355. Tipperary Spring - Blowhole Loop 10.1km

May 15, 2025

U3A Hike No 355

Hike Report by Fiona Deutscher

This week fifteen hikers left Kirks Reservoir in cool & sunny conditions to drive to Tipperary
Springs -within Hepburn Regional Park. We were looking forward to hiking this route again after
extensive storm damage had closed the tracks in the area for an extended period of time. Prior to
leaving we congratulated and sang Happy Birthday to Alan Evans who was celebrating his birthday on
the day.

We commenced the walk by crossing the bridge at Tipperary Springs and walking along the west side
of the river gorge toward Bryces Flat. The Sailors Creek river bed was generally dry along the walk-
apart from a few occasional pools of stagnant water. Care and concentration were needed to
negotiate the narrow stoney path high above the river bed.

We noticed the bush about us was much drier than other times we had hiked the track. We admired the wide stoney creek bed as it wound along below us. Evidence of past storm damage included a few fallen trees across the path as well as groups of tree trunks that had been swept together along the river bed.

Interesting points to note along the path included ruins of an old stone building and an old mine adit.

After reaching the low lying expanse of Bryces flat we crossed the dry river bed - noting the stone
supports of an old bridge. The track continued briefly along the road before veering off onto a short
track which rose up steeply through the bush before dropping down to the boardwalk at the
Blowhole.

We descended down the many steps to the river bed below where we enjoyed our morning cuppa on the rock retaining wall.

During this time Andrew expounded the merits of two emergency phone Apps – namely 'What Three Words' and 'Emergency Plus'. The latter, he described as a 'must have' for all hikers

Then some of our walkers explored the steep rock faces adjacent to the Blowhole.

Our return journey initially retraced the same path along the forest track to Bryces Flat and then took the opposite track on the easterly bank to Tipperary Springs.

Along our route we observed another ‘fenced in’ and covered with a grid deep mine shaft adjacent to the track.

Also huge stepping stones and boulders which had been replace after being dislodged and moved along the river bed with the force of the water.

We ate our lunch at the pleasant picnic area back at Tipperary Springs, which included
celebrating Alan’s Birthday with a slice if his delicious birthday cake (baked by Teena).

Thanks to Sharon Moss for capably leading this pleasant hike.