Getting there
Rubicon is located about 150 km north east of Melbourne CBD, between Lake Eildon and Maroondah Hwy (B360), and can be accessed via Taggerty-Thornton Rd (C515).
Camping Areas
Rubicon has two camping areas namely Kendalls and The Boys which are located on the Rubicon Road, about 2-3 kms north of Rubicon. Kendalls was closed in mid Oct and The Boys campground was rather busy on the fine weekend in Spring. There is no toilet at Tin Hut Camping Area which means that it is suitable only for campers who bring their own potty.
Rubicon SF map and The Boys Camping Area (no phone reception).
Short walk starts from the camping area
Rubicon River
Rubicon Heritage Loop and The Tramway Walk
Starts from the Rubicon Heritage Walk parking area on Royston Rd, about 6-7 kms south south east of Rubicon Power Station and about 2 kms past Le Bruns Rd.
I followed the signs and walked clockwise around the short loop. The trail was easy to follow and well maintained.
After about 800 m walk through the forest and about 700 m walk along one of Rubicon Aqueducts, I reached Rubicon Hydroelectric Scheme structure.
View of Royston Power Station
The picturesque Royston Power Station
Royston Trestle Bridge
The first snake was spot here, between the tramline and Royston Trestle Bridge, one of the four trestle bridges in the Rubicon Historic Valley.
One of the sawmills in the Rubicon forest.
After crossing Rubicon River Road Trestle Bridge, you could follow the sign and cross the aqueduct to continue Rubicon Heritage Walk (short loop) which will take you back to Rubicon Heritage Walk carpark on Royston Road after a further one km east or so along the trail .
Instead of following the sign to return to the Rubicon Heritage Walk parking area, I took Rubicon Tramway//Aqueduct Walk. It is about 4 km of winding flat track through the forest and then it took me up to the Winch House at the top of the ridge where the aqueduct delivers water into the pipeline servicing the Rubicon Power Station in the valley below.
I also spent a bit of time to check out if there was a comfortable way to get down to Rubicon Falls Power Station but, because I was not equipped for bush bashing, I did not attempt it (GPX file ref).
On the return along the tramway and aqueduct, I also woke up another snake near the Rubicon Heritage Walk (short loop) turnoff where I followed the sign, crossed the aqueduct and walked out. Loved the one km scenic track to the carpark.
All in all, I enjoyed the walk even though I missed the side trip to Rubicon Dam to see two more bridges: Beech Creek Trestle and Lubra Creek Trestle, about 1.5-2 kms south of Royston Trestle Bridge.
GPX file route (16.7 kms) of Rubicon Heritage Loop and Tramway Walk
Snobs Creek Falls
Located on Snobs Creek Road, 6 kms off Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) between Thornton and Eildon. A short walk from the car parking area to the viewing platforms offers spectacular views of one of the most spectacular falls in Victoria. The falls drop more than 100 metres over rocky outcrops.
