News Fern-filled fantasy at Tarra Bulga

Step into this rainforest oasis and breathe in the sweet, earthy smells of the forest floor. Between the hyper-green radial ferns, moss-covered rocks or the jade canopy, it’s like you’ve entered a competition for who can make the forest appear the greenest. Everyone’s a winner.

The showstopper, Corrigan Suspension Bridge, never goes out of vogue. Suspended between two patches of dense rainforest, step out onto the swing bridge and soar across a gully filled with thousands of ferns.

There are two main picnic areas: Tarra Bulga Visitor Centre and Tarra Valley Picnic Area.

You can access the bridge by parking at the Visitor Centre, which connects with a network of walking trails, so you can tailor a loop walk depending on the distance you wish to walk. A great circuit taking in highlights includes departing the Visitor Centre along the Lyrebird Ridge Track, then taking Ash Track to Corrigan Suspension Bridge. Follow the Fern Gully Nature Walk to the Bulga area, making your way back to the car park via the Link Track. At a leisurely pace this could be done in around 40 minutes.

For a slightly longer stroll, the Lyrebird Ridge Track rewards walkers with the chance to spot the park’s most famous residents – superb lyrebirds. Their elaborate calls echo through the trees, adding a soundtrack to your adventure.

After your walk, pause at the visitors’ centre to learn about the park’s history and ecology, or enjoy a picnic among the towering gums.

From the Tarra Valley Picnic Area you can take the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk (1.4km, 35 mins). Wander beneath towering Myrtle Beech trees through a lush rainforest gully, stepping over gentle mountain streams on your way to Cyathea Falls.

• Drive south along Grand Ridge Road to Tarra Falls, where you can listen to the rush of the river among thick ferns.

• Visit the country village of Yarram to admire the 25 plus murals of Heesco Town, that have transformed this quirky town into one of Australia’s premier street art destinations.

• Indulge in a delicious menu heroing local produce and sample fine local wines at Carrajung Estate.

• Discover the heritage port town of Port Albert, replete with graceful heritage buildings, waterside walks and classic fish and chips at Port Albert Fish and Chips.

• Set out on a section of the Great Southern Rail Trail. The flat and well-formed section, known as the Tarra Trail, runs between Port Albert and Yarram (14km).

Make a beeline straight for Tarra Bulga, and set out on a loop walk taking in the spectacular Corrigan Suspension Bridge. Gaze out among the giant ferns and towering mountain ash forest. Listen out for elusive lyrebirds, breathing in the pure rainforest air.

After your refreshing walk, eat lunch at InLine Café, Balook, near the entrance of the park.

Enjoy the scenic drive through bushland and countryside to Carrajung Estate, where you can sample luxurious wines. Spend the afternoon enjoying the views of rolling hills and rows of vines.

Next, drive to Yarram, for a dinner from the simple menu at The Murals, surrounded by the large-scale art by silo artist Heesco Khosnaran. Stay overnight in Yarram for a well-earned rest.

Start the day with a wander around town, visiting as many murals as you can. This is an essential self-guided street art tour. Don’t miss the Yarram Water Tower and library mural, as well the numerous laneways. Have lunch at the historic Alberton Hotel, where they serve classic pub meals in a heritage setting.

Next, drive south to Port Albert, where you can stroll along the foreshore and pop into the Maritime Museum for some local seafaring history. If you're feeling peckish, there’s no going past the fish and chips from Port Albert Fish and Chip Co. Head back to Yarram, where you can choose from local eateries or casual dining for dinner. If you’re up for it, revisit your favourite murals to see them in the evening light.

Jump on your bike and travel a section of the Great Southern Rail Trail, Gippsland’s longest rail trail. This fantastic ride takes you through green hills and farm paddocks, toward Alberton (and well beyond – the other end is over 100km away at Nyora). The trail is flat, scenic and ideal for spotting birds and other wildlife. Either pack a picnic or grab lunch to go from a Yarram café.

In the afternoon, drive out to the coast for a relaxed stroll at the pristine Woodside Beach or Reeves Beach. Finish the day with an early dinner in Yarram before heading home.