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Excursions
Because Forest Lodge Farm is situated in beautiful South Gippsland there are many fantastic excursion options for your school or group. You could choose to stop at one of these great venues on the way to or from camp or perhaps if your stay is a bit longer you could visit them for a full day trip.
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Many schools that visit Forest Lodge Farm for a 4 or 5 day camp usually include a day trip to Wilsons Prom as part of their camp program. It is a fantastic day out with so much to see and do. We can organise for a coach to pick your group up and drive you to Squeaky Beach. From Squeaky Beach your group can do the spectacular scenic walk to Tidal River (approx 1 hour). At Tidal River the coach driver will have a scrumpious bbq and cold drinks ready for your arrival. After lunch you can choose to spend some free time exploring Tidal River, play a game of beach cricket or we can arrange for your group to meet with a Parks Ranger for a educational program such as Kids Corroboree, Ponding on the Prom, Endangered Species, Tracks and Traces, Photo trails etc. Programs and Ranger talks are dependant on the number of students and the time available.
Forest Lodge Farm would be more than happy to organise your schools trip to Wilsons Prom. Please contact us so we can personalise this trip to your groups needs.
Coal Creek Historical Village
Korumburra's iconic Coal Creek Village has reopened, the Village has been been changed into a Community Park and Museum. What does this mean? Most importantly, it means free entry! It means community members, groups and visitors alike are free to enter the park and enjoy the facilities. Please see below further information on tours, educational programs and costs for these.
Coal Creek Village continues to showcase the fascinating history and priceless memorabilia of the area in its museum area, and remain a vital resource for the education programs involving local and visiting schoolchildren.
Forest Lodge Farm would be happy to book an excursion to Coal Creek for you. The following educational programs are available for groups.
Bush Tramway Ride (Diesel Locomotove) cost $2.50 per student
Bush Tractor Village Ride cost $2.00 per student
Early Settlement of South Gippsland - guided tour of village $2.00 per student
1800's Coal Mining Experience (mine museum & mine tunnel) $2.00 per student
School Lesson years 3 to 6 (use of fountain pen & ink $2.50 per student
School Lesson years prep to 2 (use of slate & slate pens) $2.50 per student
Pioneer timber skills years 3 to 6 $2.00 per student
Please advise if you would like to visit Coal Creek on your way to or from camp and I can fax you through a booking form to complete to ascertain what educational programs if any you would like while there.
Tarra Bulga National Park
Tarra-Bulga National Park in South Gippsland is well known for its giant Mountain Ash trees, beautiful fern gullies and ancient myrtle beeches. The park covers 2015 ha of some of the best examples of original cool temperate rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges.
Tarra-Bulga National Park is popular for picnics, walks, scenic drives and the study of nature.
Roads throughout the area are narrow and winding but offer marvellous scenery with wide views from several points, including Mount Tassie, off the Traralgon-Balook Road, the Blackwarry fire tower and the Grand Ridge Road. The self-guided Fern Gully Nature Walk starts at Bulga picnic ground and includes the famous suspension bridge. Bulga picnic area is a short distance north of the Visitor Centre, off the Grand Ridge Road.
Tarra Valley picnic area is on the Tarra Valley Road about 8 km from the Visitor Centre. From here a 1.5 km walk takes you through rainforest to the lovely Cyathea Falls. Tarra Falls are along the Tarra Valley Road, a kilometre south of the entrance to the picnic ground.
There are toilets and picnic facilities available.
We would be more than happy to arrange a 1/2 or full day trip to Tarra Bulga for you and your group. If you are not self catering we would be happy to pack you a picnic lunch or cook a bbq for you there and our local bus company offers reasonable prices for this trip.
Wildlife Wonderland (The Giant Worm)
A great tourist attraction, Wildlife Wonderland is an interactive wildlife adventure featuring koalas, kangaroos, wombats and other native animals.
Wildlife Wonderland has a lot to offer
Cafe, coffee, cakes, hot food
Indoor-outdoor seating & picnic areas
ATM, Information Centre
Koala experience, get up and close with our cuddly koalas
World famous wombat rehab & orphanage centre Hold a wombat and have a photo
Hand feed the kangaroos and wallabies
Ranger Timed Tours
Sam the talking cockatoo
Enjoy the Great White Shark Display
Meet our family of hand raised dingoes
View Australias largest Aboriginal Painting
Set on 15 acres
Wheelchair friendly
Warm inviting atmosphere and welcoming friendly staff
Forest Lodge Farm would be more than happy to book an excursion to Wildlife Wonderland for your group. A fully guided tour by one of the parks Rangers would be arranged
SEC Powerworks
Powerworks Visitor Centre offers an excellent coal and power museum with interesting pieces of old mining equipment set in the heart of the open cut mining area. There are good views of the open-cut mining operation. The main feature is the huge No. 21 Wheel Dredger which was the first of its type to operate in the Morwell mine and was originally used to remove the overburden. The sign records: 'The postwar years brought about radical change to mining methods and the use of this kind of bucketwheel technology is now commonly used throughout the Australian mining industry.'
Please advise Forest Lodge if you would like us to organise an excursion stop at Powerworks either to or from camp for you. After visiting the information centre, a tour guide will board your coach and provide an educational and interesting tour of the open cut mine. A General Mine, Power Station and specialised tours can be arranged at a time that suits your schedule and year level - from Pre-school to University.
Toora Windfarm
If you are travelling to Forest Lodge Farm via the South Gippsland Hwy then a small windy road in the town of toora will take you up to the base of one of the giant wind turbines.
The Toora wind farm is the second large-scale wind farm to be built in Victoria and the second major wind farm for Stanwell Corporation. It consists of 12 turbines with a combined capacity of 21 MW. The turbines are made by Danish company Vestas and each has an electrical capacity of 1.75 MW.The turbines are mounted on tubular towers 67 metres high. The rotors have a total diameter of 66 metres.The blades pitch to optimise the power produced and to control the rotation speed. The turbines rotate at 19 to 21 revolutions per minute. Power is produced at wind speeds of between 3.5 m/s and 25 m/s.
The Toora wind farm produces enough energy to supply more than 6600 homes and will abate the equivalent of up to 48,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Agnes Falls
If you are travelling to Forest Lodge Farm via the South Gippsland Hwy then Agnes Falls is a great place to stop and stretch your legs.
Hidden within the green rolling hills of the Strzelecki Ranges, the meandering Agnes River cascades over rocks into a deep picturesque gorge. At 59 m, Agnes Falls are the highest single span falls in Victoria. After heavy rain the river falls as a spectacular cascade into the gorge
The road to the falls are quite narrow and windy, however they are all sealed. Agnes Falls has parking, toilets & picnic tables.
90 Mile Beach - Woodside
Encompassing Gippsland's coast from Port Albert to Lakes Entrance this area features 90 miles of unspoilt continuous beach. It is believed to be the third longest uninterrupted beach in the world.
Explore one of the most natural and unspoilt beaches in the world and is ideal for any number of beach activities from beach fishing and swimming to walking, whale and dolphin-spotting or just lazing in the sun.
Woodside beach is a 25min drive north of Yarram. The Woodside surf lifesaving club patrols this surf beach in summer. There are picnic facilities, public toilets and general store. Boats can be launched at McLoughlins Beach. For more information on access points and fishing permits, contact Parks Victoria on 131 963.
Historic township of Port Albert
Port Albert, Victorias first established port, is the original gateway to Gippsland. It was settled in 1841 following the wreck of the paddle steamer Clonmel, and the arrival of Angus McMillan, seeking a port for shipping cattle from the lush hinterland. Port Albert was the supply port for Gippslands pioneers until the completion of the Melbourne-Sale railway in 1878. It has berthed ships from Europe and America and welcomed thousands of Chinese on their way to the goldfields.
Still a commercial fishing port, Port Alberts reputation for recreational fishing, with its waters protected by 30 small islands, sees its population swell considerably during summer. The quaint fishing village is off the beaten track and, more than 40 buildings in a Georgian and Victorian architectural style still exist. Recent development in Port Albert has seen the opening of quality cafes, an award winning general store and the newly opened fish & chips on the wharf.
Visit the award winning Port Albert Maratime Museum opened in 1976
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