401. Ditchfield Reserve-Nuggetty Dam Circuit 10.7km Creswick State Forest

 U3A Hike No 401




Hike Report by Deb Karmouche


🗺️ Local Discoveries

Unexpectedly, the recent conflict in the Middle East has affected petrol prices and supply, which has meant we have discovered some terrific local walks. Gordon joined together a circuit commencing on the familiar Yarrowee trail, incorporating some of the Goldfields track and somehow joining everything up with a combination of the myriad of other trails in the Nerrina Goldfields area.

🥾 The Journey Begins

20 started out from the Brown Hill Reserve; the sun was shining and we headed along the Yarrowee River, through the tunnel under the Freeway towards the Gong before crossing the river and heading towards Black Hill. Evidence of established and more recent construction of trail bike paths reflected the popularity of this sport in our area, as many of the jumps looked to be very challenging. Evidence of mining was apparent with old mullock heaps and water races and numerous old mining shafts.

🍵 Refreshments and Hazards

Sun shone for morning tea at one of our favourite spots, Nuggety Dam, and our return journey featured forest with beautiful grasses and flowering pink and white heath. Hazards of prickly gorse, puddles, and a few hills palled compared to the narrow, elevated bike trail we had to negotiate, which was flanked by deep mine shafts on either side.

🏁 Homeward Bound

We returned via the familiar Yarrowee trail. Honestly, most of us had no idea where we were a lot of the time, but periodically we emerged to very familiar areas as well. It was exciting to find new bush trails in an area we are so fond of. The group acknowledges the big undertaking to coordinate and lead new hikes. Thank you, Gordon, for a terrific day and Mark for being the whip.


Photos by Andrew Parker





























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