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399. Basalt Ridge Walk 6.7km

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 U3A Hike No 399 Hike Report by Leona Ryan I do love a walk with lots of Who Knew? moments, is full of discovery, and enriches our understanding of Ballarat's unique history. The Basalt Ridge walk, expertly led by Anne Ottrey, achieved  all of  the above, in addition to being a beautiful walk.  On this crisp softly lit autumn morning, 21 hikers gathered at White Flat Oval where Anne, armed with folders of photos, maps and information, gave us an overview - Walk the edge of the Basalt escarpment to Redan Wetlands, return via the  Yarrowee  trail. Note. There is a lot of history in this report, but I  couldn't   resist;   I've  absorbed Anne's passion for the area. Let's  start by going back 3 to 4 million years.  This Basalt escarpment, which we were staring up at, actually marks the edge of 4 separate lava flows.  The basalt blocked the flow of the  Yarrowee  River.  This all had an ...
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398. Mt Buninyong-Union Jack 10.6km

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 U3A Hike No 398 Hike Report by Monica McCormack ☀️ The day started promisingly with blue skies and autumnal sunshine streaming through the densely timbered slopes of Mount Buninyong—sitting 745m above sea level. 11 warmly dressed hikers met at the Blackberry Lane Reserve after a downpour the previous evening had left the air fresh and crisp.  🧗 This 10.5km walk , led by Andrew, is a clear favourite. The route offers a mix of up and downhills, landmarks like the scoria crater, and views over green, cloud-flecked valleys. Along the way, hikers enjoyed the screech of local cockies and the changing autumn colours of European trees in Buninyong’s estate-sized gardens.  🌋 A cracking pace was set immediately from the Reserve on an immaculately graded path to the famous Buninyong Crater, set in a wide, grassy basin. Though it is believed a volcanic eruption could still occur one day (the volcano is currently dormant), the group used the moment to catch their breath after the...
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397. Shicers Gully, Wombat State Forest, 11.3km, circuit

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 U3A Hike No 397 Hike Report by Kim Radenic 🥾 Fourteen hikers eagerly hiked the  12.5km   Shicers  Gully circuit hike. The morning was mild, with no wind, so it was easy walking on wide trails. At about 2km into the walk we came to our first crossing of  Shicers  Gully, an area heavily sluiced back in gold mining times.   ☕ Morning tea was by a breached dam with lots of chatter and laughter.   🌸 No Orchids were found, although a few people were eagerly looking for them.   ⛰️ We had an extra 10min rest before  commencing  the long incline back up to the cars.   🥪 After a pleasant lunch together, we headed home.   🙌 Thanks to Gordon, it was as always......a fun hike.   Photos by Andrew Parker LINKS INTERACTIVE MAP DOWNLOAD GPX FILE GOOGLE MAPS START POINT A HIKE FROM 2018  Spot the seven current members
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