Here at Keppel Creek picnic area, have you ever wondered about the names of the nearby landmarks? Lady Talbot Drive is named after the wife of Sir Reginald Talbot. He was the Governor of Victoria from 1903 to 1908. Keppel Falls was named after the Keppel brothers. They discovered the falls in the early 1880s.
Keppel Creek picnic area offers a perfect starting point. A pleasant 1km walk will lead you to Keppel Falls. The path winds through a cool temperate and mountain ash forest. It ends at a wooden platform that protrudes over the river. Here you can admire impressive views of the cascades.
The Taggerty River flows fast here. It rushes over mossy logs and around boulders to reach Keppel Falls. The sound of the falls is thunderous from above. You will likely hear it as soon as you start walking on the track.
The Keppel Lookout Trail was upgraded in 2022. These works included trail upgrades and a new carpark on Falls Road. This was thanks to Victoria’s Great Outdoors initiative.
Keppel Lookout provides spectacular views. From here you can see across Marysville, Cathedral Range State Park and the Acheron Valley. It’s also a great place to refuel at the scenic picnic bench.
There are two ways to reach Keppel Lookout. You can take a strenuous hike. This hike follows the Keppel Lookout Trail from the valley below. It can be linked with Steavenson Falls. Alternatively, you can drive. Take Paradise Plains Road from Marysville. Then take the unsealed Keppel Lookout Road to the car park. The car park is only 20 metres from the lookout.
Since the Black Saturday bush fires in 2009, the landscape has changed. Lady Talbot Drive has changed a great deal. The regrowth is startling. There are open views of the valley. This area was once dense bushland. The national parks have been regenerating themselves. Everywhere you look, there are signs of the past and future. You’ll see it in the towering trees and vivid ferns.
Remember that Lady Talbot Drive can have seasonal road closures. This is due to bad weather and fallen trees. If the road is closed, you can still walk. Park your car at the closed gate. Walk about 1 hour up the gravel road. This will take you to the start of the Keppel Falls Walk. You’ll pass Murray Pass Picnic Area and Phantom Falls on the way.
The falls drain the nearby mountains into the Taggerty River. This happens after rains and snow melt. The walk to the falls takes you down into a valley. It quickly becomes dark the minute the sun sets behind the mountains. Be sure to head back to the car park before dusk.
Keppel Creek picnic area and its surroundings offer beauty and history. It is a place to appreciate nature’s resilience. It is also a reminder of the people who shaped this landscape. Enjoy the views. Embrace the tranquility. Remember the stories that echo through these forests.