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Good to know
There are toilets at the Starlings Gap campground but none at Ada No.2 Mill campground.
There are numerous small streams along the walk but not in the section up to Starlings Gap. If camping here on your first night, either bring your water with you or be prepared to walk several hundred metres east of Starlings Gap to the first available stream crossing.
Sites are damp in the wetter months so campfires may be hard to sustain at these times.
About this walk
The magnificent Walk into history is a one-of-a-kind journey through historic sites and stunning scenery in the Yarra State Forest. This is one of the closest overnight hikes to Melbourne.
There are many options on how to approach this walk. You can start from the beautiful town of Warburton or from Big Pats Creek Recreation Area located 6km from Warburton. You may choose to do the walk in sections with car shuttles, but the most common itinerary involves tackling this 33km trek over 2 to 3 days.
A popular option is to start after an early lunch from Warburton to Starlings Gap for your first night’s camping. Second day is onto the Ada No.2 Mill campground, with a side trip to the Ada Tree. Your final day will take you down and out to finish in the township of Powelltown.
The walk follows old timber tramways that serviced sawmills from 1908 to 1916 deep in the forest. Hundreds of kilometres of these timber tramways once dissected the landscape. It’s fascinating to see many sections of elevated timber tramway now reclaimed by nature.
You'll pass through tall wet forests and stunning pockets of rainforest and cross a few creeks along the way. Be sure to add on a stop to see the magnificent Ada Tree, a massive 300-year-old mountain ash considered to be one of Victoria's largest trees.
This walk can be challenging at points with some steep sections. Be ready for an adventure that rewards with natural beauty and rich history.
Photo gallery
- Be enveloped by the dense surrounding forest on this scenic walk
- You'll cross many creeks on this 33km trek
- See relics from the region's sawmilling past
Be enveloped by the dense surrounding forest on this scenic walk
You'll cross many creeks on this 33km trek
See relics from the region's sawmilling past
How to get there
Investing in nature
The Walk into History was upgraded in 2021 thanks to Victoria's Great Outdoors.
Victoria’s Great Outdoors is boosting regional tourism and making it to enjoy nature by investing in better walking trails, campgrounds, 4WD tracks and visitor facilities.
Page last updated: 31/07/24