Distance: 16 Km | Duration: 5 Hrs | Grade: Grade 3 | Rating: | Style: Circuit | Map
About the Walk
Overview
The walk features rain forests, damp sclerophyll forests dominated by majestic mountain ash, as well as southern sassafras occurring in moist sheltered gullies. The forests support a variety of native fauna species including swamp wallabies, wombats, echidnas and lyrebirds.
The Walk in Detail
This walk starts and finishes at the Ada Tree Car Park. Take the path from the information board to the Ada Tree via the Island Tree Track. After exploring the Ada Tree site continue on a short distance to the junction with Federal Road (which goes back to the car park) and Federal Mill Walking Track (our path).
Turn right to the New Federal Mill site (1.4 km). After exploring the area turn west towards Federal Crossing and Starling Gap. There is a stone crossing over the Little Ada River (the old bridge is too dangerous) which may be difficult after heavy rain. At Federal Crossing turn left (marked ‘High Lead’) to the fascinating Ada No. 2 Mill site with all its boilers and old machinery. Continue south along the track crossing the Ada River to the signed intersection with Dowey Spur Road.
Turn left and continue on Dowey Spur Road keeping left at two close by junctions with Roman Creek Road and Dowey Fireline until it ends at the intersection with the Ada River Road on the right. There is a 220m climb from here back to the cars. Follow the Ada River Road until near Federal Road there are boulders blocking the road. Cross the boulders and continue on the rough overgrown path with fallen trees to Federal Road. Turn left to the cars.
Getting There
From the Warburton Visitor Centre drive east on the Warburton Highway (B380) and Woods Point Road (C511) for approx. 11km, then turn right into well formed 4WD /gravel Brahams Road.
Follow it for 13km to the T junction with Big Creek Road generally keeping left at each junction.
Turn left at Big Creek Road and after approx. 3.5 km turn right on Federal Road (Ada River Road) to the Ada Tree Car park.
Distance 29 km, 45 minutes.