WrightForest
VisitorGuide
LocatedabovetheWattleCreekvalleybetweenAvonsleighandCockatoo,WrightForestistheperfectplaceforexploringnaturalbushland.AvarietyofwalkingtracksmeanderthroughitsserenesettingandofferfantasticvantagepointstowavetoPuffingBilly.This161hectarereserveconsistsofremnantnativeeucalyptforestandfeaturessignificantwildlifeandvegetation.
PicnicFacilities
WrightForesthasasecludedpicnicgroundonBaileyRoadamongstpeppermintandstringybarkeucalyptustrees-anexcellentsettingforapicniclunchorwoodfiredbarbeque.
Portablebarbequesarenotpermittedatthissiteasthereisnorunningwateravailabletoextinguishcoals.Pleaseonlyusefireplacesprovided.
WalkingTracks
Thereareseveralwalkingtracksthroughouttheforestfromtheshortnaturewalktoextendedhalfdaywalks.AnetworkofwalkingtracksalsolinkWrightForesttoEmeraldLakeParkandthetowncentreofCockatoo.
ThePuffingBillyRailwaylinewasrestoredinOctober1998fromEmeraldLakeParktoGembrook.WhenvisitingWrightForestbesuretolistenforthetrainsorwatchthempass.
Birdlife
NumerousnativebirdspeciesinhabitWrightForestincludingparrots,rosellas,kookaburras,wrens,honeyeatersandpardalotes.UncommonbirdssuchasGangGangCockatoosandYellow-tailedBlackCockatooscanalsobeseen.
ManyofthenativebirdsthatliveinWrightForestareextremelyvulnerabletothehuntingskillsofintroducedanimalssuchasfoxes,dogsandcats.Youcanassistinprotectingourwildlifebyhavingpetsde-sexedandkeepingthemindoorsatnight.
WidespreadclearingofremnantnativebushlandandcompetitionfromintroducedspecieshasledtothedeclineandlocalextinctionofsomenativebirdspeciessuchasWongaPigeons,SuperbLyrebirds,HelmetedHoneyeatersandSatinBowerbirds.
Mammals
Possumsandgliderscanbeobservedatduskemergingfromthetreehollowswheretheynestduringdaylighthours.Wallabiesandechidnascansometimesbeseeniftheobserverremainsunnoticedbytheseextremelyshycreatures.
Batscanbespottedatnightflyinglowoverpathwaysandtracksutilisingtheirecholocationskillstonavigateandlocateinsects.
Flora
Over75speciesofnativeplantsexistinWrightForest.Thecoolmoistconditionswithintheshelteredcreekgulliessupportadiverserangeofflora,includingastunningcollectionofgroundstoreyfernspecies,shadedoverheadbynumeroustreeferns.
TheupperstoreyconsistsofmagnificentMountainGreyGumsandwattlespecies.AwidevarietyoffloweringshrubssurviveinthecreekgulliessuchasHazelPomaderris,SnowyDaisy-bush,ChristmasBush,KangarooAppleandTreeLomatia.
ContrastingtheferngulliesofWrightForestarethedrynorthernslopesandridges.ShrubbyfoothillforestsofpeppermintsandstringybarkeucalyptsovershadowthedensevarietyofunderstoryshrubsincludingSpikeWattle,BushyHakea,HairpinBanksiaandnumerousspeciesofthesuperborchidfamily.
UpdatedJune2008
PrintedonAustralian-made100%recycledpaper.
FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformationCentre
on131963orvisitourwebsiteat
WrightForest
MajorroadMinorroad
Walkingtrack
Avonsleigh
Multi-useTrail(Bicyclesandwalkersonly)
Forestarea
AreamanagedbyShireofCardinia
Gate
ToEmerald
C412
RecreationalFacilities
Barbecue-WoodCarpark
Picnictable
EmeraldLake
Lakeside
EmeraldLakePark
Wright
WrightForest
0150300
ME T R E S
CartographybySpatialVision2008
NM/6648
WrightForest
MELBOURNEe*
e
GEELONG
WrightForest
Cockatoo
ToGembrook
Caringfortheenvironment
WrightForestisanareaofsignificantremnant
©bushlandcommunities.Pleasehelpustoretainitsnaturalbeautybyrespectingthefollowing
guidelines:
e
Kalorama
eSilvan
Cockatoo
To
C411
FriendsGroup
ThemanagementandpreservationofWrightForestisactivelyassistedbyavoluntarycommunitygroup,called"FriendsofWrightForestand
WattleCreek".Regularworkingbeesareheldtomaintainthenatural
valuesoftheforest
Walkingpermittedonlyonexistingvehicle
andpedestriantracks
PushbikespermittedonlyonMutli-usetrail
DonotdisturborfeedwildlifeDonotremoveorpickanyplantmaterialFiresmaybelitonlyinthefireplacesprovided
intheBaileyRoadpicnicground.
Pleasebringyourownfirewood.NoopenfiresorbarbecuestobelitduringdaysofTotalFireBan
TakeyourrubbishhomewithyouDogsarepermittedonlyalongvehicletracks
andmustberestrainedonaleashatalltimes
CampingisnotpermittedHorseridingandmotorbikesarenotpermittedVehicleaccessintoWrightForest
isnotpermitted
Howtogetthere
WrightForestissituated45kmeastofMelbournenearthetownshipofCockatoo.ApproachfromEmeraldalongtheBelgrave-GembrookRoadturningrightintoWrightRoad.Alternatively,WrightForestcanbeapproachedfromCockatooon
BaileyRoad.
ToEmerald
eMountDandenong
Olinda
e
Kallista
e
Belgrave
eWRIGHTFOREST
Cockatoo
PakenhamUpper
UpdatedMay2008