Drouin to Woods Point

Drouin to Woods Point This is a great day/weekend trip close to Melbourne that is both easy and interesting. Suitable for small 4WDs but worthwhile for experienced offroaders too with plenty to see and do for all the family.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesDrouin
FinishWoods Point
DifficultyDifficulty 1/5 Suitable for4WD AWD Bike 
Distance122.71 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed47.25 km/hrDriving Time2 hrs 35 mins
Rating Be the first to rate this item0 Reviews
Article By: ExplorOz Team
Page Updated: 14 Feb 2013

Go to top Description

This delightful trip starts in Drouin, 100km south-east of Melbourne at the centre of a dairying, grazing and timber region in West Gippsland. Initially you'll follow a bitumen road to Warragul, Nerrim and Noojee before dirt road to Loch Valley, winding through the Goulburn State Forest and continuing further north on gravel roads through the tiny settlements of Matlock, and finally into historic Woods Point.

The trip is relatively easy and could be handled by small 4WDs and soft-roaders. The section through the Goulburn State Forest is used by logging trucks so particular care must be taken to keep alert for oncoming vehicles.

SPONSOR MESSAGE Become a Sponsor
This could be an advert for your business!
Sponsorship of this page is available now – and for much less than you might think. Find out how you can reach Australia's largest online audience in the 4WD/RV/Camping industry.
www.exploroz.com/Advertising/Default.aspx

Go to top Interactive Route Map

Loading...
Loading
Selected Item is not in View - Zoom Out, Pan or Click to Show....
Places

Zoom & Scale Help

Point Control


Point Features










Linear Features



Member Features


Overlays


Place Name Search Help

Enter the place you are looking for.

Address Search Help

Enter the full or part address you are looking for.
Locate Address

Lat/Lon Search Help

Enter the Lat & Lon you wish to view.
Show Position

Route/Driving Directions Help

Enter an address in the 'from and to' then click 'Create Route'.
Create Route

Select Data Format

GPX GeoRSS OziExplorer
CSV
Hema Navigator WKT
NOTE: All downloads are strictly for personal use, all download activity is recorded and limits may be imposed.
Your download is being generated, you will be promoted to Open or Save this file
Full Screen

Show

Drouin to Woods Point Help

From: Drouin
To: Woods Point

This trek supports moving map, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button.
Map Legend
Mouse Position:

Go to top Things to See & Do

The Victorian Heritage-listed Noojee Trestle Bridge is one of the only remaining historic timber trestle bridges in Victoria and is easily accessible along a very short side-road off the Yarra Junction - Noojee Rd. A 2.5km Rail-Trail can be followed by foot, horse, or bike from the bridge back to Noojee if you feel inclined. For more info, read the History section.

Woods Point is full of wonderful buildings to explore, walks to old mine sites, memorabillia etc. A good place to stop overnight. For more info, read the History section.

Go to top Preparation

Weather conditions in mountain areas can change rapidly so it is wise to anticipate rain when packing clothing and camping gear. An axe would be useful - some campsites will have large logs supplied but may need splitting before they can be used. Low range 4WD will not be required so fuel consumption should not concern you, although depending on where you are heading after reaching Woods Point, you may need to consider your range. Woods Point cannot always be relied upon to fill your tanks.

Due to the historical significance of Woods Point, it would be worth planning to spend some time in the township, including an overnight camp. Although information on the history is available in town, it would be worthwhile to do some pre-trip reading and planning before arriving - perhaps making arrangements to visit certain historic/mine sites on the outskirts of the township and following walk trails of interest or even booking accommodation in one of the historic buildings.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolDrouin, Warragul, Neerim South, Noojee, Woods Point Diesel4cyl 17 litres ULP4cyl 20 litres LPG4cyl 25 litres
6cyl 19 litres6cyl 22 litres6cyl 22 litres
8cyl 19 litres8cyl 20 litres

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Drouin, Warragul, Neerim South, Noojee, Woods Point

Go to top Camp Sites & Accommodation

Free campsites are located at The Poplars Reserve - a delightful area alongside a running creek, beneath large trees, plenty of firewood, and basic toilet facilities.

A small free camp/picnic site is located at the Triangle, at the junction of Nine Mile Road and the C511.

Around Woods Point there are 2 good campsites - JH Scott Reserve just 2km west and Comet Flat to the east. A fee of $2 per vehicle/night is payable at the General Store. Accommodation is also available at the pub.

Go to top Environment

Birds are prolific through this trek, particularly Eastern Rosellas in the state forest. Wombats and wallabies are the main marsupials seen during the day and Mountain & Alpine Ash are the most notable of the large trees. The trek follows the edge of Radiata Pine Plantation and with ferns in the understory, makes a delightful driving environment.

Go to top History

This trek is full of historical significance so we do suggest you take the time to read up a little, especially about Woods Point.

At the beginning of your trip however, you'll pass the turnoff to the Victorian Heritage-listed Noojee Trestle Bridge. It's definately speccy to see, but it is also significant for being one of the only remaining historic timber trestle bridges in Victoria. Being so easily accessible just off the Noojee Road, its definatley worth a look-in. The Noojee to Nayook section of the broad gauge line to Warragul opened in 1919. There was a terminus at Noojee, to which large amounts of timber were transported from mills scattered through the forest by means of a network of timber tramlines, heading to the West and to the North. The bridge originally carried the weight of N class steam locomotives and was eventually taken out of service in 1954 when the line was closed. When the line was being dismantled, the Buln Buln Shire Council purchased the bridge from the Victorian Railways for one pound ($2) so it would be preserved for the future.

Further along this trek you skirt the Yarra Ranges and enter the Goulburn SF. The dense forests of the area were not particularly favoured by Aboriginal people, and were a barrier to European settlement. Europeans first settled in the 1860s to access Woods Point goldfields and soon the area was recognised as a valuable source of timber.

At the end of the trek you'll reach historic Woods Point, which today only exists for passing tourism, but in former years was a gold-mining township. Gold was official discovered here in mid 1861 by William Gooley. Not long later, the Morning Star reef was found and a storekeeper by the name of Wood set up business on the largest point of the spur. The town was built around it, and so the site became known as Woods Point. Within a few years it had a post office, a police court, a hospital, a school, three churches, three banks, two newspapers, three breweries and numerous shops and hotels. Woods Point went eventually went into decline however the Morning Star continued to operate until December 1927. Much of Woods Point as you see it today is the new town built in 1940, after much of it was destroyed in Black Friday fires of 1939. Today the permanent population is about 30.

Go to top Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Drouin to Warragul 9.78 km E 112° 13 min
Warragul to Brandy Creek 7.37 km N 354° 7 min
Brandy Creek to Rokeby 3.28 km N 11° 3 min
Rokeby to Neerim South 8.82 km N 19° 9 min
Neerim South to Neerim 6.49 km N 360° 7 min
Neerim to Neerim Junction 3.89 km N 10° 4 min
Neerim Junction to Piedmont 4.13 km N 353° 4 min
Piedmont to Noojee Trestle Bridge 2.8 km E 102° 3 min
Noojee Trestle Bridge to Mount Baw Baw Rd & Loch Valley Rd 1.8 km NE 56° 1 min
Mount Baw Baw Rd & Loch Valley Rd to Noojee 0.11 km N 22°
Noojee to Hayman Corner 7.83 km N 359° 8 min
Hayman Corner to Poplars Reserve (Loch Valley) Campsites 1.11 km N 343° 1 min
Poplars Reserve (Loch Valley) Campsites to Toorongo Rd, Yarra Ranges NP 18.5 km E 71° 33 min
Toorongo Rd, Yarra Ranges NP to Toorongo 0.4 km SE 127°
Toorongo to Myrrhee 3.73 km NE 46° 6 min
Myrrhee to Nine Mile Rd & Thomson Valley Rd 2.82 km NE 36° 4 min
Nine Mile Rd & Thomson Valley Rd to Nine Mile Rd & Park Rd 2.8 km N 357° 3 min
Nine Mile Rd & Park Rd to Nine Mile Rd & Mt Gregory Track 6.48 km N 342° 9 min
Nine Mile Rd & Mt Gregory Track to The Triangle 5.74 km N 348° 9 min
The Triangle to The Oaks 2.14 km NE 30° 2 min
The Oaks to Saint Clair 3.86 km NE 52° 4 min
Saint Clair to McAdams Gap 6.12 km N 12° 7 min
McAdams Gap to Matlock 5.45 km E 111° 6 min
Matlock to C511 and Walhalla Rd 0.39 km SE 129°
C511 and Walhalla Rd to Matlock Hill 0.57 km E 101°
Matlock Hill to Woods Point 6.28 km NE 34° 8 min
Drouin to Woods Point 122.71 km     2 hr 35 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

Go to top Trek Feedback
ReviewCreate a Review/Discussion
You must be registered and logged in to 'Have Your Say'



Registration is free and takes only seconds to complete!
Loading...