Mirboo North - Baths Road Reserve
Baths Road Reserve, which is located in the heart of Mirboo North, has about 2km of bushwalking tracks through tall gum tree forests, native plants and fern gullies.
Baths Road Reserve is a bushland area which links the township of Mirboo North with the municipal pool. As such, it is an important passive recreation area and serves as a refuge for plants, animals, birds and fungi which were once common before settlement.
You can walk from the shire hall through the reserve to the swimming pool. With limited signage and a number of converging tracks, it is possible to get slightly lost, but knowing how close to town you are (and the main highway) just adds to the adventure.
Baths Road Reserve Map
Baths Road Reserve Points of Interest
Stop 1 - The Trees
From this seat You can observe the two main trees of this area. Either side of the seat are Narrow-leaf Peppermints (Eucalyptus radiata) which have fine grey bark and peppermint-scented leaves. Ahead about 20m is a Messmate Stringybark (E. obliqua) which has much coarser, more fibrous 'stringy' bark.
Stop 2 - Kings Fern Gully
This duckwalk across the gully protects the spring-fed vegetation from damage, and is a good vantage point to identify the various ferns which grow here including the King Fern, Scrambling Coral Fern, Hard Water fern, as well as the Smooth and Rough Tree Ferns. The Scented Paper Bark tree thrives in these damp conditions. The tree which has fallen across the stream will eventually be a food source tor scores of mosses, fungi, insects and micro organisms.
Stop 3 - The Pool
Admire the beautiful natural setting for the municipal pool - it was originally spring fed which explains its picturesque setting.
Stop 4 - Wild Flower Walk
As well as the pink and white Victorian Heath, this area is rich in pea-flowered 'Egg 'n Bacon' plants. The small prickly shrubs with nodding branchlets are Prickly Bush Peas (Pultenea juniperina). Another pea with tiny heart-shaped leaves is the Golden Bush Pea, (P. gunnii) while the Smooth Parrot Pea (Dillwynia glaberrima) has soft long needle foliage to 2cm long.
Stop 5 - Hakea Hill
The prickly Silky Hakea (Hakea sericea) has hard seed cases which open after fire. The huge Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo can sometimes be found feeding on these seeds, using its powerful beak to break open the seed cases.
Stop 6 - Mirboo Lily Track
Tussock type plants are common in this area. Amongst them are the Mirboo Lily (Diplarrena moraea) which has been adopted as the floral emblem of Mirboo North, and the Red Fruited Saw-sedge (Gahnia sieberana) the food plant for the caterpillars of the Sword Grass Brown butterfly which is active during summer.
Walk Summary
Distance: The walk is approximately 750 metres in length and will take 15 to 20 minutes.
Terrain: Gravel surface with easy walking, but a few steep gradients.
Toilets: Located nearby in Baromi Park.
Directions: Baths Road Reserve can be accessed near the toilet block in Baromi Park or near the local swimming pool.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are allowed on a leash.
Review:
A massive storm, equivalent to the force of a tornado occurred on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 which caused significant damage across Gippsland, including Mirboo North. This caused huge damage to Baths Road Reserve, especially the area near the swimming pool. Some walks in the reserve are still closed off. When you reach this area, it gives you an appreciation of the raw power of nature.
Near the start of the walk at Baromi Park there are four tables and toilets. Initially the narrow track passes through tall shady trees but after about three minutes walking, you come to the area decimated by the storm.
Photos:
Location
49 Ridgway, Mirboo North 3871 Map
