Partial Veil
presents

Mushroom
Walks

with
Jeremy Hegge

From the toxic to the tasty to the bewildering, come for a walk and learn the fundamentals of fungi identification and ecology. You’ll never look at a forest the same way again.

See dates and book tickets


 
ABOUT THE WALKS Walks run every weekend from April to July of 2024.

Come for a walk and learn the tools that will help you to understand the puzzle of mushroom identification, the vital roles fungi play in ecosystems and dispel the many myths surrounding these fascinating organisms.

Every mushroom walk is a new experience! Due to the ephemeral nature of fungi, you can walk the same track only days apart and your experience may be radically different. Fungi are unpredictable, surprising organisms that appear in a seemingly endless diversity of forms.

The majority of mushroom tours available locally take place in pine plantations. Partial Veil offers one of the only mushroom tours that focus primarily on native fungi in native environments. Included with the walk is a custom made Partial Veil booklet with notes on common species and a basic starter guide to fungi identification and ecology to help you remember information from the walk.


  
Discussing how to identify Fairy Ring Champignons (Marasmius oreades)
Books Jeremy recommends for those in the southern states
Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis), a common species on Eucalyptus logs
Coltricia identification on Boonwurrung country
Crown-tipped coral (Artomyces austropiperatus) on a small branch
Hypholoma sp. on Boonwurrung country
 
walks

$85 per ticket. Walks are 18+ and pets cannot attend.
Walks last approximately 3 to 3.5 hours.
They have a morning and an afternoon session.
13 people limit per walk.

See all walks and book tickets

There are currently no walks planned.
Follow @partial_veil on Instagram to stay up to date.


Location Walks will mostly take place within a 60 to 90 minute drive of Naarm/Melbourne. Occasionally walks will be further afield. 

Before you come
Fungi love rain! Keep in mind these walks take place outside during the cool seasons and to dress appropriately for the weather. Walks will continue in most conditions unless it is considered dangerous. 


Foraging?Foraging does not take place on the walks. However there is detailed discussion on the edibility and toxicity of all mushrooms that we find.


Accessibility
We walk slow when we look for fungi. The difficulty of tracks will vary between walks but the majority will be flat and wide.  Occasionally, tracks may have steep or slippery sections, so a moderate level of fitness is suggested.
Most locations will not be accessible by public transport. All locations will be accessible by 2WD vehicles.
Locations may or may not have a public toilet accessible.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
Unfortunately, the majority of forested areas in southern Victoria are not accessible by public transport. A vehicle is required to get to all Partial Veil walks.

REFUND POLICYThere is a no refund if you choose to cancel. However, if you give more than 48 hours notice before the date of the event, you may swap your tickets for another walk.

If a walk is cancelled by Partial Veil due to unforeseen circumstances, you are welcome to a full refund or can instead come to an alternative session.


Discounted tickets (50% off) are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

 
Who is Jeremy Hegge? Jeremy Hegge (he/him) has been actively learning about fungi for years. 

For the past three years, he has been involved in running mushroom walks around the Naarm/Melbourne area. He has collaborated with others in leading these walks and has also led walks for Moorabool Mushroom Festival, La Trobe University Botany Society and the Friends of Royal Park.

Jeremy adopts a slow and researched approach to identification with a strong focus on understanding taxonomy and an interest in global foraging practices. Through this approach he has eaten dozens of mushroom species, many of which are not commonly consumed. 

Many local species do not yet have names and becoming involved in their documentation as a citizen scientist is an important and exciting aspect for him. He also has a passion for fungi photography.

Jeremy is a qualified Horticulturalist. He previously specialised in the revegetation of indigenous grassland and woodland flora in urban spaces. 

     
 
Testimonials
My wife and I joined a mushroom walk out of pure curiosity. We left with an insatiable mushroom obsession after witnessing the sheer passion and knowledge that Jeremy had for these fascinating fungi. From quirky anecdotes to an insane ability to spot the most fascinating shroomies in dense scrub, I learnt more than I could ever have hoped for! There’s something so friendly and companionable about Jeremy’s walks that you feel, once you’re finished, you’ve left with new friends and new fascinations all in one.Abby W.I went on one of Jeremy’s mushroom walks not knowing really what to expect. I knew nothing at all about mushrooms, and had never really thought to learn about them to be honest! But the poster drew me in and I thought, why not? I was a bit worried it would be a weird day, or a dull one with info flying over my head… lucky for me it was neither! Jeremy is an absolute gem, a lovely guy with a head full of knowledge. I learned so much about fungi, and walked away genuinely excited to learn more. 10/10, highly recommend!!Jess H.
Having been on many fungi tours, I can say Jeremy is a distinct expert—with deep knowledge and experience that only comes from countless hours of study in the field. He was also a great bloke and we shared good laughs as we found some terrific fungi.Henry R.
It was such a pleasure going for a mushroom walk in 2023. Jeremy enthusiastically shares his knowledge and passion for fungi, making for a fantastic experience. Can't wait to go again next season!Rach M.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being on multiple mushroom walks with Jeremy, learning something new each time. The wisdom he shares and the passion he has for finding new species on the walks is magical. I highly recommend his walks for anyone who is looking to enhance their mushroom knowledge or who is a complete newbie like I was. I can’t wait for another fungi adventure with him.Juanita B.
I had a great time doing the mushroom walk lead by Jeremy. His passion for Australian fungi is inspiring and his identification skills are amazing. His friendly and easy-going manner set a great vibe for the walk. I would highly recommend it as a great experience for people with any level of interest or skill.Micah K.
I've had the pleasure of joining two of Jeremy Hegge's mushroom walks in the Yarra Valley, and each one was an absolute delight. His knowledge of Australian fungi (and introduced species) is impressive. He has a knack for explaining complex topics in a way that's both engaging and easy to understand. Jeremy’s curiosity is contagious, and I left both tours excited to learn more.Annie F.

Gallery A small example of what we may find on the walks.

One of the many coral-like fungi (Ramariopsis sp.)
Red webcap (Cortinarius persplendidus)
Pixie parasol (Mycena interrupta)
Basket fungus (Ileodictyon gracile)
Hedgehog mushroom (Hydnum sp.)
Yellow club (Clavulinopsis aff. amoena)
Eyelash cup (Scutellinia sp.)
Spotted stem ringless amanita (Amanita cheelii)
Cordyceps aff. tenuipes
Austroboletus occidentalis
Psathyrella echinata
Wood blewit (Lepista/Collybia/ Clitocybe nuda)
Slender parasol (Macrolepiota clelandii)
Honey fungus (Armillaria luteobubablina)
Cats-tongue (Pseudohydnum sp.)
Pink chanterelle (Cantharellus “pink”)
Elegant webcap (Cortinarius archeri)
Mauve splitting webcap (Porpolomopsis lewelliniae)
 
Acknowledgements Jeremy would like to thank Rosemary Willink, Jacob Zinman-Jeanes, Jasmin Leung, Jonáš Gruska, Tannar Coolhaas, Thomas Zdravko, Samuel Quixley and Martin Martini for their help, support and mentorship along his journey.

Jeremy acknowledges that he is working on Aboriginal country and 5% of all Partial Veil profits go towards Pay The Rent (https://paytherent.net.au).





Website lovingly made by another of Jeremy’s fans and mushroom converts, Jacob Zinman-Jeanes