Distance: 14 Km   |  Duration: 6 Hrs   |  Grade: Grade 4   |  Rating:   |  Style: Circuit   |  Map
About the Walk
Overview
This walk includes a creek gorge and relics of the gold mining days. It is through dry open forest with some rocky sections and numerous dry creek crossings. Approximately 40% of the route is off-track in open forest and the remainder on the Great Dividing Trail and vehicle tracks.
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.
Getting There
From Hepburn Primary School, travel east 0.5km on Main Road to a T intersection. Turn left into Back Hepburn Road and follow this 3km to the Midland Highway. Turn right and follwo the highway 1.5km to Richardsons Road on the left. Follow Richardsons Road 1.1km to a T intersection. Turn left into Scotts Lane and drive 2.4km to the T intersection at Porcupine Ridge Road. Turn left onto Porcupine Ridge Road and follow this north 8.5km to the start of the walk at the intersection with Loop Track (Grid Reference (GR) 521760).Walk Precautions
There is extensive off-track walking, rocky in parts, with about 16 creek crossings, which will probably be dry or crossed on dry rock. Boots and gaiters are advisable. There are some unprotected mine shafts.