Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve

mangalore flora and fauna park

At the end of Mangalore Road, just off the Goulburn Valley Highway, between Seymour and Shepparton, lies the Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve. As it’s only 78 hectares, it’s not a huge reserve. However, this makes for a pleasant walk if you don’t like long distances.

fungi at Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve
At only 20mm tall, I was lucky to spot this little guy. The bright orange was what stood out.

I visited in early June as winter was just starting to bite, and apart from the quiet serenity, there wasn’t much else. I did manage to find a few teeny tiny mushrooms, but they were certainly few and far between. Considering it was damp with puddles, moss and loads of lichen, I would have thought there would be more. Unfortunately, it seems the other side of the Great Dividing Range isn’t the best spot to go fungi hunting.

Tiny Fungi
Birding Hotspot

Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve is on eBird but barely qualifies as a ‘hotspot’. It has 156 species of birds seen, but to be a genuine hotspot, it requires 200 species or more. Typically, as is usually my experience, I didn’t see one bird on the day I was there.

the track at Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve
It’s a good thing the path is so obvious as I strayed off it a few times into the bush, and the colour was my beacon to get back on it.
Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve
Sunlight through the tree canopy
Flora Walk

The flora walk at Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve is 3.5km long on a well-defined, firm track of sandy clay and quartz pebbles. Rated easy on walkingmaps.com.au, the track is a circuit taking you through a Grey Box Eucalypt forest with native grevilleas and acacia trees. In spring, it’s said to be a wildflower haven with the native orchids, daisies and Lillies flowering. However, the brochures say fungi are found in winter, so maybe I was there too soon. According to the same brochure, echidnas, goannas, and kangaroos also inhabit the reserve, but again, they were invisible the day I was there.

puddles
Reflections in a puddle
mossy trees at Mangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve
Mossy ground
Amenities

The car park at the end of the road will take about four cars; from there, it’s an easy walk into the reserve. There are no toilets, and you must take all your rubbish with you. Dogs, 4wd and dirt bikes are not permitted.

Kangaroo Island Koala
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© Bevlea Ross