While the snow bunnies fluffed around on Mt Baw Baw’s snowfields, I made the most of the weekend’s glorious winter sunshine exploring Noojee not far away.
The itsy-bitsy town, about 125km east of Melbourne, is less than 50km from the Baw Baw Alpine Village.
I put my lapses of vertigo to the test at the historic Noojee Trestle Bridge, at one time regarded as one of the largest bridges of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
Soaring 21 metres and with a 102 metre span, the restored timber trestle bridge looks impressive among the tall trees.
Built in 1919, the bridge (once referred to as “Number 7”) is the only one remaining of seven trestle bridges in a section of the old Noojee to Warragul railway line that was mainly used to service the timber industry.
Fire destroyed the bridge in 1939 and it was soon reconstructed, but by the 1950s road services became more popular and the railway line closed.
Repaired and given a new lease of life in the 1990s, the bridge is now a main attraction of the Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail that provides a short walk or ride from Noojee through beautiful forest.
I did not have time to explore the Rail Trail on this visit but it is claimed the gentle terrain suits all fitness levels.
With such gorgeous scenery, it is no surprise the Trestle Bridge is popular for weddings.
It is also an interesting venue for the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s Long Lunch events.
Apart from various rustic eating places and a nearby trout farm, the Noojee Heritage Centre is worth a peek for those wanting to know more about the area’s timber and railway past.
It features a replica of the original Noojee railway station and a restored 1950s locomotive.
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