Distance: 13 Km   |  Duration: 3.5 Hrs   |  Grade: Grade 2   |  Rating:   |  Style: TBA   |  Map
About the Walk
Overview
This circuit walk visits several local features, i.e. the Blowhole, Breakneck Gorge, Golden Spring and Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve via Jacksons Lookout. The walk leaves from Hepburn Primary School to the first detour to the Blowhole. The Blowhole is an artificial diversion tunnel on Sailors Creek, built by gold miners around the early 1870s. A tunnel through the spur was cut to redirect water flow from the original creek line. The soil in the dry creek bed was then sluiced for gold. It is now an impressive sight when the creek is on full flow. A single file track along the Great Dividing Trail (GDT) leads us to Breakneck Gorge. Continuing on the GDT to the Dry Diggings Track there is the optional detour to Jacksons Lookout before continuing on to the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. During this walk natural mineral springs and relics of the gold mining era in delightful bush surrounds can be found. Spring wildflowers make a colourful display with Victoria's floral emblem, the pink or white belled Common Heath, frequently found growing under eucalypts. Koalas and kangaroos are often sighted during this walk along with an abundance of bird life.
The Walk in Detail
Start the walk from the base at Hepburn Primary School. Turn left into Hepburn-Newstead Road and continue for 700m to Eighteenth Street. Turn left and follow this road for 800m and turn right into Blowhole Road. continue for a further 600m to the Blowhole at Grid Reference (GR) 446669. Descend steps for 100m to view the Blowhole, and then retrace steps back to the track. Follow the marked GDT for about 300m to the Diggings Track on the right at GR 444672. Coninue on this track for 2.5km as it winds alongside Sailors Creek north-east, finally swinging south-east along Spring Creek to meet Hepburn-Newstead Road and Breakneck Gorge at GR 452682. Turn left (north) and walk across the gorge via the road bridge. Cross over the road and after about 100m turn right onto a track that follows Spring Creek (signposted Golden Spring 2.2km 40mins). Continue on this track south-east for 1.7km to GR 463674, follow the GDT track uphill and cross the 4WD track, then follow GDT signposts to the lookout tower. Continue east for about 1km to meet the Dry Diggings Track at GR 474675. Turn right and head south on the Dry Diggings Track for 300m and cross Back Hepburn Road. Take the right track up to Jacksons Lookout and ascend the steps for views over the surrounding area. Descend steps and retrace walk back to continue south on the Dry Diggings Track, which, after an east then south-west loop over a creek, turn west for about 1.7km to the end of a car park at GR 466668 (Sulphur Spring). Walk thorugh the car park to Mineral Springs Crescent and turn left. Continue on this road as it swings from noth to outh nad climbs to a T junction with Main Road. Turn right and walk along the footpath of Main Road for 700m to the base (Hepburn Primary school) and the end of the walk.
Getting There
The walk start at the base - Hepburn Primary School, car parking may be limited.Walk Precautions
The hillsides are dotted with relics, mineshafts and rock retaining walls. These relics are fragile and unstable, so for your own safety, and their protection, stay on the walking tracks, Walking poles are recommended but not essential. Walking boots are recommended and possibly wet weather gear. Keep clear of disused mine shafts and tunnels, blackberries, wet gullies in shaded areas and rock tracks which are slippery when wet. Exposed tree roots and rocks, descending and ascending steps, the possibility of fallen trees and walking across and along main roads are hazards.