A journey to the past in Walhalla (Victoria, Australia)
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Walhalla is a popular tourist attraction in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia and is definitely worth a visit. This historic gold mining town has undeniable charm, a relaxed atmosphere and a rich history to explore. Romantically, Walhalla sits in a narrow valley, with buildings meandering up the hills, giving the feeling that the town is being hugged with lush green ferns and forest.
Many fortunes were made during the gold rush in the mid-1800s with Walhalla booming in both people and prosperity. But with boom often comes bust. By the 1900s gold mining was no longer profitable and Walhalla saw a huge exodus of people and the town started to fade.
Luckily, much of this heritage has been preserved so people can enjoy this gorgeous town. Read on to find out how to plan a perfect visit to Walhalla.
The formally recognised Traditional Owners for the Walhalla area are the Gunaikurnai People.
What to expect
Whilst Walhalla is a popular Gippsland tourist destination, it is also a real town. By that, I mean it is not a tourist park such as the nearby Old Gippstown or Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. So you won’t see people dressed up in period costumes or putting on shows. This gives Walhalla a charm and atmosphere that will leave you dreaming of living, or having a holiday rental, in this quant town.
Entry to the Walhalla township is free but admission fees apply for specific activities such as the goldmine and train.
Things to do in Walhalla
There are so many things to do in Walhalla, and whilst it is a popular destination for day trips, staying for a weekend will allow you to relax and take your time.
Learn about the history
The township of Walhalla started for one reason – GOLD! After Ned Stringer first found gold in the stream (now called Stringers Creek) the area become inundated with people looking to strike it lucky and get rich. At its peak Walhalla had around 3,000 people; now that population is around 20. This gold boom was significant enough to warrant a train line being constructed along with 10 hotels, school, halls and over 30 shops.
However, as gold became unprofitable in the early 1900’s the mines starting closing and the population of Walhalla reduced.
Information on Walhalla can be found on the Visit Walhalla website, Visit Gippsland website and in various books such as Walhalla Heyday by G.F James and C.G. Lee.
But the best way to learn about the history of Walhalla is to visit the town!
EXPLORE | Looking for more adventures in the Gippsland region? Check out the other Gippsland blog posts for inspiration.
Gold Mine tour
The Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine operates highly informative tours on a daily basis. These tours are a great way to learn about the gold mining history of Walhalla and the passion of the tour guides is infectious!
Cost: $60 for a family, $25 adults, under 16 $20, under 6 year old free.
Please check the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine website for current prices and operating times.
If visiting the mine doesn’t interest you, but you want to explore this history, then pop into the information area next to the tour desk (I think there is an entry fee but can’t recall).
You can also sneak a look into the mine from the outside if the main door is open. There are also old mine entrances along the tram line, along with old equipment.
Walhalla Train
Why drive when you can catch the train? Especially when the train weaves its way along the hillside while following the curves of the creek. Oh, and it scenically crosses the Thomson River. Do you need more convincing to take the Walhalla train?
The Walhalla Goldfields Railway runs between the Thomson Station into Walhalla and takes around 20 minutes one way.
Take a return journey or do a car shuffle if you only want to go one-way.
Cost for one-way: Family $70, Adult $35, Children 3-16 years $30.
Cost for return: Family $90, Adult $40, Children 3-16 years $35
Please check the Walhalla Goldfields Railway website for current prices and operating times.
TIP | Watching the train cross the Thomson River is really beautiful. Park at the Thomson Station and walk towards the main station area for ample viewing locations.
Walks
Short walks
Walking is by far the best way to soak up the atmosphere of Walhalla. One popular walk is to start near the Post Office and take the tram track to the goldmine entrance or continue on to the campgrounds then walk back along the road.
Whilst walking along the road it is customary to pick which house you would like to live in. Or which house you will come back and stay in. Or maybe it’s only me that does that?!
Other great walks include visiting the hospital and the cricket ground – both of which involve walking up a steep hill. I don’t know who decided to put the hospital at the top of a hill! Guess it made sure only the very sick made the trek!
Personally, I have never made it to the cricket ground as walking uphill for 1km to see a cleared patch of ground doesn’t thrill me. But, it is historically significant and the cricket ground walk is a popular Walhalla activity. Apparently, the local Walhalla team would stay overnight before a home game. This meant the Walhalla team were fresh and ready to go in the morning, whilst the visiting team were already tired from walking up the hill!
The visitor guide has information on the sights you will see while walking around the area. Pop into the Corner Store to see if they have copies of the town map available, or have a look at the annotated town image on Walhalla Rail website.
Longer walks
Longer walks are available around Walhalla with details available on AllTrails.
An enjoyable walk is to park at the Thomson River train carpark and walk along the old tramline into Walhalla. This walk is approximately 7 km and starts across the river from the carpark. A mother of a hill (Mormon Town Track) is the first section. Then the track stays flat along the Australian Alps Walking Track, until you come down the hill into Walhalla. Either do a car shuffle with a friend, or more excitingly catch the train back to the car. Make sure to check the train timetable and operating status beforehand. Alternatively, do this walk in the reverse direction – start at Walhalla and walk back to Thomson River.
Looking for a really long walk? The Australian Alps Walking Track will take you 650 km from Walhalla all the way to Canberra. Allow around 10 weeks to complete this epic walk!
Looking for more inspiration?
Search many journeys blog
Cemetery
The creepy, arm-hair raising cemetery is perched on the steep hill between the Wally Pub and Train Station, and gosh I love it! The cemetery is in no way manicured or beautifully landscaped, but the age and rudimentary grave sites make this an intriguing location.
Cost: Free
Ghost tours
Another popular Walhalla activity is to go on a Ghost Tour! Are you brave enough to walk around Walhalla in the dark looking for ghosts? Even if you don’t see a ghost the tours are very informative and offer scary but intriguing tales from the past.
Cost: Please check with Walhalla Ghost Tours for current prices and operating times.
Historic buildings
There are so many beautiful buildings in Walhalla which are best seen via a self-guided Walhalla Heritage Walk. There are information boards around the town to explain the history of each building.
Cost: Free.
TIP | Walk down to the Windsor House Bed and breakfast, this is such a beautiful building! Just turn at the Star Hotel and you won’t miss it. If you keep going past Windsor House you will enjoy a lovely quiet slice of Walhalla and see the old stone cottage.
Museums and displays
While many of the historic buildings are private, there are still ones that you can enter and enjoy.
Step back in time and learn about the history of fire and firefighting at the Fire Station (free entry) or visit the museum at the Corner Store (small fee).
You shouldn’t miss a visit the old Walhalla Post Office (my favourite building!). Whilst an old Post Office might not sound exciting, the displays are excellent and you can even try your hand at morse code! Behind the main post office space is the residence which is decorated as per the era. The Post Office is free to visit but donations are encouraged to help with maintenance and restoration efforts.
Costs to visit Walhalla
Entry and parking are free
There is no entry fee into the main township of Walhalla. Please see the above listings for costs of tours and museums.
Parking in Walhalla is free.
Free things to do in Walhalla
As listed above there are many free activities at Walhalla including:
- enjoying a casual self-guided walking tour of historic buildings,
- learning about past firefighting capability at the fire station museum,
- dreaming about the gold that was kept in the Bank Vault,
- walking to the Chinese gardens,
- walking to the cricket ground,
- getting spooked out at the cemetery,
- visiting the historic band rotunda,
- walking the tramline and seeing the equipment outside the Long Tunnel Extended Mine,
- enjoying the peaceful surrounds.
Getting There
Self drive
Driving is the easiest and most convenient option for visiting Walhalla. Be aware of wildlife on the roads and take care around the windy corners.
Allow 2 hours to travel from Melbourne to Walhalla.
IMPORTANT | Make sure you have fuel as there is no fuel available at Walhalla and limited locations with fuel between the Princes Highway and Walhalla. There are electric vehicle charging stations at the Walhalla Star Hotel.
Public Transport
Public transport does not cover Walhalla with the closest V/Line train station being Moe. However, Moe to Walhalla is still around 50km so you will need to organise transport for the rest of the way. Take note that a Taxi would cost around $100 one way.
Tours
Mountain Top Experience may be able to help if you need transport from Moe or Morwell or if organising a group tour.
How long to visit
The main attractions of Walhalla can be seen in one day but staying overnight will give you more time to relax and enjoy the calm atmosphere of the town.
Combine your visit to Walhalla with a trip to Petersons Lookout (32 km) or one of the many other beautiful places in Gippsland!
Tips for your visit
Here are my top 5 tips for your visit to Walhalla:
- Bring your own drinking water and some snacks.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking and exploring.
- Walhalla is damp and cool since it is in a valley so bring warm clothes on cooler days.
- Prebook the train and mine tour to avoid disappointment.
- Respect that Walhalla is a place where people live and the locals are not there to entertain you.
Exploring Walhalla with children
Hopefully this blog post on Walhalla has given you enough ideas to decide whether visiting with your children will be enjoyable.
Walks up large hills such as the cricket ground and hospital might not be enjoyable with children unless your children really love walking!
The Long Tunnel Extended Mine tour might be scary for some children (and adults!) but it is well lit and you can take a small stroller.
Catching the train into Walhalla is a crowd pleaser and if someone takes one-for-the-team and drives the car into Walhalla while you enjoy the train, then you will have your vehicle with you. I don’t know about you, but when I travelled with a younger child we had a bzillion things in our car –spare clothes, picnic blanket, scooter or balance bike, a large supply of emergency snacks etc. So having the car there is handy and means you can leave at a time that suits you instead of catching the train back.
When to visit
When is the best time to visit Walhalla? Well, it really depends on what weather you prefer.
Summer (December – February) in Victoria can be very hot but still enjoyable. Keep an eye on the fire danger ratings and avoid travel if there are bushfires in the area.
Autumn (March – May) is a beautiful time to visit as Walhalla is one of the best places in Victoria for autumn leaves.
Winter (June – August) is lush and green and the air smells rich of damp soil.
Spring (September – November) is delightful with the cottage gardens flowering and fresh new tree growth.
In terms of crowds, weekends can get busy, as are the school holidays. Travel mid-week if you want to avoid the crowds.
PLAN | Walhalla is in the state of Victoria which has a varying climate. Read this post for the best time to visit.
What to bring
Heading to Walhalla does not require anything special. Bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, drinking water, sunscreen (if needed) and any food supplies for picnics.
Please also bring a relaxed mindset and understand that not every shop might be open when you visit and that food venues might be really busy.
Make sure your car has enough fuel for the trip as there is none available in Walhalla. Closest petrol/fuel stations are at Tyers (35 km), or Moe (47km).
Oh, and bring some cash to leave donations (if you wish) at places such as the Post Office.
Where to eat and drink
At Walhalla
Self cater
Walhalla has many beautiful picnic shelters and tables along the main road. There are sheltered picnic areas near the train station and at the Ned Stringer Park. The Ned Stringer area also has a small playground.
There are no supermarkets at Walhalla so bring everything you need. Otherwise, the General Store has some basics.
TIP | Bring your own water are there are limited places to refill drinking bottles.
Cafes and dining
There are a range of places to eat and drink in Walhalla including the Star Hotel (booking required with priority given to guests), Walhalla Witchery Café and Magical Wares, Walhalla Lodge Hotel (known as the Wally Pub), and Walhalla Café and General Store.
TIP | The opening hours of the venues can change through the year so I suggest bringing a light snack just in case.
Where to eat near Walhalla
Nearby to Walhalla is the Rawson Stockyards which do pub-style meals and Assaggio del Forno do woodfired pizza. Both are around 20 minutes drive from Walhalla.
Where to stay
Staying in Walhalla
Camping
Camping is available in the designated camp grounds (Chinese Gardens and North Gardens) at the northern end of the Walhalla township. If planning to camp then book ahead and check if the campgrounds are open as they can be closed during the year due to flooding.
Hotels, cottages and B&B
The majority of accommodation in Walhalla is smaller cottages with some group accommodation available. There are no large ugly hotels, instead the “larger” accommodation options are the beautiful Windsor House and Star Hotel.
Search accommodation on the Visit Gippsland website or Booking.com.
Accommodation near Walhalla
Accommodation can also be found near Walhalla in Rawson and Erica.
Extend your visit
Do you have time to stay a night or two? There are plenty of beautiful places to explore in Gippsland which can be found in the Gippsland destination guide.
Final thoughts on Walhalla
Walhalla makes a perfect day trip if you catch the historic train, walk around town, enjoy lunch and then do the Long Tunnel Extended Mine tour. If you are still not ready to leave then stay for a ghost tour!
Are you wondering whether Walhalla is worth visiting if you are not interested in the gold mining history? Yes, it is worth it! Wander the peaceful streets, admire the beautiful buildings, and soak in the lush surroundings until it’s time for a food and drink break (or multiple!).
Oh, and one last thing… you might be lucky enough to hear the lone bagpiper playing in the valley. It’s not a ghost I promise. It’s a wonderful man who plays the bagpipes on some weekends for tourists and locals to enjoy. He has become a local legend!
Hopefully this post has inspired you to get out and explore Walhalla and some of the surrounding beauty that Gippsland has to offer!
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