Pretty walk covering the Railway Dam, brick culverts, wildflowers, a few hills, an old cemetery and more...

Take the Pyrenees Hwy and turn into Tunnel Hill Track (Dirt Road is easy to miss. If you get to Railway Dam Road, you've gone too far)

Parking is a bit tight, but larger cars can drive up a bit to the top.

Starting at Tunnel Hill Track , we follow the railway line to Railway Dam, which is a pretty little dam that was constructed to provide water for the construction of the railway.

We then make our way to Poverty Gully Channel, where we cut back and follow Junction Track heading back towards Elphinstone.

A little bit of easy walking on dirt roads before we come to the historical Elphinstone Cemetary. 

Crossing the Coliban Channel and a bit more unsealed road, we then follow the Coliban Channel for a while.

Bit more road walking, then we take the track back in and back to our cars.

Coffee afterwards at Malmsbury Bakery Cafe at 77 Mollison St, Malmsbury

Extra notes.. uneven tracks, some off-track sections so boots and poles recommend 

After arriving at Geelong we’ll catch the 9:18am (hopefully) bus 25 to Herne Hill and walk down to the Barwon River.   We’ll then walk along the river to Swanston street, then across to the botanical Gardens before proceeding along the Eastern Beach foreshore to Geelong Station.  It will be a hard surface walk, so soft soul shoes are recommended. No steep hills, so poles aren’t necessary.   Distance may be shortened to 12 kms if necessary.  Toilets are on the train, and along the river.

Meet: before 8:00am, Southern Cross Station near the vintage clock inside the station concourse on the corner of Spencer and Collins Streets for 8:10 am train.   You can also meet at Geelong station at 9:00am for the bus trip. Trains also stops at Footscray 8:18am, Sunshine 8:23am, Deer Park 8:28am and Tarneit 8:37am.

This a repeat of a walk I led (on a Wednesday) in June 2023. It's a loop walk in the South Eastern part of Tallarook State forest. We visit Mt Hickey, the highest peak on the Tallarook plateau - that's on the Southern edge of the plateau, with some good views to the South, partly obscured by the forest.

The walk is just over 10km, mainly on 4WD tracks - can be muddy after rain. There is a 200m climb near the start, to Mt Hickey, then descending or undulating. There is also a short, but very pleasant, "off-track" section. Poles would be very useful.

If car-pooling, meet at 8am at Airport West. If not car-pooling the meeting point and start of the walk is at "Freeman's Camp and Picnic area", in Tallarook State Forest. There is a car-park, tables and a toilet there. Meet at 9.30am.

Getting to Freeman's Camp - take the Hume Freeway; once past the Broadford exit, pay attention - you're looking for "Ennis Road" on the right` (it is a right turn, directly from the right hand lane of the freeway - be ready for it); the turn is just over 5km from the weighbridge you go past just beyond Broadford. Once on Ennis Road, follow it for approximately 12km as it climbs to the plateau. Ennis Road changes its name to Main Road near the end, but stay on it. After the 12 km, Freeman's Track (signposted) is on the left, and the Camp/Picnic ground is there.

Coffee in Broadford after the walk.

The Walk(s):.We will start the from the car park and walk to the wetlands, and around an old quarry, the lake is salt, and a chance to see some wildlife, such as Kangaroos, Echidnas’, Kookaburras, there is some forest however the trails are exposed. We will walk past Nokia Bush Camp and La Page Homestead ( Art Gallery) The homestead was built in 1850’s. The Hawkstowe property had been owned for a short period by JH Walker, founder of Walker's biscuits, later taken over by Swallow and Ariel.  It is not known whether any improvements were made or whether he lived on the property. Peter LePage came to Australia from Guernsey in 1852 after three years on the goldfields in Bendigo and Castlemaine he came to South Morang, it is not clear whether he purchased the property at that time. In 1865, he married Emily Edwards, and had seven children at the property which was a thing called Hawkstowe. LePage purchased several adjoining properties, producing a farm of over 200 acres. In 1913 PeterLePage died at age 92. His farm had already been divided up amongst his children. His son C.P. LePage acquired Hawkstowe which remained in the family until its purchase by Mr. Cotter in 1940. The property changed hands several times thereafter, before finally being purchased by Parks Vic in 1986.

Travel by Train to Waurn Ponds and walk through some back streets to Waurn Ponds Creek to join the Barwon River.  Walking beside the river we then cross over on a foot bridge, continuing past Kardinia Park and finishing at Geelong Station.  There is an option to return from Geelong to Docklands (via Portarlington) on the ferry,

Members can join the train at Foostcray, Sunshine, Deer Park, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale, or drive to Geelong and meet us on the train at 9:35am.

This walk commences at the Eureka Reef Heritage site, part of the Castlemaine diggings.  Drive to Chewton and then turn into Eureka Street which becomes Dingo Park Road once you cross the train line.  There  is  a sign post showing the entry to the eureka Reef site.

As the name suggests we will be walking along some of the many water races that wend around the dry diggings area (water races are flat, but somewhat overgrown)  When not walking on races, we will be walking on sections of the great divide trail, and one short section that is off track but very easy.  There are some ups and some downs, but nothing too taxing, and along the way we hopefully will enjoy what spring in the bush has to offer us as well as some mining relics.  Afternoon tea will most likley be at the Taradale Food and Wine store.

Gaiters and poles will come in handy

Whipstick Loop & Lerderderg Heritage River Walk. Approx 14ks

Finally, the Whipstick Loop Walk has been reopened after the devastating storms of 2021.

See relics from the region’s gold mining past, when mining in the area was conducted by hand in very difficult conditions. Check out evidence of vertical and horizontal mine shafts, including one that you can see safely from a viewing platform on the walk.

The walk loops down around Whipstick Creek through beautiful open eucalypt forest, to bring you back to your starting point at the Jack Cann Reserve for morning tea.

From our cars, we  then commence the Lerderderg Heritage River Walk. 

Looping along the Lerderderg River, enjoying a leisurely walk through changing forest landscapes and along the mountain ash-strewn ridges above the flowing Lerderderg River. There is a wide variety of flora to be seen, and sometimes Koalas can be spotted in the area.

The area has a gold mining history, and there are some deep unfenced mine shafts. The track can get muddy after heavy rains, and there are a few fallen trees and overgrown sections, but it is otherwise well maintained and easy to navigate. 

Maybe muddy in places, boots and poles highly recommended 

A suburban, public transport walk. Starting at Dandenong Station, walking to Carrum Station - following the Dandenong Creek Trail. Flat, easy walking and good tracks (but be wary of bikes). Just over 14km.

Meet at "Foster St Cafe" (8/50 Foster St, Dandenong) just NW of Dandenong Station. Walking will start at 10am, so get there a bit early if you want a pre-walk coffee. Coffee also an option in Carrum after the walk.

We will meet in Lilydale, near the public toilet block on Main St (AKA Maroondah Hwy) between the Olinda Creek Hotel and Olinda Creek.  There is car parking available at this location and it is 400 m east of Lilydale Train Station. 

Initially the walk follows the Warburton Rail Trail to Mt Evelyn where we wil have morning tea.  We willl then continue on the Mt Evelyn Aqueduct Trail before looping back through the Dandenong Ranges National Park.  After lunch at Mt Evelyn Reserve we will cut across to the Olinda Creek trail, taking in a section of Quinn Nature Reserve.  We will then return to our starting point via Lillydale Lake Park.  The walk is all on track with some undulation (ie hills!).  

Following the walk there will be opportunity for coffee at The Frollicking Frog or other cafe of your choice in Lilydale.

Easy medium 13.7klm walk around Buninyong  Mostly on back roads. With views to the west when walking across the slopes of Mt Buninyong.  There is a climb of approx 200mtrs over the first 3klms, but fairly easy from there on. 
Meet opposite Buninyong Service station 501 Warenheip street Buninyong. 
Don't forget daylight saving starts today