U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No 398 Hike Report by Monica McCormack ☀️ The day started promisingly with blue skies and autumnal sunshine streaming through the densely timbered slopes of Mount Buninyong—sitting 745m above sea level. 11 warmly dressed hikers met at the Blackberry Lane Reserve after a downpour the previous evening had left the air fresh and crisp.  🧗 This 10.5km walk , led by Andrew, is a clear favourite. The route offers a mix of up and downhills, landmarks like the scoria crater, and views over green, cloud-flecked valleys. Along the way, hikers enjoyed the screech of local cockies and the changing autumn colours of European trees in Buninyong’s estate-sized gardens.  🌋 A cracking pace was set immediately from the Reserve on an immaculately graded path to the famous Buninyong Crater, set in a wide, grassy basin. Though it is believed a volcanic eruption could still occur one day (the volcano is currently dormant), the group used the moment to catch their breath after the...

 U3A Hike No 397 Hike Report by Kim Radenic 🥾 Fourteen hikers eagerly hiked the  12.5km   Shicers  Gully circuit hike. The morning was mild, with no wind, so it was easy walking on wide trails. At about 2km into the walk we came to our first crossing of  Shicers  Gully, an area heavily sluiced back in gold mining times.   ☕ Morning tea was by a breached dam with lots of chatter and laughter.   🌸 No Orchids were found, although a few people were eagerly looking for them.   ⛰️ We had an extra 10min rest before  commencing  the long incline back up to the cars.   🥪 After a pleasant lunch together, we headed home.   🙌 Thanks to Gordon, it was as always......a fun hike.   Photos by Andrew Parker LINKS INTERACTIVE MAP DOWNLOAD GPX FILE GOOGLE MAPS START POINT A HIKE FROM 2018  Spot the seven current members

 U3A Hike No 396 Hike Report by Annette Currie 🌅 Cool Autumn Start      It was a cool start to the morning—Autumn making its presence known—as fifteen hikers gathered at Kirks before heading for the southern edge of the Wombat Forest. Cars were lined along Slaters Road at Mollongghip, and with packs on, we set off. 🚂 Anderson Tramway Cutting       We hadn’t gone far before reaching our first point of interest: a cutting from the Anderson family tramway. The Anderson brothers, Scottish emigrants of the mid‑1800s, built sawmills throughout the Wombat Forest and constructed tramways to haul logs to their mills—eventually extending the line all the way to Werribee. Much of the tramway was cut directly into the hillsides, and trestle bridges once spanned the gullies. ⚠️ Mineshafts Along the Trail          Further along, the trail revealed a cluster of deep mineshafts. Someone had attempted to tape them off, but the tape now h...