Popular with day-trippers from Melbourne and local residents from Warburton and surrounding areas, the Redwood Forest offers the opportunity to relax on the lawns with a picnic and wander through the towering Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest.
Now more than 90 years old, the first Californian Redwoods were planted alongside the plantations of Bishop Pine and Douglas Fir as part of a hydrology experiment conducted by the Board of Works in the 1930s. Further plantings occurred from 1960-1963 of Radiata Pine, Western Red Cedar and more Californian Redwoods and these subsequent plantings are now more than 60 years old.
Californian Redwoods grow to be the tallest trees in the world at up to 115m and they can live for more than 2000 years. Despite being relatively young, the trees at Cement Creek are captivating in their uniformly planted arrangement.
Summer is a great time to visit. Once you step amongst the towering Californian Redwoods you will enter a cooler quieter climate. For those with keen eyes, some beautiful native orchids can be found over the summer months including greenhoods and cinnamon bells. The occasional Monarch Butterfly can be spotted from time to time. Listen out for the squeals, shrieks and cackles of a seasonal population of Grey Headed Flying Fox that roost in the canopy of the Redwood Forest in summer.
Explore beyond the main stand of Californian Redwoods by following Cement Creek to where it meets the Yarra River. This beautiful perimeter walk takes in native vegetation including ferns and Eucalypt trees and if you are lucky you will see a variety of birdlife including yellow robins flitting amongst the dappled light.
Just north of Cement Creek Rd, you'll find the O'Shannassay Aqueduct Trail, a popular spot for walking or cycling. When wanting an alternative to the busy Redwood Forest car park, visiting via this scenic route is a 16km round trip when starting from the Yuonga Road car park.
Please note the popularity of this site and where possible choose an off-peak time to visit as weekends, school holidays and public holidays can be extremely busy.
Things to do in the area
OShannassy Aqueduct Trail
Mount Donna Buang
Rainforest Gallery
Upper Yarra Reservoir Park
How to get there
Redwood Forest
When you're there
Please note:
- There are no toilets on site (closest are located at the East Warburton Public Hall)
- No picnic tables or shelters are available
- Phone reception can be limited, depending on your provider
- No dogs are permitted
- No fires are permitted
- No camping is permitted
- No firearms/shooting is permitted
- All rubbish must be taken home as no bins are provided
- Park in the designated car parking area only
- No drones
Need to know
Redwood Forest
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however, in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
Filming and Photography
A permit (minimum 10 business-day turnaround) is required for commercial filming and photography. A permit is also required for filming with a drone, commercially or privately (minimum 20 business-day turnaround).
Cement Creek Redwood Forest Facility upgrades
The Cement Creek Redwood Forest in the Yarra Ranges National Park has become an increasingly popular site for visitation over the last few years thanks to the enchanting and photogenic Californian Redwood trees.
Visitors to the Yarra Ranges National Park will soon enjoy greater accessibility, new facilities and increased protection of the environment through the Cement Creek Redwood Forest Facility upgrades.
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
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Yarra Ranges National Park
Deer Control in Yarra Ranges National Park
Parks Victoria will be undertaking deer control in the Yarra Ranges National Park on the southern fall of Mount Donna Buang. This program will be taking place between the hours of 4pm and 7am on a number of nights between early September 23rd and November 29th 2024. These dates include:23rd -25th September2nd -4th October16th-18th October28th -30 OctoberThese control works are being undertaken by accredited and authorised contractors.For reasons of public safety, various areas of the park will be inaccessible during the evening throughout this period. This includes the O’Shannassy Aqueduct trail and the Mount Victoria walking track. Please refer to the attached map for further information.Signage will be in place at access points when control activities are occurring. For our own safety please observe the signage during these dusk to dawn times and do not enter any closed areas.For further information please call 131963Attachments: Site map Donna Buang (640KB)
O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail - Dee Rd Trestle Bridge Closed
The Dee Road Trestle Bridge has been closed for public safetySubsequently, the O'Shannassy Aqueduct trail now terminates at the bridge near the Dee Road Picnic Ground. We recommend accessing the western section of the Trail from the Dee Road Picnic Ground in Millgrove and the eastern section from the Yuonga Road Picnic Ground in Warburton. Please plan your visit accordingly.Works to provide continued access to the trail are being investigated. -
Cambarville Picnic Area (Yarra Ranges National Park)
Partial walking track closure on Cumberland Circuit walk (South of Woods Point Road)
There is a partial closure in place on the Cumberland Circuit walk due to hazardous tree fall risk south of Woods Point Rd (see map attached)Attachments: Cambarville_A4_0412 (1,190KB)
Cambarville toilet block closed until further notice
Cambarville toilet block is closed until further notice due to water supply issues and structural problems -
Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area (Yarra Ranges National Park)
Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area - Toilet Closure
Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area toilets are permanently closed and will be removed in their entirety at a later date.The nearest toilets are at Fernshaw Picnic ground.