The Cumberland walk

Above: the Cumberland Walk is a kid-friendly, four-kilometre loop a short drive from Marysville. Left: Cora Lynn falls is a great place to take in the scenery and maybe have a bite to eat.

By Emily Friedel

In 2019, the RACV deemed the Cumberland Walk one of the best winter hikes near Melbourne. Roughly eighteen kilometres east of Marysville, this short walk certainly has a lot going for it: awe-inspiring mature mountain ash, waterfalls, a variety of forest types, and lots of lyrebird song. It also passed my son’s kid-friendliness test, with bonus points for some of the small “obstacle courses” of fallen trees and other bits and pieces along the way.

In a Nutshell

Length: 4 km Time: About 90 minutes at a relaxed pace with some scenic pauses along the way. Difficulty: Grade 3. The track is formed, well-marked and relatively easy to navigate with a few short steep sections. It’s a good hike for beginners or those looking for something that’s rewarding but not too taxing. Tips: For a winter walk, footwear with good grip is advisable to avoid coming unstuck on any slippery spots. Long socks are also a good when it’s damp to keep the leeches at bay.

Start: Cambarville Picnic Area

The Cumberland Walk begins at the Cambarville Picnic Ground, which is a short way up Cambarville Road – a dirt road that comes off the Marysville-Woods Point Road. The picnic area has toilets, picnic tables and a shelter.

Big Trees

The first half of the walk takes you through ferny rainforest past the Elephant Tree and the Big Tree. Both trees are impressive mountain ash specimens thought to be hundreds of years old. The aptly named Big Tree, which measured nearly 90 metres in 2011, is one of Victoria’s tallest trees. It was once considered the tallest tree in Australia, but a storm in the late 1950s lopped its top off and took away its title. Beyond these two giant mountain ash trees, the walk winds through shadowy rainforest and over a small bridge crossing Cumberland Creek. Then there is an abrupt change of scenery as the trail emerges in more open forest.

Cora Lynn Falls and Cumberland Falls Lookout

On the other side of Marysville-Woods Point Road, the track forks. Here, you can take a quick detour to Cora Lynn Falls. The track past the falls takes you down to a viewing area with a wooden seat – a good place to stop for a breather. An unofficial track takes you further down for a better view of the falls but be careful if you venture to the water’s edge because it’s very slippery. After viewing Cora Lynn Falls, backtrack to the fork and follow the sign towards Cumberland Falls. You’ll reach a T-junction where you can go right to a lookout for a view out across the mountains. Cumberland Falls can be heard from the lookout but weren’t visible at the time of writing, possibly due to overgrowth.

Finish: Cambarville Picnic Ground

After the Cumberland Falls lookout, there is a bit of uphill work before the track levels out for a while. A wooden bridge takes you back over Cumberland Creek – this bridge is in slight disrepair, so watch your step. Then the track crosses Marysville-Woods Point Road again before following Cambarville Road back up to the picnic ground. Completing this walk on a chilly winter’s day should leave you feeling invigorated and ready to grab a hot bite to eat in Marysville! The Big Tree and The Elephant Tree (named this because it looks like a giant elephant leg) are impressive mountain ash specimens.

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