from Melbourne means that it is not yet as well-known as it deserves to be!

The trail finishes with a 6km stretch along the Fish Creek to Foster section of the Great Southern Rail Trail (GRST), which runs parallel to, but mainly hidden from, the main road. This section of the rail trail has its own charm and you are likely to see cyclists (and even horses) along the way!

According to signage at Mount Nicoll parts of the track were upgraded by Foster Rotary in 2017. Congratulations to them.

Because of the limited character count allowed for this description, detailed walk information is not included here as there is a detailed PDF available for download from the official Great Southern Rail Trail site.

When doing the walk for the first time it is strongly recommended that you first download the PDF which has detailed information of the walk route and a good map. Although signage is reasonably good along the way there are several places where the signage is missing or is not obvious and reference to the PDF will help.

Download the PDF here (see 'Hoddle Mountain Trail' listed last under Trail Brochures section). Download it, study it before walking, and carry it with you!

Also carry sufficient food and water to get you through 4 or 5 hours of relatively tough walking (it is about 16km in total and there is a fair bit of walking up and down steepish inclines made of gravel with a rough, loose surface).

Take a camera to capture some magnificent scenery shots! Also be aware that you may well go for several hours without seeing another person.

Please see the restriction regarding dogs, noted on the map. It seems that they are only allowed on about half of the trail - on the GSRT rail trail itself, and on Mount Nicholl Rd which is the road leading up to Mount Hoddle. And any dog should be on a leash at all times.

You can also see an animated track / overview of the route on this Hoddle Mountain Trail video which Thru My Lens put together after completing the walk.

4314 Views

Points of Interest

1. Start and finish here

On the Great Southern Trail Trail (GSRT), just off Falls Rd, Fish Creek. Public toilet facility and BBQ available.

2. Fish Creek Community Garden

See the large tea settings, bikes, and the mock-train

3. Turn off GSRT here

At this sign turn right to cross the main road ... and onto the gravel Fish Creek Quarry Rd

4. Fish Creek Quarry Rd

This road is short and for local traffic only

5. The Grassy Track

When the gravel road ends, the track is a simply a grassy path. In several places gates must be opened and closed, or stiles climbed over

6. Typical farm gate

Shut behind you where appropriate!

7. Great rural farmland track

Farms surround the track here

8. Turn right onto this bitumen road

This road leads to the quarry - beware trucks!

9. Fantastic farm views

See cows and more

10. Gates to the quarry

Do not go onto quarry property. The track leads off on the left hand side of the gate.

11. Upper gravel road

The track through the trees comes out at this gravel road where there is a bench, Turn left and head up the hill.

12. View towards Fish Creek

What can you say!

13. An eagle

Surveying the valley

14. Seat placed for the view

Good spot to stop and admire the views

15. Just one of many views

Very tranquil

16. Heading down to the valley

Quite steep and uneven - be careful

17. Gated (Stile missing)

There should be a stile here. Otherwise be careful getting over the barbed wire!

18. Deer seen here

Keep a lookout for large deer here. But they are very skittish!

19. Uphill walk

This is fairly long and steep and rough underfoot

20. Stile near Telecommunications Tower

Look for this stile on the right hand side - at the top of the hill

21. View to Yanakie and Wilsons Prom

Enjoy

22. Telecommunication Tower

Unmanned - walk around the base and join the gravel road at the top

23. Turn left onto Grassy Track

The signage is partly hidden here, but turn left onto a grassy track which heads slightly uphill

24. Resting Spot

A great place to rest up and take in the panoramic views

25. Mt Nicoll Lookout

See the 'compass' pointing to places of interest

26. Road back to GSRT

Quite steep in parts and rough to walk on, be careful.

27. Views Continue

This walk continues to have great sea and mountain views

28. Track to GSRT

As you near the main road, look for the trail path on the right hand side that runs next to the farm fence. There is a sign but it is very small.

29. Back on the GSRT

There is a steep bank down to rejoin the Great Southern Rail Trail. Turn left on it and head back towards Fish Creek

30. Attractive Farm Dam

A great place to relax on the GSRT

31. The GSRT section

This is typical of the Great Southern Rail Trail section

32. Little Park on the GSRT

About 2km from the end of the rail trail, this park is an attractive surprise.

Features

Public Transport

Playground

Picnic spot

Seating available

Public toilets

Nature trail

Lake, creek, river

Park / Garden