Noojee

Noojee is a small town located just under 50 kilometres west of the Baw Baw Alpine Village.

Noojee is a place of great natural beauty, surrounded by dense mountain forests and rolling green hills. Originally settled by gold prospectors during the 1860s, it was timber industry which sustained the town through much of the following century.

These days, Noojee is very much a tourist town, particularly as it lies on the main access route to the ski fields of Mount Baw Baw. The town centre lies on Bennett Street and includes a cafe and general store, while the Noojee Hotel can be found a little further east on the road to Mt Baw Baw, perched on a hill side overlooking a riverfront reserve. The La Trobe River flows through the town centre and is flanked by large expanses of shaded grassy parkland. At the northern end of Bennett Street is a river front park which has BBQ and picnic shelters, a playground and a small sandy swimming beach at a bend in the river.

For a scenic drive, follow the Loch Valley Road past the Outpost Hotel and northwards through a landscape of thick bush, fern gullies and lush green pastures.

A short journey east of Noojee is the Toorongo Falls Road which follows the river along its journey through a scenic valley until it reaches the Toorongo Falls Reserve. At the car park is a 750 metre walking track through the tall wet forest to the Toorongo Falls. A longer loop walk to the nearby Amphitheatre Falls can be undertaken.

Just west of Noojee is am historic trestle bridge which was originally built in 1919 as part of a railway used to freight timber out of the district. This huge bridge has been restored and is the highest example of its type in Victoria. A series of steps leads from the car park at the base of the bridge to the top where a walking and cycling trail has been constructed along the former railway line.

Further west, a little along the road southwards to Neerim South is the Lions Club Lookout which offers fine easterly views over the surrounding countryside and mountains.