294. Rat Hole & Toe Rag Track Hike 11km Wombat State Forest

 U3A hike No 294.


Hike Report By Don Moss

The group of 13 walkers drove from Kirks reservoir to eventually pass the Moorabool reservoir and reach the Ballan-Daylesford rd. Turning at the former Mineral Springs Hotel, we headed into the bush, and reached Cairns Road, convoy intact!

We parked opposite the intersection with the Lerderderg track, at this point dually named the Rat Hole Track.  Up hill to the remnants of the Rat Hole mine, an appropriate place to discuss the perils of mining. This was the morning after the mine collapse at the Ballarat Gold Mine, no doubt just another in the series of mine collapses in this region over the last 150 years!

Fresh smells of moistened gum leaves were a pleasant distraction from this sad reflection, and the regrowth stringybark trees, tall and straight towards the sky, were notably impressive.
We turned left off the Lerderderg track at this point, walking a short section on Camp Road until the next left turn on track 541 (what on earth was the origin of this weird name?). Not to be outdone, we next travelled on a nameless track until we reached Toe Rag Track. While this name could refer to the rags worn by destitute miners, it was actually the route of the old Anderson Tramway, carrying logs harvested from the forest. It now provides a wonderful walking track, albeit on the adjacent hillside
there are numerous fallen trees from the storms of recent years.
We re-joined the Lerderderg track, and back to the parked cars. 11Km of terrific walking on undulating bush tracks, through tall forests, with not a vehicle or house in site!

Thanks to Gordon for devising the walk, and arranging the perfect walking weather!






















WE WERE PHOTO BOMBED BY A ROYAL VISITOR!!!




The Archives link below is a video of a wombat we came across on a previous hike. It was:
  • In the Wombat State Forest 
  • We were walking parallel to the Wombat Creek
  • We were heading for the Wombat Dam
  • It was on International Wombat Day
  • It was the first and only time we have encountered a Wombat on a hike


LINKS








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