17. Goldfields-Dry Diggings Track Stage Five 8.2km

U3A Hike No 17 


Hike Report By Gordon Talbett

This was the Hiking Group’s first outing in the absence of Andrew, our highly organised Leader. We must have learned from him because we were able to complete the walk, the car shuffle and the lunch without a hitch. 

The approach drive was through layers of fog and mist, reminiscent of a Chinese mountain landscape, but by Guildford we had clear skies and sun. The first section of the hike was up another mined-out gully, passing occasional mine shafts by the trackside and the spectacularly eroded creek bed. 

The track then led around and up the northern slopes of ‘The Monk’: a local highpoint with 270-degree views west, north and east. We had a good look at Mt Alexander and the way ahead on the Bendigo section of the Goldfields Track. 

The second section of the walk was along the Poverty Gully Water Race. This was a much grander affair than the miners’ water races of previous sections of the track. It was built as part of the Coliban Water System to supply Bendigo and Castlemaine, probably in 1870 to 1880, and was still in use until quite recently. (Now it is part of the storm water system for Chewton.) As with all water races, it contoured across the box forest hillsides and around the ridges, descending so slowly that it was impossible to guess which way the water would flow when in spate. 

The final section was a walk through Castlemaine to the Station and the cars, followed by lunch at ‘Das Kaffeehaus’. 


LINKS

DOWNLOAD A GPX ROUTE FILE FOR GARMIN ETC

INTERACTIVE MAP

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Berringa Mines and Heritage Walk - 9 Kms

Image
 U3A Hike No 279 Hike Report by Lyn The day was overcast and hazy as our group set out from the Berringa Recreation Reserve and started walking back towards Ballarat. Soon we stopped and marvelled in awe as Andrew waved a $50 note in the air, then a $5 note apparently picked up from amongst the roadside litter. However we were not fooled and Andrew returned the notes to his pocket and we continued on.  Our first mine we came across was the Birthday Tunnel mine set high up the steep sided gully. Since our last visit in February 2021, the mining relics consisting of brickwork and a rusting boiler were still evident but a new addition in the form of a modern looking living transportable container was within close proximity. Not wanting to hang around for too long we then descended the steep sided gully concentrating on our foot placement as it would have been very easy to slip on the downward leaning grasses, although we took time out to look at the impressive mullock heap.  With expert n
Read more

287. Frith Gully - Mt Misery Loop. Enfield State Park

Image
 U3A Hike No 287 Hike Report by Colin Fraser Eight hikers assembled outside the Marty Busch Reserve in Sebastopol for an 11.5 km hike on the Frith Gully-Mt Misery Loop in the Enfield State Park. We travelled in two vehicles to the start of the walk at Bald Hill on Incolls Road, Enfield. The walk was graded as moderate, and described as continuously hilly. We walking paths and rough bush roads through isolated parts of the park. There were deep gullies with lush vegetation, high ridges with open scrub, and areas that still bear the scars of extensive surface mining in the 19th century. We followed Misery Creek Road south then the Misery Creek and Forest Park walking tracks to Surface Point Picnic Ground, where we had smoko. Before arriving at Surface Point we were accompanied overhead by the raucous alarm calls of a group of cockatoos warning of our intrusion into their forest. Coincidently this occurred just near Mt Cockatoo!! We shared the picnic table with a man who was camping there
Read more

305. Fisherman's Bend - Port Melbourne Walk 11.3km

Image
 U3A Hike No 305 Aerial Photo Showing Former Airfield Hike Report By Sharon Moss. On a blustery but fortunately dry morning , 19 intrepid travelers made their way to Southern Cross Station to begin their suburban hike through Fisherman’s Bend - Port Melbourne. We set off at a brisk pace with Andrew capably leading us & Gordon as whip. We had a lovely walk along the banks of the Yarra River, passing impressive boats moored at the marina with one bearing the name Costa Lot ! Andrew pointed out pylons that are decorative rather than functional, as they sit adjacent to the Bolte bridge but are not part of the structure . Passing under the bridge, we then joined busy Lorimer St , where conversation slowed somewhat as noise overtook. We were all alert watching out for bikes , scooters, joggers & traffic ! We passed several landmarks of interest . The  art deco building previously GMH , with one part of the building now occupied by a Ballarat company J King  Homes . Andrew shared inte
Read more