Jacksons Lookout & Hunts Dam

Dam_Walk

NB. The following information was current at the time of the event

Distance:  12 Km   |  Duration:  3.5 Hrs   |  Grade:  TBA   |  Rating:    |  Style:  Circuit   |  Map

Best Season:  All Year

About the Walk

Overview

The walk starts at the Hepburn Primary School and visits the Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve. Sections of the walk follow the Dry Diggings Track, which is a leg of the Great Dividing Trail (GDT). The walk is through open stringybark and box forest.

The Walk in Detail

Many parts of the track are rocky and narrow with short steep hills. Excellent views are provided from Jacksons Lookout. Hunts dam is visited, which was built in the 1860s. There are some mineral springs to sample the waters at the end of the walk at Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.

From the Hepburn Primary School walk east along the footpath of Main Road and turn left (north) at the T junction. Follow the road as it becomes Forest Avenue, turn right into the car park of Hepburn Springs Reserve and walk to the end of the car park where there is track and a sign to Jacksons Lookout. This is 1.25 km from the start of the walk.

Follow the track east and then north in a long steady climb on a narrow track until it reaches Jacksons Lookout. There are excellent views from the tower. Cross Back Hepburn Road and continue ahead on the track for a short distance to a junction with the sign-posted GDT and Dry Diggings Track. Turn right (east) and continue on up Womans Gully a short distance where the GDT leaves the creek and follows a vehicle track north up the hill to the ridge top.

Continue on the track until it intersects with Manning Road at. Turn right (north-east) and walk along Manning Road for 150m to where the sign-posted GDT track re-enters the forest on the left. Follow the track for 400m to an intersecting vehicle track and leave the GDT here and turn right (south-east) to follow the vehicle track. Continue 500m until you reach Hunts Dam. Walk across the overgrown dam wall to a track and turn right and follow it for 200 m to where a vehicle track crosses.

Turn left and walk 40 metres to Manning Road. Turn left (south-east) and follow Manning Road for 500m to Back Hepburn Road. Cross and continue south-east on a vehicle track for almost 1 km until you reach the Midland Highway at GR 483678 and take the intersecting track south-west. (Do not cross the highway.) After approximately 1 km turn left on an indistinct vehicle track (a short green post marks the track). The track descends steeply to Wildcat Creek and Argyle Spring hand pump. Continue for 1 km from Argyle Spring pump to a track junction. Take the left track for 400m to Wyuna Spring. It is then only 100m to the car park in Hepburn Springs Reserve. Return to the Hepburn Primary School following the same route as earlier.

Getting There

From Melbourne head west via the M1, M80 and the Western Freeway/Highway (M8) and take the C141 exit, turning north to Daylesford. From Daylesford drive north on Main Road for 4 km and turn left onto Hepburn-Newstead Road. Drive west for 600m and park near the Hepburn Primary School on the corner of Fourteenth Street.

Walk Precautions

Many of the tracks are single file, rocky and rough. They could be slippery in wet weather. Boots are recommended. Care must be taken when crossing the Back Hepburn Road and Main Road as there are no defined pedestrian crossings.

Additional Information

   Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve APV002   Toilets APV007   Picnic Shelter APV038   Drinking Water


Yes
TBA

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