Next Walk July 11

 10 000 Step Trail Walk, the Dementia Trail, Woorookarung. Leaders Chris Charleson and Tim Bosher.

Meet at the Dementia Trail rotunda at 9:20 for a 9:30 start.

It can be reached from Elsworth St East. As Elsworth St becomes Katy Ryan Rd, on entering the forest, there is a rotunda on the left and an area for car parking.

The circuit walk will proceed up the Dementia Trail and we will then shortcut below the Lookout to the Grasstree Nature Trail. Next we take a new section through an area known as the Ampitheatre for a snack at the Bunny Trail rest area. The final northerly section along  Penny Leaf trail will bring us back to the rotunda- we expect at about 12:00, for a picnic lunch for those wishing to stay.

As the trail of about 7.8k has some gradual uphill sections it is rated as difficulty level B. You may wish to bring walking poles, especially if there has been recent rainfall.

The Friends of Canadian Corridor are conducting a similar walk, also starting at the rotunda, at 1:00 this coming Sunday July 7th. Their June newsletter Spikey News has further details including maps.

Yarrowee Walk Report

Walk Report June 27.

Twenty members gathered beside White Flat Oval on a bright, crisp morning, for our walk along the Yarrowee River. A warm welcome to new member, Robert Bonnici, on his second walk with the group.

As we set off from the oval, it was pleasing to see the extensive landscape rectification works, undertaken since the Ballarat Sewer Build Project passed through the area. We admired the beautiful, red brick architecture of the old Sunnyside Woollen Mill across the river, as we moved from the bluestone channel to the natural river environment.

The effort of the community and Council to clean up the river is evident with much less rubbish visible in, and beside the stream. Our route took us into the wetlands, which are thriving despite the very low rainfall we are experiencing. It is a walk of contrasts as we then passed through an area of native forest before crossing the wetlands boardwalk, then up to the Yuille Homestead site and the picnic area. 

A pleasant surprise greeted us here with new, under cover areas, landscaping, parking and track work. We enjoyed our morning tea in the sun, before retracing our steps back to White Flat.  Most headed off for lunch elsewhere, while a few us dined on the oval. A very pleasant 8.5km. walk in perfect weather. Many thanks to our Leader, Joan, and Whip, Christine.

Helen Mc.

 

Next Walk - White Flat along the Yarrowee June 27

 Leaders Christine Parton & Joan Bright

Enter via Anderson St West where there is parking around the White Flat oval and where we will meet at 9.20am for a 9.30 start. Toilets available here. Bring Morning tea and Lunch. Lunch back at the Oval, BYO chair.

It’s a touch over 9km but a relatively easy walk. It will start at the oval and proceed south to the wetlands and the site of the old Yuille Homestead, where we will have morning tea. Then return via the same route.

Walk Report for June 13

Seventeen walkers gathered at Lake Daylesford on a cold but windless day, which proved to be perfect for walking. Starting beside the lake, we walked to the dam wall and down into Central Springs.

The lake was formed above Central Springs in 1929 to cover an area along Smiths Creek which had been scarred by mining works.  Local schools and community groups revegetated the surrounds with European and native vegetation. It has been a popular venue for swimming, fishing, boating and sightseeing since then.

From the Springs, we climbed our first hill and followed an easier path on local roads and tracks around the Daylesford oval, to find the signposted bush track to Jubilee Lake. This was a very pleasant walk in amongst the eucalypts and above Wombat Creek. On reaching Jubilee Lake we passed the trestle bridge, built in 1867 for the Creswick-Daylesford railway. We continued to the north of the lake and the Jubilee Spring.

Lunch was enjoyed by the lake before heading for the Lerderderg Track, partly on the old railway line, and on to Cornish Hill Reserve. Another strenuous climb and we soon found ourselves descending to Lake Daylesford. A quick walk over the bridge and we were back at our cars, having enjoyed a very pleasant day out.

Walk for June 13, 2024

Two Lakes - a circuit walk from Lake Daylesford to Lake Jubilee

Distance: 8km

Grade: B

Led by Helen & Tim Bosher

Meet at Llanberris at 9.20am for a 9.30am departure. We will travel to the SW corner of the car park at Lake Daylesford, off Bleakley St. From here we will walk on a combination of urban and well formed bush tracks and trails. It is considered an easy walk, mostly flat, but with a couple of moderately challenging hills. Poles would be useful.

There are toilets at Lake Daylesford and Jubilee Lake. 

Bring morning tea, and lunch which we will have at Jubilee Lake.

Car pool is $8.

Beaufort

 Walk Report May 30.

The forecast was dire, the wind strong and cold, but a group of 13 optimists set off past the oval in the Beaufort, Goldfields Recreation Reserve. Our route took us along the newlakeside promenade, complete with wide concrete path, attractive caged pebble retaining walls, picnic tables, BBQ and playground.

The lake itself reflects the extremely dry conditions prevailing in the west of the state, with several metres of freeboard to the high water mark. Judy and Jean led us into the bush, along gravel tracks and roads. It was a relief to be out of the wind at last to enjoy the sights and sounds of our natural environment.

At our “banana break”, a large, clay-pot structure was spied high on a tree branch. Chris Charleson identified it as a Chough (as in “Tough”) nest. The Chough is a very social, black, raven-like bird with red eyes and white visible in its wings in flight.

After our break we continued through the open forest, where the brightest sight, other than ourselves, was the Native Correa, with its pretty, red and yellow bells, dotting the landscape. Our bush-loop brought us back to the lake and its abundant bird life, including various ducks, Eurasian Coots and Purple Swamp Hens.

We had lunch beside the lake, but didn’t dally as rain was imminent, the first drops hitting the windscreen a few kilometers along the highway. Another well-judged walk.

Many thanks to Judy and Jean for their planning and guidance  - we all  thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Helen Mc.