Billywing Gorge

Distance: 15 Km | Duration: 9 Hrs | Grade: TBA | Rating: | Style: Circuit

About the Walk

Overview

The Grampians (Gariwerd) is a series of rugged sandstone mountain ranges and forests rich in wildlife. Billywing Gorge is a sometimes challenging walk up a narrow gorge in the southern Grampians. Includes an ascent of the Jug Handle and a crosssing of the Maze. Walk involves hard rock scrambling and off track walking.

The Walk in Detail

Day 1.

Leave cars at the start of the walking track to the Fortress 612140E 5872870N. Follow track parallel with the creek for about 1.5km. Do not turn south up the track to the Fortress. The track then peters out. Follow the creek for a further 1.5km till you get to a fork in the river (about 4hrs). Take the fork that heads North East. This climbs through a narrow gorge, keep to the left and up on the side of the gorge to get through. Continue to follow the creek for about 500m (2hrs), there is a large rock formation on the right with a large camping area below a large overhang grid reference 54H615690E). There is also another camping area above the campsite to the East of the large rock formation above the campsite.

Day 2.

Follow the creek for about 300m then leave the creek and climb to the North East up to the top of the ridge. Follow the ridge to the West till you arrive at the Jug Handle (1hr). This section had dense Tea Tree. Climb the Jug Handle for views. Traverse the Maze (1hr or more). See Colin for detailed instructions on how to cross the Maze. Descend down ridge in North West direction from the Maze. There is a foot pad and cairns marking the route down to the track (1.5hr). Follow the track back to Harrop Track then back to the cars. (1hr)

Water (always check availability prior to walking):

Day 1 Water all the way

Day 2 water needs to carried for lunch

Getting There

Meeting Place: Buandik Camping Ground 54H 613600E 5876300N. Travel from Melbourne via Western Freeway to Ballarat. Take Glenelg highway to Dunkeld. Turn right 3km past Dunkeld on the Cavendish Road. Turn right at Cavendish on the Henty Highway. Follow Henty Highway North for about 38km. Turn Right on Red Rock Road and follow signs to Baundik campground.