Discovering the Natural Beauty of Tarra-Bulga National Park
Located in the Strzelecki Ranges of South Gippsland, Tarra-Bulga National Park is renowned for its lush fern-filled gullies, towering Mountain Ash trees, and ancient Myrtle Beech. Visitors have long enjoyed the park’s nature walks, bushwalks, and hikes, often picnicking beside shady, fern-lined creeks. The park holds great cultural significance for the Gunaikurnai people, the Traditional Owners of the land. Through Joint Management, the State has created a partnership with the Gunaikurnai, enhancing park management by incorporating traditional knowledge and culture. This collaboration not only protects the natural environment and cultural values but also enriches the visitor experience.
Tarra-Bulga National Park, situated on Brataualung Country, is deeply significant to the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners due to its rich Aboriginal cultural heritage. The park features some of the best examples of original cool temperate rainforests in the Strzelecki Ranges. A highlight for many visitors is the impressive Corrigan’s Suspension Bridge, which stretches through the rainforest canopy, offering spectacular views of the lush fern gully below.
The park’s history dates back to 1903 when the Alberton Shire Council requested the State Government to reserve a forest area near Balook as a public park, describing it as having ‘fern gullies unequalled in any part of Victoria’. Initially, 20 hectares were reserved and named Bulga, meaning mountain. In 1909, an additional 140 hectares were reserved in the Tarra Valley, named after Charlie Tarra, an Aboriginal guide who led explorer Strzelecki through Gippsland in 1840. In 1986, following recommendations by the Land Conservation Council, the two separate parks were merged to form the current Tarra-Bulga National Park, which now spans 2,014 hectares.
Visitors can gain more information about the park and its cultural heritage at the Tarra-Bulga Visitor Centre, located in Balook. Open on weekends and public holidays, the centre provides insights into the park’s history and the stories of its people, including the Traditional Owners and Kara Moana Healy, Victoria’s first woman ranger. Visitors can also pick up maps and chat with the Friends of Tarra-Bulga National Park volunteers.
Tarra-Bulga National Park not only protects over 2,000 hectares of Mountain Ash Forest and Cool Temperate Rainforest but also provides habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna. The forest canopy supports birds like the Pilotbird, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, and Eastern Whipbird, while the understorey is home to the Eastern Yellow Robin. At night, the forest comes alive with possums, owls, and bats. The park also hosts mammals such as the Common Wombat, Swamp Wallaby, Greater Glider, and Platypus. Bird enthusiasts may be lucky enough to spot a Lyrebird, known for its impressive imitations of other birds’ calls.
Situated approximately 190 kilometres east of Melbourne, Tarra-Bulga National Park is accessible via the Princes Highway to Traralgon, then following the Traralgon Creek Road to Balook. Alternatively, visitors can reach the park from Yarram via the Tarra Valley Road or Bulga Park Road. The roads in the area are narrow and winding, offering marvellous scenery with panoramic views from several points, including Mount Tassie. While the Traralgon-Balook Road and the Tarra Valley Road are sealed, other roads are unsealed and should be navigated with care, particularly the Grand Ridge Road, which is frequented by logging trucks.
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