Archives: Walk Directory

The Walk in Detail

Start the walk at the car park inside the MOunt Franklin crater (Grid Refernece (GR) 473719). Follow the walking track which initially starts north-west and curves right around to south-east before swinging left and up a steep clmb, including some steps, to meet a gravel road on the rim tothe north fo the crater. Walk 1.5km on this road, past the fire tower, around the rim and down to the bottom of the crater and the car park at the start of the walk. Leave the crater via the bitumen Mount Franklin Road and walk 1.5km back to Midland Highway. Cross to the left (west) side of the highway with care and walk 500m to Carrolls Lane at GR 461721. Follow this gravel road (west) for 2km to the junction with hepburn-Newstead Road at GR 440722. Turn right and walk along the side of the bitument road for 2.5km to the junction with South Street at GR 438746. Turn left along South Street at the Franklinford sign, passing the Aboriginal school site, to Clarkes Road. Turn right for aobut 50m then left to take a short side trip to both the Franklinford Spring and Cemetery before returning to Clarkes Road at Clarkes Pool on Jim Crow Creek (GR 429471). This is the end of the walk. Execute the car shuffle to return the walkers back to base.

The Walk in Detail

From the start at the Wombat Station rotunda (Grid Reference (GR) 415530) walk north-west on an elevated easement for 470m. Turn right (north) onto a maintenance road for 420m to a T junctions and turn left to follow the boundary of Yoga Ashram. Continue north on a minor road besdie a blue gum plantation. Follow the loop in the track, first east then south, then east again to a track junction at GR 415540. Turn right and walk for 130m to another T junction. Turn left (north-east) and, ignoring a track to the left after 300m, continue for 1km to a track on the right. Continue north-east and take a a right-hand fork. Follow this footpad thorugh to White Point Track at GR 426551. Turn right and walk along the road for 400m to a GDT marker post at GR 430549. Turn left and follow the GST into the bush to the site of the White Point diggings (GR 434550), which can be seen in a gully 600m from Whit Point Track. continue a further 700m to Sailors Creek Road, initially folllowing the course of the headwaters of Sailors Creek.

Turn right onto Sailors Creek Road and cross the bridge over Sailors Creek at GR 438552. Continue along athe road for a further 500m and turn right onto a faint vehicle track (GR 439548), which enteres the forest and curves around to join an old rail easement. Note the old rail bridge remnants on the left a GR 442540. Follow this prominent railway easement for 850m to White Point Track. Cross White Point Track an dcontinue for 2.7km through distinct cuttings, passing the signposted birthplace of GST, to a beautifully crafted and perfectly preserved brick culvert at GR 418526. It is possible to scramble down to the left-hand (west) side of the embankment to inspect the tunnel. It may also be possible to walk right through the tunnel, depending on whether there has been recent rain. Continue along the easement for 500m back to Wombat Station and the start of the walk.

The Walk in Detail

The walk starts at the car park at GR 499450. Cross over the river and walk south-east on the road for 400m to a faint 4WD track on the left (GR 502448). Follow this track for 100m then veer north-east off-track to a high point at GR 507451. Follow the 4WD track to the next high point at GR 508453 an continue south-east for 500m to McGees Road at GR 512450. Cross over McGees Road and continue on the track climbing up tot he junction with Mount Hope Track at GR 518452. Turn left on Mount Hope Track and continue for 500m to the junction with Cricket Ground Track (GR 516455) and north for about 1.5km to Hell Hole Track on the left. Ignore this track and proceed for 200m to a faint track branching tothe right (GR 519468) and follow this track east tothe sumit of Mount Hope (GR 521469). This is a convenient place for a break. It is a cleared area with weather station apparatus but has no views.

Continue following a track north-west down to Mount Hope Track (GR 520470) and continue north ignoring any sdie tracks until you reach the top of the ridge where the track is on a long sweeping right hand bend at GR 520475. There is  a small clearing on the left hand side to help identify this spot. Turn left (north-west) and wal off-track to pick up the long generally down, but undulating, ridge passing a high point at GR 514476. Continue on the ridge, avoiding the creeks and gullies on your left, to reach another high point at GR 503482 which is about 2km from going off-track. This area is a good lunch spot.

After lunch continue west over the high point along a trail bike track for about 50m and pick a convenient spot to leave the bike track and head west, ignoring all other bike tracks, until a distinct 4WD track is reached at the bottom fo the hill (GR 498482). Follow this track north-west to Spargo-Blakeville Road at GR 495485. This is where the most mining activity has taken place so care is needed. Continue from this high point south to pick up a 4WD track and follow this track south for 1km to a T junction at GR 492471.

Turn right along a 4WD track to another junction (GR 491471) and cross into the bush for a short distance wet aiming for a break in the fence that leads to a mown gress track called Sultana Road. Follow this road, which becomes gravel, between private properties, and cross the Werribee River. Continue on to a clearing on the left-hand side containing a shed at GR 486468. Head off-track south, then south-west up a hill to meet the Ballan-Daylesford Road and a 4WD track at GR 486464. Follow the 4WD track as it turns south-west for about 1km to the ford over the Werribee River (GR 495461). Do not cros the ford but follow the riverside walk south on the west side of the river. This track meanders along the river for 2.2km to the car park. Look out for the dogleg left-hand turn on the track (GR 498448) this is a shorter route back to the car park.

The Walk in Detail

Start and finish of the walk is at St Georges Lake car park between the Goldfields. Track entry board and the direction post (GR 572530). Walk west to exit at Melbourne Road. Cross the road to the gravel vehicle track near a 'Portuguese Pit' sign. Walk sout halong the track and take the second track to the left. Follow this track around to the right (south) then take the first track to the left (east) and walk about 65m to the cliff top to view the water. Return to the track and turn left (south). Continue to follow the main track around the pit, ignoring narrow tracks that lead toward the pit. Walk to the Goldfields Track post (GR 571525) near a big mullok heap then to a T intersection near the exit gateway. Turn left (south-west) towards the wire fence for a last view of Blue Waters the backtrack (north-east) to exit at Melbourne Road. Walk left (north-west) to a Goldfields Track post, then cross Melbourne Road and return along St Geroges Street to the car park.

Take the asphalt path near the Godfields Track entry board (GR 572530) and continue through the picnic area and across the wall of the the dam. Walk up the steps on the north side and follow the track to the right (east) around St Georges Lake to an open grassed area at the south-east corner of the lake. Walk about 20m to the gravel road on the left (east) then to the Goldfields Track signboard and post (GR 576527). Take the track, bypassing the old iron stile at the wire fence, and follow the Goldfields Track posts to eventually exit the Koala Park at the Parks Victoria green post and Goldfields Track post at GR 580523. Continue east on the Goldfields Track for about 1.5km to the intersection with Jackass Road at GR 590522. Cross Jackass Road to the narrow track opposite. Continue east along this track ten take the track between the fireplace and the large tree stump. This track veers left (north) down then along the top of Eastons Dam wall (GR 592520). There is a good photo point at the base near the breached section. Return to the fireplace and turn left (east) and follow the track past the Cosfrove Water Pump Station up to the road. The reservoir and its rock wall are visible ahead.

Walk up the road for a few metres to a track that  leads down to the left (north) in to a clearing. There is a faint track ahead to the left (west). Follow this for a few steps then turn right (north) down into the steep gully (Creswick Creek). climb out of the gully for about 85m then continue up while veering right (north-east) for about 50m to a track at about GR 596519. Turn right (east) and follow the track as it winds around the northern perimeter of the reservoir. Coninue east, keeping to the track that is closest to the reservoir, around to the north-east to an old Creswick Water Board sign (GR 602520). A few metres on is an intersection of four tracks. Bypass the track on the left with the old iron signpost frame. Take the next track (north-west) and walk 1.3km to the green Parks Victoria signpost for Niggl Road/Litster Road (GR 597525). Turn left (west) down Niggl Road to meet Jackass Road at Niggl Bridge (Green Parks Victoria post at GR 590524). Walk left (south) over the bridge along Jackass Road for 160m then turn right (west) at Goldfields Trac post (GR 590522). Follow the Goldfields Track walking track for about 3.2km back to the Goldfields Track signboard and post (GR 576527). Walk west to the Goldfields Track post across the open grassed area, cross the footbridge and followthe track south of the lake to the car park at the end of the walk.

The Walk in Detail

From the Historic Bullarto Hall car park walk back along South Bullarto Road to Daylesford-Trentham Road, turn east for 200m to the last house on the left hand side ofthe road and take the Quartz Track north at GR 545578.

Walk along this shady track which opens up to become a wide power easement. Continue along the full length ofthe easement descending towards the reservoir. Avoid a track off to the left as Quartz Track terminates at the Bullarto Reservoir Reserve. This very pleasant location on the large grassy verge adjacent to the water is suitable for morning tea under native and exotic trees.

Following the break, proceed south east along the gravel road heading away from the dam wall. At the marked reservoir gateway (GR 562591) turn north along Babbingtons Road which ascends in an even gentle grade. Avoid all gated tracks on the left which lead into the restricted zone. Continue past the sognposted Top Track on the right and the next unlablelled track on the left. Take Spout Track on the left (west) (GR 561602). Its signpost is just visible opposite the track above the bracken.

About 100m along Spout Track avoid a right hand track (GR 560603) and continue to descend for about threee Kilometres all the way to the Kangaroo Creek Track juncton (GR 549626). Easily missed but signposted Badger Track comes n fron the right just before the junction. Proceed west on Kangaroo Creek Road. This is a major gravel road, and soon passes over a lush gully containng the fern lined Kangaroo Creek. The track gradually ascends to the T intersection with signposted Osborne Road at GR 541628.

Turn south on Osborne Road which gradually ascends and arcs around to the south west. Further along note and pass by an old farm fence corner and gate on the right at GR 537615 and soon after pass a square concrete water storage pond on the right. From here the road continues to rise and bend right then left. In this left bend, on the right, note two small Blackwood wattle trees together just past two tracks on the right at GR 534613. Take the second track, firstly towards a farm gate, then following the boundary fence westwards. Continue along this old partly overgrown track, which at times thins to a foot pad and runs besides the fence line in light bush. Ignore two other tracks on the left and continue on a better track northwest around the fence line corner and through two gate posts to the commencement of an easement at GR 530612. The short easement is surrounded by bush and abruptly exits amid farmland onto Currys Road.

Follow Currys Road for about 300m in the very peaceful setting of Ceitches Creek Springs and arrive at the intersection with Springs Road (GR 527617). Descend southwest along the sealed Springs Road 150m to the springs, tucked away on the left. This is a late but very appropriate location for lunch.

Following Lunch, continue along Springs Road to the intersection with Dairy Flat Road (GR 523615). Turn sourtheast and follow Dairy Flat Road to terminate the walk at GR 517602 on the Daylesford-Trentham Road.

The Walk in Detail

Start the walk at the Blowhole car parking area (Grid Reference (GR) 446669) and follow the marked Great Dividing Trail which descends to Sailors Creek. Crosss the creek taking care during or after heavy rain. After crossing the creek, climb to a junction of four tracks (GR 439671). Take theright-hand vehicle track heading north the north-east and from GR 446680 in a northerly direction. After 2.9km (GR 439671), turn west for 150m to join Wayman Road. Turn right (north) and follow it to the junction with Hepburn-Newstead Road. Continue along on the grass verge in a north-westerly directin for 1.4km. Leave the sealed road at the Willow Cafe and follow Shepherds Flat-Weroona Road for 700m before taking a minor  track heading south at GR 434709. Continue in a southerly direction off-track along a spur for about 1km before meeting a track (GR 431700).

Turn left and follow the track south-east and then south for 1.6km keeping a watchful eye for open mine shafts until joining Basalt Gully Road (GR 429687). Follwo the gravel road for 600m then make a left turn along Boots Gully track with its steady climb for 1.2km in a southerly direction. Turn east-north-east (GR 433673) along a poorly defined track which after 200m becomes more clearaly defined. continue a further 800m to a track junction visited earlier in the walk (GR 439671). Turn right along the track heading sout-east and follow the remains of a former water race, which meanders along a contour in a south-easterly direction. Turn in a north-north-easterly direction to the Blowhole viewing site and then return to the car park.

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.

The Walk in Detail

The walk starts off along the Porcupine Ridge Road (PRR) and then turns left (west) along the Great Dividing Trail (GDT), which follows a ridge for 2km. The route then descends steeply off-track to Tarilta Creek which it follows north for 2.7km crossing from side to side of the creek as the terrain dictates. There are about fourteen creek crossings on rock or shingle, with banks up to 1.5m high.

Leaving the creek, the track climbs gently to meet Lancaster Road, an old coach road, and continues on tothe Lancaster Ruins (GR 508789). Thees are the remains ofa Coob & Co horse change post. The route then climbs out of the Tarilta valley, first off-track through open woodland, and along Moran Track, to PRR (GR 518786). After a short section off-track, the route follows Wewak Track for over one kilometre, then turns north on a faint vehicle track through old gold workings to the GDT near Sebastopol Creek (GR 530787).

The walk continues south along the GDT, passing two chimneys, relics of the gold mining days, and crosses Wewak Track. After a short climbe the route is again off-track to Mr Hunts Chimney on a narrow saddle (GR 531778). Note that there is an unprotected mine shaft nearby. From the chimney, the route heads east then south and east again passing more gold workings and another chimney and crossing two incised creeks before again joining the GDT at GR 525772.

The route then follows the GDT upstream along a creek passing two more chimneys. Small tributaries are crossed on bridges. After 2.5km the GDT intersects PRR and the end of the walk.

The Walk in Detail

From the start walk north along Slaters Road for about 400m to a bush track on the left, which continues north, steadily downhill through forest to a junction with unsigned Dredge Track. Turn south-east onto Dredge Track and follow this track for 750m until the track ends at a T junction with Pinchgut Road (GR 406502). Turn left (north) and walk downhill and cross a creek taking a turn to the right (north-east) uphill onto signed Mullins Track (GR 406508). Follow this track uphill for 1km to a dam. Continue north-east  uphill from the dam on Mullers Dam Track for another 1km until the track ends on Barkstead Road (GR 424511). Turn left (north) for 200m on the road before deviating north-east on a faint bush track leading down to a small breached dam. Immediately to the north-east of the dam is the old Barkstead mine wall which is over 3m high but obscured by exotic trees.

Go uphill on the ridge north of the mine wall for 50m (off-track) then due east down to cross Cave Creek which is likely to be dry. Follow the creek south on the east bank through forest for 500m off-track to pick up an unsigned track leading south-west (GR 427508). Follow south-west for about 500m, crossing two other tracks, until you reach paddocks at Barkstead and continue south-west along an easement to pick up signed Cowans Lane that takes you to Barkstead Road. Turn left (south) onto bitumen then left (east) into signed McCarthy Road. After 150m, cross the verge on the south side for 55m to the Andersons sawmill site head back west along McCarthy Road to the junction with Barkstead Road, Follow the bitumen thorugh Barkstead, south then west uphill for 700m and take a faint track north at GR 419498 to meet up with the gold posts of the Wallaby Track section of the Goldfields Track. Make sure you turn left (south-west) and follow the signposts, and route of Andersons tramway for 1km to Pinchgut Road. Cross the road to a gold signpost and continue sout-west along the Wallaby Track for another 1km to Slaters Road at GR 402395. Follow the signposts west then south for 900m back to the start ofthe walk.

The Walk in Detail

Start the walk at the Lake Daylesford car park (GR 46462). Exit the car park, walking south-west besdie the lake. Follow the pathto Tessiers road. After about 50m this runs into Old Ballarat Road and after about 100m turn right into Park Avenue. Continue south on Basin Road walking around the oval to reach the Daylesford-Ballan Road at GR 466614. Cross the road with care and continue walking east-south-east onto the path onthe other side. Walk in an easterly direction for about 500m before crossing Lake Road. Follow the path just tothe left of the crossing towards Jubilee Lake for 600m to a track junction at GR 474609. Turn left and walk along the northern edge of the lake and onwards on a southerly direction. Morning tea will be at a water pump where the mineral water can be tasted. After walking on the track for roughly 2km in a southerly direction, the path joins Cockatoo Creek Track at GR 489589. Continue south on Cockatoo Creek Track for 1.5km, then at GR 492577 turn left at the junction with Burnt Stable Track. At GR 497578 turn left onto a small path through the bush. Follow this path for about 0.5km, winding northwards until picnic tables are reached for lunch.

After lunch, follow the fire trail south-south-east to Wombat Creek Road. Turn left and right onto the south-easterly path to the top of Wombat Creek Dam on the left side. Walk south-west along the dam wall then turn right on Wombat Creek Road. Continue on Wombat Creek Road for about 500m, crossing the path taken after lunch and a small bridge. At GR 498583 turn left onto the lower path. Follow the path for about 1.3km to an intersection at GR 493586. Turn left on the path that wends its way through the forest, crosses Wombat Creek and joins Cockatoo Creek Track at GR 491586. Turn right, heading north for about 500m. At GR 489589 turn left to stay on Cockatoo Creek Track and continue on this track for 1.5km before crossing Specimen Hill Road onto an unnamed track heading south-west towards Specimen Hill Dam. This track crosses the Great Dividing Trail at GR 475591 and then turns northwards at GR 471589 and follows the path of the old railway. Continue on the path until the southern side of Jubilee Lake is reached. Stop here for a well-earned snack next to the lake near the Jubilee Lake View Platform.

Walk west along the southern edgo of the lake tothe old railway bridge and cross the end of the lake. After crossing the bridge, clamber immediately up the bank to the continuation of the old railway line. Follow the railway line for about 1km where it meets Patterson Street. Turn left into Patterson Street. After about 100m, turn right onto a north heading track which soon turns north-west. Continue on the track in this direction until Macadam Street is reached. Turn left onto Macadam Street and follow it to Daylesford-Ballan Road. Cross ti busy road with care. Turn right into a small track on the left, lower side of Daylesford-Ballan Road, heading north. Follow the path besdie the southern extent of Lake Dalesford on the eastern side of the lake. This path leads to Bleakley Street. Cross the street and follow the footpath besdie the lake back to the car park.