386. New Zealand Gully Loop 9.7km

 U3A Hike No 386



Hike Report by Joan Brick

☀️ A Taste of Summer

We arrived at our destination, in the Wombat State Forest, on what felt like our first real taste of summer. This area is steeped in history, known for the gold mining operations of the 1850s. Gordon gave us a brief overview of the region’s past and pointed out features to watch for—mine shafts, remnants of old water channels, dams, and stone fireplaces.

🌿 Walking the New Zealand Gully

The first part of our adventure took us along the New Zealand Gully. It was peaceful and beautiful, with flowers and deep green moss-covered logs doing their best to soften the scars left by mining. Gordon drew our attention to a mining operation still active on a mining lease in the forest. We tread carefully, making sure not to set off any “bells and whistles”!

🍵 Morning Tea & Reflections

We paused for morning tea, enjoying the quiet surroundings and each other’s company. Gordon reminded us—loudly and clearly—to watch our step, as the mine shafts were indeed very large and deep.

At this point, Theresa shared her inspiring Annapurna adventure, expressing gratitude for her experienced guide. Her story reminded us of the diverse experiences within our group and how they encourage us to seek our own adventures.

🥾 The Return Journey

Our return to the cars proved more challenging than expected, with hills appearing one after another. Eventually, the sight of a parked car became our “light at the end of the adventure.”

We concluded with lunch and expressed our thanks to Gordon and Andrew for leading us through such an interesting and historically rich area.


Photos By Andrew Parker

























LINKS

INTERACTIVE MAP

GOOGLE MAPS START/FINISH POINT

DOWNLOAD A GPX FILE 

A PREVIOUS HIKE IN THIS AREA (2021)


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