June 26 Haddon Common Walk Report

19 walkers were very lucky yesterday to miss the rain of the previous days when we met at Haddon Primary School to complete the Haddon Common loop walk. We were very pleased to welcome new member, Sheila, to the group. Although briskly cold when we set out, we soon warmed up after passing the Haddon Memorial Reserve, established by the community in 2000, and an old water trough and pump before walking into the Haddon Common Bushland Reserve. 

This was a generally easy walk through light bush and on made tracks. We had to skirt several extremely large puddles, evidence of heavy rain in the area, but nothing too challenging. We enjoyed a break and a snack on a well chosen log before heading off to finish the walk back at the school. From there a large group met at In the Sticks Cafe at the Avalon Nursery for a warming drink.

This was a most enjoyable walk in very convivial company and many thanks go to John and Dot for organising and leading the walk.

 Haddon Common Bushland Reserve - Loop Walk June 26

Length : approx  6 kms

Category : A

Meet at 9.20 for a 9.30am departure from the beginning of the walk, NOT Llanberris.

Led by John and Dot.

Travel instructions : 

• Travel along Skipton St to LaTrobe St ;
• turn right onto LaTrobe St and continue west towards Haddon, before turning left onto Sago Hill Rd;
• travel along this road until you reach Haddon Primary School on the Right Hand Side. 
• There is room to park here (near the Basketball Stadium) and also down near the oval.

This is a fairly easy walk around the Haddon Common Bushland Reserve.

It covers bush tracks and gravel roads through light bush. 

Kangaroos may be seen crossing the paths and occasional bird song heard.

Other :

Bring a morning snack.

Good walking shoes and walking poles could be handy.

Coffee afterwards at the nearby 'In the Sticks' café at Avalon Nursery.

 WALK REPORT JUNE 12

After an easy drive to Castlemaine, our group of 8 met up at the Leanganook Camping area, in the Mt Alexander Regional Park, for the beginning of our loop walk. Walking through native grassland and Manna woodland, we first visited Ed’s Seat Lookout which had some pretty views, and then on towards Dog Rocks where we had lunch. There were many beautiful granite rock formations to admire along the way and at Dog Rocks. The weather was intermittently foggy and sunny so it was lovely to enjoy the sun when it came out. 

On the way back down the mountain, we stopped at the ruins of a former silk worm farm, dating from the 1870’s. It was a pioneering enterprise, run by women, but unfortunately short lived as the site was totally inappropriate.

A stop for coffee at Das Kaffeehaus in Castlemaine on the way home finished the day perfectly. A big thank you to Jean and Graeme for their efforts in preparing and leading the walk, which proved to be most enjoyable and interesting.