A rare natural phenomenon is about to light up Australia’s forests

Ghost mushroom season is almost upon us – here’s where to spot them.

A winter forest that glows in the dark might sound like something out of a fairytale. But in Australia, it’s a very real natural phenomenon. Powered by bioluminescence, ghost mushrooms are one of the world’s most mesmerising sights – and the seasonal display returns this May.

What is a ghost mushroom?

Found in forests across the southern parts of the country, the ghost mushroom is a rare fungus native to Australia. At first glance, the species looks rather unassuming – its wide flat cap, usually a pale shade of cream or brown, growing from decaying logs on the forest floor.

But when night falls, the ghost mushroom comes alive, emitting a vivid green glow that appears almost radioactive. It’s all caused by bioluminescence, the natural conversion of chemical energy into light energy within a living organism. The reaction produces a soft green light that radiates up through the fungi’s gills.

In Australia, ghost mushroom season typically begins in late autumn, around the start of May. Peaking as the seasons turn, it continues through to late winter, ending around early July.

Where can I see them?

So, you know when to go looking for ghost mushrooms. But where should you start? Only three states in Australia offer the ideal conditions for them to grow – here’s where to find the best displays in each one.

NSW

Belanglo State Forest, NSW — The ghost mushroom can be found among the pines of Belanglo State Forest. (Credit: Getty Images/John J Dowling)

From the Sapphire Coast to the Southern Highlands, there’s no shortage of ghost mushroom hotspots in NSW. The species is known to appear in dense clusters within Belanglo State Forest , just over 20 kilometres from the regional town of Bowral. The pine plantation is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so visitors can still pop by after sundown.

Blue Mountains, NSW — Take a hike through the Blue Mountains in autumn for a chance at a sighting. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Further south near Merimbula, Bournda National Park and Kangarutha Farm are popular spots for fans of the fungus. And closer to Sydney, the Blue Mountains provide the perfect climate for ghost mushrooms to grow. From autumn, head out along the region’s top hiking trails and you might just spot the species glowing back at you.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Victoria

Come the cooler months, several locations across Victoria promise a chance to see the natural phenomenon, and Dandenong Ranges National Park is a great place to start. Its damp and dense forest floor provides the perfect environment for this fungi to thrive, with walking trails open to the public around the clock.

Glow worms in cave — Witness more than one natural glowing phenomenon in Great Otway National Park. (Credit: Getty Images/Camille Niel)

Another prime destination is the Great Otway National Park, located off the Great Ocean Road. After scanning the forest floor, don’t forget to look up. The wilderness area is also known as one of the best places in Australia to spot glow worms – a double whammy!

South Australia

In South Australia, the luminous species is most prominent along the Limestone Coast. The best place to see the natural light show up close is Ghost Mushroom Lane , a family-friendly experience run by ForestrySA.

The tour gives visitors after-dark access to a working pine plantation in Glencoe, near Mount Gambier. At just $20 a head, guests are guided through the forest at night, following trails illuminated by pretty patches of glowing ghost mushrooms.

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Things to know before you go

While hunting for ghost mushrooms is a magical experience, it’s important to come prepared and stay vigilant while exploring after dark. Follow these handy tips and tricks to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing.

First and foremost, it is imperative to remember that ghost mushrooms are poisonous to humans. The fungus produces a highly toxic compound, so avoid touching or handling it at all times, and never attempt to eat any wild fungi found.

As most sightings happen at night, be sure to bring a torch or headlamp to help navigate the darkness. If you can, try to use red light; artificial light will impact your night vision. Regardless of what you use, do not shine it directly on the mushrooms, as it will dull their natural glow.

No matter where you explore, always stick to marked trails and take care underfoot. Forest terrain is often uneven and slippery, especially in the cooler months when conditions are ideal for growth. Warm layers are also a must, as temperatures drop after sunset. Closed-toe shoes or hiking boots are recommended for comfort and stability.

We recommend heading out with a friend or in a small group, too. It’s also worth checking the weather conditions before you go. Recent rainfall can improve your chances of spotting the glow, but if the forecast is looking rough, consider postponing your trip.

Finally, respect the environment you’re in. Try not to disturb logs or leaf litter, as many forest critters call these places home. And as for the fungi itself, admire it from afar and you’ll help preserve the delicate natural phenomenon for others to enjoy.

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

A rare natural phenomenon is about to light up Australia’s forests

Ghost mushroom season is almost upon us – here’s where to spot them.

What is a ghost mushroom?

Where can I see them?