La La Falls is a small, picturesque waterfall reached by a popular, well-signed bushwalking track near Warburton in the Upper Yarra Valley. The walk follows Four Mile Creek through cool-temperate forest of mountain ash and tree-ferns, with manna gums, blanket-leaf and bootlace bush along the way. It traces the route of an old timber tramway, crossing three handcrafted stone bridges before arriving at a viewing platform at the falls. The surrounding forest is lyrebird habitat, and it is a free, year-round, dog-friendly walk (dogs on leash).
The track is roughly 3.2 km return, with about 1.6 km each way to the falls, and takes around one to one and a quarter hours at a gentle pace. It is graded easy to moderate (Grade 3): mostly straightforward, but with some steeper, rocky sections, steps, boardwalks and viewing platforms, and it can be muddy or slippery after rain. The falls flow best in autumn and winter and after rain, so wet-season visits reward you with the strongest cascade.
The falls take their name from former landowner Leila Ward, whose guest house “La La” once stood in the area; “La La” is locally said to mean “Welcome Welcome.” The walking track follows an old timber tramway reported to have been constructed around 1909, believed to have hauled logs from the lower slopes of Mount Pride to a local sawmill.
The trailhead car park and picnic area sit at the end of Irruka Road, which branches off Old Warburton Road in Warburton. La La Falls lies within Yarra State Forest, managed by Forest Fire Management Victoria (DEECA). Because state-forest tracks can be subject to temporary closures for construction, storm damage or other works, it is worth checking the current status before you set out. A longer combined route, the Backstairs Track loop that also passes the falls, has recently been closed for construction, so confirm conditions on the day. Land-management enquiries can be made on 13 19 63.