Rubicon Valley Historic Area, located just under 2.5 hours from Melbourne - I’ve probably visited here 8 times now and have watched it change over the seasons and develop in popularity with a new track, carpark and signage (yay for not getting lost)! Expect to find trestle bridges, old tramlines, pipelines, sawmills and aqueducts amongst a beautiful and secluded bushland setting.

You can access the the popular siphon bridge via the 3km circuit walk from the car park but to get to Rubicon Dam wall which overflows into the river, it’s approximately another 7km return walk from the Royston Power Station (follow the aqueduct from the big building at the bottom of the hill)! Alternatively you can do the full circuit to the Rubicon Dam (see website link for AllTrails Map) which will probably take you 3-4 hours to complete.

if you end up staying the night at the camp grounds, check out Rubicon Falls the next day if you're still feeling adventurous!

Elise's Tips:

1. Park at the junction of Rubicon River Rd & Royston Rd (small car park opposite the trailhead)

2. No phone coverage, so arrive early, pack snacks, water, and wear comfy shoes!

3. Dogs are welcome, just keep them leashed and clean up after them!

4. Camp at the nearby free camp sites - Tin Hut, Kendalls and The Boys Camping Grounds in Rubicon State Forest

5. Arrive early and leave enough time to see all the best spots and get back to your car before dark

6. Keep a lookout for snakes, especially in hot weather as they like to stay warm on the metal tramlines (I've never seen one on this walk but I have climbing up the pipeline track).