Jubilee Lake - Wombat Dam Circuit Hike

 U3A hike number 119


Hike Report by Janet McKay

On a beautiful sunny morning, eight hikers set off from Jubilee Lake accompanied by the plaintive cries of the resident peacocks. Crossing the old trestle bridge that used to carry the Daylesford Creswick railway, we set off along bush tracks walking through magnificent tall eucalypt forest with massive Manna Gums. Through some cleared land with a spectacular apple tree in full blossom, continuing along the track to join the Three Lost Children Track.

We stopped to examine some fresh wombat droppings and were treated to a fascinating explanation by Gordon as to why wombat droppings are cuboid, and wandering further up the track, to our delight, there was the wombat sitting in the middle of the track. He let us get so close that we wondered if he was injured or sick but he opened his eyes, spied us and took off up the track and into the bush. We saw just how quickly wombats can run! Andrew captured him with a beautiful video. To top it off, not only were we in Wombat forest but Andrew tells me that today was ‘World Wombat Day’

Passing through a picnic clearing, we diverted a little to look at Wombat Creek, full flowing with water tumbling down over the rocks, and then walked up a steep incline to the serene waters of Wombat Dam where we had morning tea, enjoying the sunshine and peaceful setting.

The return journey took us back downhill following a water pipeline track to Wombat Creek which looked a bit daunting but aided by fallen logs, rocks, and a helping hand to scramble up the muddy bank, we all made it across without wet feet. We  re-joined the Three Lost Children’s Trail, puffed our way down and up the ‘Dreaded Gas Pipeline Roller Coaster Track’  and  then followed the Daylesford Creswick rail track with its impressive high embankment, and many signs of extensive mining all around including long water races and evidence of diggings. We found a lovely spot to stop for lunch and then made our way along a gentle and relaxing couple of kilometres back to Jubilee Lake.

A lovely day, beautiful bush, ever changing as we went along, wild flowers, and of course the highlight of meeting ‘Wally’ the wombat. Thank you Gordon for planning and leading the hike.

Photos and video by Andrew Parker


                                                                              LAKE JUBILEE


                                                                                MINERAL SPRING            
                                                                            APPLE TREE

                                            CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE THE VIDEO
                                                                


                                                                            WOMBAT CREEK RESERVOIR


                                                                            TETRATHECA CILIATA (PINK BELLS)

                       CULVERT ON THE FORMER CRESWICK DAYLESFORD RAILWAY LINE

                                                                        A LAKE JUBILEE LOCAL



LINKS


JUBILEE LAKE SCANDALOUS BATHING 1914

BALLARAT DAYLESFORD RAILWAY 

WOMBAT CREEK TIMBER TRAMWAY

WOMBAT DAM COLLAPSE 1861


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