Photographing Noojee

About Noojee

Noojee Trestle Bridge from above
Noojee Trestle Bridge

Noojee is a small village on the southern side of the Dandenongs (Great Dividing Range) or northern lip of the Latrobe Valley / start of Gippsland - all depending on your view. The area takes in Neerim South, Tanjil Bren, Toorongo National Park, Baw Baw Mountain / Village and Loch Valley. Within the area, you can find valleys, farm land, steep hills, and temperate rainforest. Even snow at the right time of year.

Viewpoints

This area encompases a huge range of photo opportunities. A photographer should plan to spend at least the weekend here, if not the week.

  1. The Trestle Bridge. This is an old railway bridge about 3km west of Noojee on the Mt Baw Baw Tourist Rd (C426). It is clearly signposted. I love the mix of temperate rainforest with aging timber structures.
    2. Noojee Trestle Bridge from below
    Noojee Trestle Bridge from below
    Noojee Trestle Bridge from below
    Noojee Trestle Bridge from below
    Rainforest path from Noojee Trestle Bridge
    Rainforest path from Noojee Trestle Bridge
  2. Toorongo Falls. Not far from Noojee are the Tooroongo and Ampitheatre Falls. Neither are huge falls, but both are worth a visit. They are about 3km north of Noojee on the Tooronga Valley Rd.
    3. Toorongo Falls
    Toorongo Falls

    Toorongo Falls
    Toorongo Falls

    River at Noojee
    LaTrobe River at Noojee
  3. The Outback Retreat is both where we have stayed (cabins), eaten (resturant), drunk (pub) and photographed. They have lovely grounds in a fantastic spot. The LaTrobe River runs just on the southern edge of their property.
    4. Noojee Outback Retreat
    Noojee Outback Retreat
    Noojee Outback Retreat
    Noojee Outback Retreat

I took my LowePro Backpack loaded with Canon 5DMkII body, Canon 24-105mm zoom, Manfrotto 190 Tripod, and of course a range of lens wipes, spare batteries, sunscreen and bug repellant. I tended to shoot 28-55mm

Techniques

As with any waterfall, I want to blur the water but not the surrounding vegitation. That means using a long exposure and a tripod. I could have used NR filters, but in this case I didnt. I simply changed the aperature to suit. I was already shooting at ISO 100.

Other things to look out for

Noojee itself is barely there anymore, but it is the center of many nice areas to photograph. Below are some examples, but I suggest just driving down some of the local roads. Both the Latrobe and Tanjil rivers provide lots of nice photo opportunities.

  • Noojee Trestle bridge (-37.9004 145.9843 Main Neerim Rd)
  • Tooronga Falls (-37.84994, 146.04561 Toorongo Falls Reserve Car Park, 640 Toorongo Valley Rd, Noojee, Vic)
  • Amphitheatre Falls (go to Tooronga Falls and follow signs)
  • Mt Baw Baw Village and Summit (-37.8408, 146.26446 Mt Baw Baw Tourist Rd C426)
  • Toolshed Bar / Outpost Retreat (-37.8898, 145.99983 38 Loch Valley Rd, Noojee)
  • Tanjil River (from Tanjil Bren to Tanjil)
  • Lookout (-37.9049 145.9631 C425 Main Neerim Road
  • Old Wooden Weir (-37.9611 145.9276 Tarago Rd)

Location

4242+3JF Noojee, Noojee Vic, 3833 (-37.894697, 146.000938)

Techniques used

Kit used

How to get there

The best way to get to Noojee is by car. It is about 1.5-2hrs east of Melbourne (depending on where in Melbourne you start from). Take the M1 (South Eastern Freeway) to near Drouin, and turn left (North) on the C426, at Robin Hood Exit. The road soon becomes the C425 as it heads to Neerim South, Neerim, and Neerim Junction. For some reason, it then turns back into the C426 as it turns east towards Mt Baw Baw.

Best time to visit

These hills are several degrees cooler and substantially wetter than Melbourne City. They are a nice place to visit in Summer. During the other seasons though, there is likely to be more rain, and therefore more greenery in the photos. Winter and Spring provide lush green vistas.

Accessability

The area may be a touch hilly, but the roads are almost all paved. The gravel road to Toorongo Falls is normally good, but it can be slipperly in the wet. Slightly west of here is the Bunyip State Park. This park does have some 2wd dirt roads, but it is a well known 4WD track area. I suggest care in choosing which roads to take in this park.

Where to stay

If travelling from Melbourne, there is really no need to stay the night. You can simply return to Melbourne. We have stayed at the Outback Retreat - and loved it. Other accomodation is available in Drouin and Warragul. I am not sure about Noojee / Nerim.