Maits Rest Rainforest Walk

I was told about Maits Rest before construction was completed. It was even marked on the map (but not named), but it proved to be a little elusive at first. Eventually I found it and I set off for the walk around a half constructed track. Having seen it in its infancy I can tell you that there has been a LOT of work go into this walk and it is one of the best constructed rainforest walks I have seen. The wet rainforest and soft soil extended the construction period as it was impossible to work year round on the project and my second visit almost a year later was just after its completion.

I arrived late at night (2am) and since the gate was closed I parked across the entrance to the carpark. It was the only clear space off the road. I went for a walk around the now completed track and stopped at the large Mountain Ash. I turned my torch off and looked up at the stars through the trees. When I looked back down I could still see stars and I thought they must have been reflecting in some water. As my eyes became accustomed to the dark I could see more and more, but they weren't stars, they were glow worms!

They were as bemused to see me as I was to see them and my presence was greeted with some suspicion. Why was there a photographer here on the day of the official opening? After moving my car, it was made quite obvious that my presence was not desired (the official opening of a public walk with no public??). They graciously let me go back around the walk and take some more photographs before moving on to Melba Gully. Both walks are short and easy and both have great rainforest.

I have also produced a virtual tour of the walk with 7 panoramas from selected locations around the walk.

Update: May 2000

Parks Victoria have done some pretty crappy things around Victoria in the name of "improving" our parks, but this one has to take the cake. The picture below is a 360° panorama at the base of the tree that is also pictured at the top of the page (you can see the full view in the virtual tour). The glow worms mentioned above are (were) in the bank to the left of the track. There is a small sign next to the tree with information to inform you of the forest type you are standing in... i.e. it was a significant place to stop and look, no doubt because of the magnificence of this tree.

This tree, along with three other giant trees along the walk have recently had their canopies significantly reduced for the sole reason that there was a perceived risk of branches falling onto tourists. In this particular case, only a few branches remain at the very top of the tree. I guessed why they had done it but it seemed like such an act of vandalism that I had to ask. The reply I got:

"Parks Victoria has had to undertake some limb removal from the large eucalypts at the back of Maits rest due to the possible risk of some of these suspect limbs falling on walkers underneath. Maits rest receives over 100,000 visitors each year."

Suspect limbs? Have a close look at the branches... they're all thick and healthy, full of foliage! There's not a single dead branch in sight!

And the possible risk?

• What data does anyone HAVE on the rate of limbs falling from trees?
• What IS the probability of someone being under the tree when a branch falls?
• Why select only these 4 trees for pruning and not others?
• Was it the extra height of the trees that was a problem? After all, the branches would have further to fall and would thus pick up more speed. 
• Should we have a height restriction on trees next to walking tracks that have over 100,00 visitors a year? 
• What is a safe height? 
• Could there still be other trees posing a potential risk to tourists at this site because they were only looking at the 4 biggest trees.

Or is it that we're worried about public liability?  Why not just put up signs in every forest... "WARNING, beware falling branches. Enter at your own risk."  We've got signs for just about every other natural 'hazard', why not this one.

The track was DESIGNED to go past the base of these magnificent trees because it's one of the few places where we're not cutting them down... and now because of the track we have ruined the trees. It is a sad day indeed for Maits Rest Rainforest Walk

If you'd like to try getting an answer to any of the above questions, you can try their online information request at <http://www.parks.vic.gov.au/info/h2.htm>.