388. La Franchi's Hut 11.9km

 U3A Hike No 388



Hike Report By Kim Radenic

 

🌥️ Morning Meet-Up 

On a grey, overcast, mildly chilly morning, 14 hikers gathered at Kirk’s for our allotted carpooling. We arrived at Werona Road and met Corinne—our hike leader—on her maiden lead. 

🚶‍Setting Off 

We began with a short walk along Werona Road before turning left onto a recently graded, well-formed fire access track. This type of track continued for most of the hike, making for smooth walking. 

🦘 Wildlife Encounters 

Nature was lively and generous: 

• Kangaroos, wallabies, and other marsupials were spotted throughout the hike. 

• Birds chirped cheerfully, with a few kookaburras laughing in the distance. 

• Gordon pointed out flowering Australian orchids—delicate and much smaller than nursery varieties. 

• A vibrant display of yellow, red, and blue native flowers lined the trail. Everything was lush and green—Mother Earth clearly thriving in spring. 

 🫖 Morning Tea at La Franchi's Hut 

We arrived at La Franchi's Hut, surrounded by a carpet of enchanting bluebells. The hut was beautifully built and well maintained. We explored inside and out before enjoying a well-earned morning tea. 

🦋 Butterfly Track & Stevenson Hut 

The Butterfly Track offered several ups and downs. Eventually, we reached a large clearing and the remnants of Stevenson Hut—marked by a small stone chimney, rough timber frame, and scattered corrugated sheets. Not quite the luxury of La Franchi's, but rich in character. 

🧗‍♀️ Final Stretch 

A short but steep climb followed, leading us along Butterfly Track to Sulky Track. Along the way, we spotted the turn off for Upper Walker Gully Falls—sadly, it was “on holidays” (dry or inaccessible). We continued along Sulky Track until we rejoined Werona Road and returned to our cars for lunch. 

🎉 Reflections & Thanks 

• Corinne: A big congratulations on your first hike lead—well done! We’re looking  forward to many more. 

• Gordon: Thanks for being our whip and resident orchid expert. 

🌟 Closing Note 

A great day was had by all. The trail, the company, and the springtime scenery made it a memorable outing. 



Photos By Andrew Parker





































LINKS

INTERACTIVE MAP

START/FINISH GOOGLE MAPS

DOWNLOAD A GPX FILE

HISTORY OF LA FRANCHI'S HUT 

THIS HIKE IN 2021 (Vale Martin Russell) (Shows file photos of the falls)





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