Mr Hunts Chimney

Fedwalks_2015_WS_17

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

Distance:  12 Km   |  Duration:  3.5 Hrs   |  Grade:  Grade 3   |  Rating:    |  Style:  Circuit   |  Map

About the Walk

Overview

This is a circuit walk situated in the southern area of the Castlemaine diggings National Heritage Park. Part of the walk follows Sebastopol Creek before joining the Great Dividing Trail (GDT), which follows a water race in some places and passes through open woodlands of coppiced box ironbark eucalypt. There are many examples of old diggings and interesting ruins of the goldmining era, including fine remnants of stonework built by miners for shoring up the banks of Browns Guly. An abundance of spring flowers and perhaps wallabies and kangaroos may be seen on the walk.

The Walk in Detail

The walk starts at the intersection of Wewak Track and Porcupine Ridge Road (Grid Refernce (GR) 519787). Walk south-east on Wewak Track for 670m then turn left and leave Wewak Track at GR 524782 to go off-track. Follow Sebastopol Creek south-west upstream for 1.3km until meeting Porcupine Ridge Road at GR 518772. Turn left to folllow this road for 1.2km to join the GDT (GR 521761). Follow the GDT, travelling north-east, for 1.2km to intersect Loop Track at GR 52768 and continue a further 1.9km to Browns Gully at GR 538777.

Remain on theGDT for 1km travelling north-west then west until meeting a vehicle track on the left at GR 532782. Follow this track for 350m south-west GR 530779 and then off-track south to Mr Hunts Chimney and mine shafts at GR 531778. Leave Mr Hunts Chimney and travel west for 250m to meet the Loop Track at GR 528778. Turn right (north) onto Loop Track and after 300m intersect with Wewak Track at GR 527781.

Turn right onto Wewak Track and tavel east for 550m to re-join the GDT at GR 531783. Turn left (north) and follow the GDT for 1.2km, climbing 300m and crossing Sebastopol Creek, to GR 528793. Head off-track and travel west on a saddle and over three knolls for 570m until reaching Porcupine Ridge Road (GR 522792). Turn left (south) on Porcupine Ridge Road and walk about 700m back to the start of the walk.

Getting There

From the Base (Hepburn Primary School) turn right onto Main Road and follow this road east then south for about 4km to a roundabout in Daylesford. Turn left onto the Midland Highway (A300) for about 2.2km then turn right onto Daylesford-Malmsbury Road (C316) and stay on this road for 950m to Porcupine Ridge Road. Turn left and follow Porcupine Ridge Road for 16km to Wewak Track on the right-hand side and park. This is the start of the walk. Note that the last 5km of this road is unsealed.

Walk Precautions

There is prickly wattle growing thigh high and fallen trees on some off-track areas. Care should be taken with unfenced mine shafts and 4WD traffic on Porcupine Ridge Road. Boots are essential, and walking poles useful, especially as parts of the track on the water race can be slippery if wet.

Additional Information

There are no facilities on this walk.


No
TBA
2015

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