Hepburn Springs - Hunts Dam Circuit, Hepburn Regional Park - 12.2 Kms

 




U3A Hike No. 137

Hike report by Mark Hawley

A warm Thursday morning saw 12 of us meet at Kirks to take three cars further on to Hepburn Springs car park via some of the slowwwwest road works imaginable near Sailors Creek bridge. 

 

After a well timed talk from Andrew about carrying adequate water on hot days, the hike headed east-ish along the Argyle Walk which follows the Wild Cat Creek. A pause at the Argyle mineral spring expanded our minds about the health benefits of natural mineral water – in particular for bowel regularity (paused also for Ken to chat to some-one he knew).

 

The well-defined path then pushed northwards and upwards to a ridge which crossed the Back Hepburn Road to eventually reach Mr Hunt’s Dam. Mr Hunt gathered and distributed water during gold rush times (for a suitable fee of course!) as well as doing some mining himself when time allowed.

 

Once morning tea was taken it was decision time – to push onwards as planned to the Chocolate Mill or do the probably more sensible thing on a hot day and head back to Hepburn.  Chocolate Mill won.   Northwards, the track eventually crossed the Midland Highway near an eclectic collection of letterboxes and followed the Highway, then crossed it to the Chocolate Mill. Wally World moment – it’s closed for February (we had been told we weren’t going in anyway).

 

For a long stretch we hiked southwards along the Dry Diggings Track following Beehive Gully.  Lots of evidence of mining activity along here especially massive damage wrought by sluicing of the gully. Dry Diggings then follows a series of downs and ups across several gullies – one cheerfully named Widows Gully – across the Back Hepburn Road again. On the way back to the Spa carpark and lunch Andrew did his best ‘Steve Irwin’ with a large lizard.

 

Fortunately although the day was hot, it was either cloudy or breezy to help make a very enjoyable morning’s walk. Paths were stony at times and hills were more undulating than steep.

 

Great work and thanks Gordon and Andrew!


Photos by Andrew

















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