Wolfes Rd - Bush Inn Rd, Creswick Regional Park Circuit - 9.9 Kms

 U3A Hike No. 185

Hike Report by Jan

Seven of us went in two cars to our starting point along Wolfes Road in the Creswick Regional Park.  It was a gorgeous day for hiking – sunny with a bit of a breeze and tracks mostly shaded by tall trees.  The hike went along bush tracks, rough 4WD tracks and unsealed roads and featured the usual array of short steep hills, gentle undulations and welcome flat bits. 

We noticed lots of sluicing, lots of piles of quartz stones and rocks, lots of land turned upside down, lots of water races (including two running parallel belong to rival water supply companies) and lots of mine shafts.  And lots of Cherry Ballart trees too.  Did you know that the Cherry Ballart was considered by the Wadawurrung to be “men's tree” because, remarkably, its seeds appear on the outside of edible fruit?  This makes it a very convenient fruit to eat because it can be held by the miniature green olive like seed while the lustrous cherry coloured fruit is bitten off [Wikipedia].

At one of our stops to catch our breath, Gordon gave us a condensed but interesting version of the techniques of mining for gold, starting with the most simple and finishing with the more complicated and costly. 

At a three-way intersection of paths, it was amusing to see two GPS devices give the way to proceed forward in two opposite directions.  Mark’s device and Gordon’s map won, and we turned left instead of right.

We met a detectorist fellow and his friendly dog at Slaty Creek Picnic Area Number One.  His accommodation, if he was only staying for a couple of days, was his station wagon which had a mattress in the back as well as all his other gear.  He said it was surprisingly comfy and cosy, but he had to turn himself into a pretzel to get in and out of it!

We were really interested to see that the three creeks, which the last time we walked this route had been either too deep to cross and had to be detoured around (Cotty Creek), waded through with pants rolled up and socks and boots off (Slaty Creek) or crossed upstream over a fallen log, were totally dry this time.  Joan could not help herself and just had to go and walk across that log again.   

When we lined up for the group photo, there was some very silly talk about including a “Where’s Wally (Andrew)” feature in the picture, utilising Andrew’s photoshop skills.

As we ate our lunch back at the cars, Andrew demonstrated his new miniature torch with its multi-coloured lights. Particularly impressive were the blue and red flashing lights reminding us of a police car.  He also demonstrated the deliciousness of his Anzac biscuits by dividing his last one into small pieces for us to taste.   

I think my favourite visual part of this walk was along the Goldfields Track section as the low grasses and undergrowth vegetation were green in the dappled shade, unlike my own grass at home which is very brown and crisp.

It was lovely to get out into the bush, hear some kookaburras and chat with some very nice people.  Thanks Gordon, for making it happen.  

Photos by Andrew

HERE IS THE FIRST 'WHERES WALLY' PHOTO

I have made it pretty easy for the first one. Hidden somewhere in the photo is 'Wally the Wombat'!!!!

INTERACTIVE MAP

DOWNLOAD GPX FILE

HISTORICAL NOTES