Due to its high elevation, the area is much cooler than Melbourne, and snow in winter is not unusual. However, it also has much higher rainfall than Melbourne and the surrounding area, leading to excellent conditions for the stunning formal English gardens, fern gullies and fungi in the winter months.

Autumn Colour

In Autumn, Mount Macedon becomes a riot of colour as the leaves turn and take on red, yellow, and orange shades. In the cooler, wetter months, the Macedon Ranges and the area around Sanatorium Lake becomes a mecca for fungi hunters.

This was the purpose of our visit time. We were hunting fungi and hoping to spot the elusive blue mushrooms. Consequently, we took the Eco-forest walk from Lions Head Road car park, a 923m walk to the lake. We usually take the Days Picnic Ground track but opted this time to explore the Eco-forest walk.

Macedon Ranges Fungi

The walk was longer than the track we usually take and very pretty. Mushroom wise, however, it was slim pickings. The first noteworthy thing we came across was a cicada exoskeleton.

Walking deeper into the forest, we came across several varieties of mushrooms growing along the trunks of mossy trees.

Mushrooms can be deadly, so a policy of look but don’t touch is wise. Unfortunately, many mushrooms are toxic, and it’s best to leave picking them to experts, or the consequences to health can be dire, ranging from gastro to death.

The blue mushrooms remained elusive. We didn’t spot one on our walk to the lake – so it looks like we will be going back to try again before the season is over.

Sanatorium Lake

Historically, Sanatorium Lake was purpose built to provide a water source to a hospital specialising in the treatment of tuberculosis, which was never built. Now the lake is a beautiful setting for a number of self-guided walking and horse-riding trails.

Visit Macedon Ranges

At the end of the walk, the lake is the small but beautiful Sanatorium Lake surrounded by dense forest and snow gums. You are usually rewarded with beautiful mirror reflections as it is reasonably protected from the elements. We sat awhile, took images of the lake and rested up for the walk back to the car park. Covid-19 and the stay at home rule had left us a lot more unfit than we anticipated.

While sitting there, I also played with ICM (intentional camera movement), a technique I like but don’t do often. As a result, the images take on a painterly look, particularly suited to shots of trees.

All fungi images taken on Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and 60mm macro, mounted on tripod and focus stacked. Tree shots taken with Olympus 12-100 F4 Pro

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