Wild Mushroom Spotting

Wild Mushroom Spotting

Explore the mystical forests and discover the hidden secrets that await in Glenelg this winter’

Glenelg Shire has many natural wonders to uncover from indigenous World Heritage site, vast beaches, and rivers, but one attraction not many people know about is the amazing diversity of fungi that grow in its forests.

Where to go:

There are many spots along the Great South West Walk to try and spot wild mushrooms. The GSWW is a 250km walking loop which starts and ends at the Portland Visitor Information Centre. There are a large amount of short walks of the GSWW that can be used to spot wild mushrooms. Mount Richmond and Cobboboonee National Parks are good places to start. Please keep your sightings to public land.

When to go:

The best time to go looking for fungi is in the cooler months, from the first rains in autumn to the really cold weather in August. But there’s always something around if you look hard enough.

What you might see:

There are several types of fungi to be sighted within the National Parks that make up the GSWW. There are also areas of Mount Clay and Dartmoor that have had sightings of wild mushrooms, the most reported include:

Pine mushrooms, otherwise know as Saffron Milk caps are known for their Orange gills, bright orange milk, concentric circles marking on cap. Commonly found on the South East of Australia, they grow wherever there are pines but they are most commonly collected from pine plantations.

The Ghost Mushroom (Omphalotus nidiformis) is a bioluminescent fungus that emits a soft green glow at night. The species is native to Australia and can often be found growing on decaying plant material, such as stumps left behind following pine tree harvest. The mushrooms emerge in late autumn following good rain and continue into winter, reaching a size of up to 20cm wide.

Be sure to dress warm and bring a camera… don’t forget to share any of your finds by tagging us on @visitglenelgvic. For key locations of mushrooms found by the locals, download the Visit Glenelg Vic app and head to attractions.

It is not advised to consume wild mushrooms.