Three Creeks Walk







Three Creeks Walk, Brisbane Ranges 

September 20th, 2018

By Anne Ottrey


We welcomed back Andrew (and Ingrid) to lead us on our spring walks in the Brisbane Ranges. Gordon set a new group record by getting lost before the walk even started. Finding himself alone at Kirk’s Reservoir at 7:45am, he made a note to self to read Andrew’s emails more carefully. Andrew kept the theme going by leading us on a short detour through Steiglitz, before back tracking and finding the correct turnoff.

Starting from The Crossing Picnic area, 17 walkers set off for a circuit walk exploring the three main creek systems in the rolling hills north of Steiglitz. We started out along Yankee Gully Creek in crisp sunny weather. We soon came across signs of mining, passing the Bernhardt Mine, a calcining site (where the ore was heated by wood fires to break it up), and the remnants of a steam driven battery at the Prince of Wales mine site. At the United Albion mine, we saw the brick remains of the winding gear and marvelled at the height of the mullock heap.
 


We were a little early for the spring wildflowers with wattle and the small white Early Nancy being the most common flowers to be seen. Two orchids were spotted – a wax-lip and a Pink Finger (Caladenia), and we also saw some Hardenbergia. Checking the distance somewhere around mid-morning, Andrew discovered that we had walked over 15,000km, as the GPS hadn’t been reset since he last walked in Europe!



We stopped for lunch at Grahams Creek Picnic area after a series of short ups and downs alongside Grahams Creek. From there it was only a couple of kilometres back to our cars, making the walk 14.9km according to my phone. It was a great day of hiking with beautiful weather, attractive bush country, the sounds of varied bird calls and a favourite coffee shop at Meredith to finish off the day.

Photo's by Andrew and Marianne.




























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