Discover Heyfield: Nature, trails and history

Heyfield offers a range of options for a stay, including the wetlands, the Victorian Timber Workers Memorial, the museum and parks. Nature watching, local history and recreational facilities each provide a different focus. If you’re looking for a hotel in Heyfield, you could first consider whether trails and wetlands, the history of the timber industry, or time in the park will shape your visit.

Walks and wetlands

The 28-hectare Heyfield Wetlands offer walks in a natural wetland setting. The area includes four kilometres of trails, eight fitness stations and boardwalks. There are also opportunities for birdwatching, fishing, photography and outdoor events. The trails and fitness stations offer a focus on physical activity, while birdwatching and photography draw more attention to nature. Fishing and events add to the options. This lets you choose how to explore the wetlands according to the focus of your visit, rather than associating the area with just one activity.

Museum and remembrance of the timber industry

The Heyfield & District Museum features seasonal exhibitions, photographs and memorabilia about the history of Heyfield and its surroundings. It is located in Heyfield’s former post office. The seasonal exhibitions give each museum visit a changing subject focus; photographs and memorabilia tell the story of the town and surrounding area. The building’s former use adds another connection to Heyfield’s local perspective.

The Victorian Timber Workers Memorial is a permanent state memorial to Victoria’s timber workers. A plaque lists the names of people who died in accidents while working in Victoria’s timber industry. The site also features a public art sculpture, 75 mature Yellow-Barked trees, connecting paths, low stone walls and seating. The memorial thus combines remembrance of the timber industry with individual commemoration and a designed public space.

The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail is 67 kilometres long and runs from Traralgon to Stratford through Heyfield and past the memorial. These details show two different scales: Heyfield is a town along a longer route, while the memorial is a specific landmark along its course. If you’re interested in the history of the timber industry, you can consider the Rail Trail together with the memorial, while keeping the two destinations distinct.

Parks and recreational options

Heyfield Apex Park offers a different focus. Its playground has a wooden treehouse, a giant swing, a bouncing truck and wooden sculptures of Australian animals. The park also has picnic tables, free covered electric barbecues and toilets. Compared with the wetlands and historical sites, the focus here is on the playground and picnic facilities.

A notice from February 2021 described the Youth Play Precinct in Heyfield as having a redesigned skate park and a pump track. Nearby, outside Heyfield, is Blores Hill Mountain Bike Park, with trails specifically designed for mountain bike riders. It is a destination outside Heyfield; trail conditions can change. Check current conditions before setting out.

Events and when to visit

Two annual events also offer a specific reason to consider when you travel: the Heyfield Lumberjacks B & S Ball takes place in April, and the Heyfield Vintage Machinery Rally in May. The events are a month apart and offer different reasons to plan a visit. If you’d like to plan your trip around either event, check the current event date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Metung, Red Hill South, Barnadown, Goughs Bay, Pyramid Hill, Bittern, Mount Buller, Cottles Bridge

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.