October 30 Walk - 5th week of the month

Meet at Ballarat Yacht Club for a 9.30am circuit of the lake.

Coffee at The Yacht Club from 10.30am. Table is booked under ‘Helen’. 

Walk Report - October 23 

How lucky we were to wake to a fine day on Thursday last after Wednesday’s weather had been so horrible. Seven of us gathered at Llanberris to drive to Centennial Park at Mt Macedon, where we met up with and welcomed our newest member of the group, Pauline Moody.

Our car shuffle took us to McGregor’s Picnic Area from where we began our descent of the mountain. It was an easy walk, quite steep in places, but mostly smooth underfoot. The highlights of the walk included the beautiful properties and gardens which were in full bloom, many with gorgeous rhododendrons, and the very ornate gates leading into the properties. The views through gaps in the trees were beautiful as were the extraordinarily tall and majestic gums.

We stopped for lunch at a very pleasant park and picnic spot before heading back to the cars and another car shuffle. Coffee was enjoyed in the town before we headed home, feeling very pleased with our day out.

Many thanks to David for his planning and leadership on the day.

Bushwalk October 23

Mount Macedon. (Top to Bottom).

We will drive to Centennial Park at the bottom of the mountain. Here we will organise a car shuffle for the 8 km drive up to McGregor's Picnic Area where the walk begins.

We will descend the mountain via Clyde Track, Alton Road and Governors Drive back to Centennial Park. The route is partly on gravel and bitumen and grass surfaces and does not include any steps or stairs. Poles may be useful, but not essential.

The length of the walk is 8.5 km. 

Code B plus.

Toilets available at each end of the walk and also at the lunch stop.

Meet at Llanberris car park for a 9.30 am departure. Llanberris car park is on Eureka St, opposite the LT Fraser Reserve. Bring morning tea and lunch. Expected return to Ballarat is approx. 4pm.

The walk will be led by David Radcliffe.

 

BENDIGO CAMP REPORT OCT 7-9, 2025
 

Day 1
Das Kaffeehaus in Castlemaine was the meeting place for quite a few of us to have coffee before heading
off to reconvene at the start of our first walk, One Tree Hill. We parked at the bottom of the hill and
walked up to the lookout and picnic area, from where we started the One tree Hill Tower Loop. We had
perfect weather for the walk which took us through varied landscapes, over some rocky tracks which
eventually smoothed out and made the walking easier. Many stops were made to admire and identify the
plentiful wildflowers. We enjoyed lunch along the way and found our way back to the cars after an
enjoyable walk that wasn’t too taxing for any of us. And rest assured, there was more than one tree!
After settling into the caravan park, the full complement of 13 people met for happy hour and a bbq in the
camp kitchen and enjoyed the warmer weather and daylight savings until heading off to our respective
accommodation.
 

Day 2
After an hour’s drive through some lovely country and the historic town of Inglewood, we met up at the
picnic area of Melville Caves in the Kooyoorah State Park. The caves are named after the notorious
bushranger who used the caves as a hideout in the 19th century.We completed, on another fantastic day for walking, the Long Rock Walking Track which took in the Southern and McLeods Lookouts. From the lookouts and other vantage points, we enjoyed beautiful views. We took advantage of one conveniently flat rock, which gave us spectacular views, to have our morning tea.
The walk included quite a bit of up and down, dramatic rock formations, the odd kangaroo and more
wildflowers. The path evened out as we walked down and towards the picnic area again and as the day
was really warming up we were very glad to get back for a well earned rest and lunch.
After lunch we drove to the top where we found a camping ground and access to caves, formed by giant
boulders, that we could enter and explore.
Dinner was at The Old Boundary Hotel, which was very impressive, producing good quality meals in a
very organised fashion.
 

Day 3
A gentle walk to finish the camp was held at the Crusoe Reservoir Loop via No 7 Reservoir. This walk was on made tracks, taking us by the water and across the dam wall, with a little bit of bush land included.
There are interesting historical sites which highlight the amount of work put into early water storage
efforts, particularly in the channels and the No 7 reservoir which was constructed in 1857. We had lunch
back at the very attractive picnic area of No 7, before heading off back home.
Thanks to all who came to the camp and made it such a fun experience. We were lucky with the weather
and everyone enjoyed the walks and the social activities.

Apologies that the photos are not in chronological order!

 

 

 

 

October 9 Walk

There is no walk scheduled for October 9 due to the Bendigo camp. Our next walk will be on October 23.

 Walk Report September 25

We were fortunate to have cold but good weather for walking yesterday when 12 of us gathered at the Dementia Trail to walk into the Woowookarung Park. First we walked up to the Lookout, from where we had good views and a chance for a banana break, before heading off on the Grasstree Trail for the rest of our 7.3 km walk. Chris gave us some interesting historical and environmental information along the way which added to the experience.

On arriving back to the car park we met up with Maria and made our way to La Miette Patisserie which met all our expectations of good coffee and fantastic cakes.

Thanks to Chris and Greg for a really good outing in Woowookarung.

Next Walk Thursday Sept. 25 Woorookarung Leaders Chris C and Greg A.

 

Meet at the pavilion in Katy Ryan Rd at 9:20 for a departure by 9:30

To reach the pavilion, turn easterly along Elsworth St off Main Rd and then a short distance to the bush as it becomes Katy Ryan Rd. Parking is on the left.

We will walk along the Dementia Friendly Trail, shortcut to the Grasstree Trail, then back westerly towards Dozed Rd.and our return. 

Gravel tracks, some undulations so walking poles could be useful. About 7k so a rating of B.

Bring morning tea stop provisions. 

Refreshments after at La Miette Patisserie, Main Rd.