Day 1 - Daylesford
Officially started for most us on Monday the 15th travelling from our homes to the Daylesford Tourist Park. Michele and I arrived early so had the pleasure of a gentle walk to the main street (up and down hills 4.8k).
There are many good baristas and artists in Daylesford. Meet and greet was held at 5pm in the Sequoia Lodge with warm blazing fires to keep all warm and a few drinks help set the scene.
Day 2 - Two Lakes
We all woke from a night of heavy rain wondering what the day would bring. Todays plan was to conquer the two lakes trail. We were pleasantly surprised to find no more rain and the need to shed our extra layers quiet early in the walk.
The walk began at the Daylesford Boat House carpark, wandering on past the lock bridge with many padlocks adorning the bridge to signify ones great love. After conquering the hill, we continued through some residential areas admiring the historical cottages to eventually arrive at Lake Jubilee where many consumed some lovely scones jam & cream and great coffee.
From Lake Jubilee we made our way further along the Great Divide Trail admiring the scenery and the many interesting fungi. We saw the remnants of the goldmining era, some interesting informations were to be found along the way through story boards. After we finished our final leg of the lake our destination was a relaxed lunch at the Hard Hill Mineral Springs location, where some of us were brave enough to sample the mineral waters.
Val & Michele and a few wines…….
Day 3 - Wombat Dam & Railway Bridge.
Blessed again with the weather, no rain and at times we even had some sun peeping through. Nice to have John join us today, sporting an injury but very determined to participate.
Leaving the picturesque Jubilee Lake, we wandered down to the natural spring for the obligatory sampling, then through an avenue of autumn toned oak trees and onto the forest track to observe what would be a feast of fungi for the whole day.
Traversing the famous “Lost Children’s Walk” was a feature of the day. This is a desperately sad story that tugs at the heartstrings of every parent. Back in 1867 three very young adventurous boys left home and wandered into the Wombat State Forest in search of wild goats. Extensive searches by the community failed to find them and it wasn’t until three months later that their remains were discovered in a hollow tree.
A dry log provided perfect seating for our morning tea break then a short detour took us to the Wombat Creek Dam and Reservoir which is part of Daylesfords water supply. Surprise, surprise, Janean and Lisa met us at Wombat Creek Public area ……thanks for bringing the chocolate brownie. Next time we’ll order coffee.
A particularly nice section today was on an old logging track cut into the hillside. Lovely vibrant green mosses and lichens amongst the shaley rocks were interspersed with beautiful pink and white heath.
Helen took us into a deep overgrown gully where we crossed the Wombat Creek on a strategically placed plank, rumor has it that she put this in place on the reccie, no end to this girl’s talent! After negotiating a short but extremely steep hill we set about searching for the famous brick culvert. The last section was easy walking on the old railway track, arriving back in Jubilee Park in time for a well-earned lunch.
A great walk, with lovely company. 14 kms in total.
Pat Williams
Day 4 - Cuttings & Culverts
The Outback Club!
(So named because we all arrived at the start of the walk via a Subaru Outback)
Having rained solidly for several hours prior to walk time, we were down to 9 eager (or silly) walkers for this adventure. Arriving at the Wombat Station car park, we made a beeline for the rotunda where everyone donned every bit of waterproof clothing they could find!. This would prove to be our first, last and only dry cover for the day.
We set off in to the mist shrouded and rain soaked forest in high spirits. Negotiating muddy, puddled tracks proved entertaining for those following and in sections, fallen trees obscured the track providing navigation challenges and testing tree-hopping skills. In the forest, we were able to identify the remains of brick culverts and evidence of mining from the gold rush era. In parts, the track opened on to well formed paths that appear to have been railway lines in times long gone. These were invariably cut in to high, ferned embankments that offered no protection from the weather even though they were solid and some metres high!
At one point we disturbed a wallaby and shortly after, a rather large kangaroo both of whom bounded away through the bush. It was amazing how quiet they were even though the undergrowth was thick. Had we not noticed movement, we definitely wouldn’t have known they were there!
Not long after, there was the unmistakable sound of a fallen tree hitting the ground. A sharp reminder of the conditions and Mother Nature at work, it happened where we had stepped not long before.
There was less variety of fungi than on the previous two days but we were pleased not to have stepped on these very pretty Cortinarius Archeri (yes, I looked it up!), before we stepped on them. Commonly known as The Purple Emperor or The Emperor Cortinar, they’re Australian Natives and although there seemed to be plenty of them, these were the only ones we saw with such colourful stems so lots of photos taken.
Arriving back at the rotunda, the walk had been long, cold and very wet, the rain not having let up at all but it was, nonetheless, enjoyable and informative. Still with high spirits, the wet gear was tossed in the back, the heated front and rear seats in the Outback got a workout and we headed home, looking forward to a hot shower (or hot toddy) and the open fire at meeting time!
Sherrin Howlett
Day 5 - Boots and Charlesford Mine.
14 km. 11 hardy ( or should I say, foolhardy) hikers set off into the Scotch mist and 6 degrees (felt like 1 degree) temperature ! And let me tell you, Scotch mist is WET !
However, suitably attired in our ponchos and back pack covers, we forded flooded rivers (creeks), bush bashed up what seemed like 100 hills and generally had a good day. Different terrain and vegetation today. Twisty dark barked trees, more open country , tracks like rivers, and pale gold coloured rocky soil. “There,s gold in them there hills ! “ explored old mine sites, tasted “The Waters “ at the Henderson springs and were very glad to see our cars appearing through the mist at the end !
Thank you Helen for leading and keeping your merry troupe safe, in quite trying conditions. !
Maree Mills
Day 6 - Sailors Falls & Lost Children Walk
Thirteen walkers began the walk from Sailors Falls carpark. There was a slight drizzle but hardly mentionable after the previous days’ precipitation. After a short stroll along the highway, we descended the 3 Lost Children track into a Sclerophyll Forest. The track named after 3 young boys who went missing in 1867 and their remains were found 3 months later in a hollow tree.
Tall Candlebarks (Eucalyptus Rubida) were the dominant species; they appeared fresh from the recent rain and fluffy from epicormic bud growth along their trunks; a response to fire maybe about a year ago. About half an hour into our walk we encountered a fast-flowing creek. Some walkers just walked through the creek, water flowing into their warm socks; others wandered up the creek and used a walking pole (not a paddle) to balance across a precarious log and then bush bashed up and then down a hill through bracken fern to join the wet foots; and 3 decided neither option suited them and headed back to the carpark.
After being fed and watered we 10 continued our walk, which at some stage had become the Goldfields Track. We were approached on two occasions by sulkies; beautiful racehorses that were in training. Both riders stopped to chat to us. One was called Fashionista and she was apparently quite wild. They were hoping she would get a start this Thursday at Melton.
We were all feeling like the walk had been an authentic adventure club experience, and then it just got better.
Helen, our intrepid leader, exclaimed with delight she could see her shadow – the sun was out!
We had a brief lunch and continued towards Sailors Falls. We met a local lady on the way who explained how her great great grandparents had leased mining land because they didn’t have money for a house but were later allowed to buy the land authentically. Her and hubby had only recently demolished the original miners cottage, built a retirement home and planted a vineyard. She was very proud of the heritage in the area.
The walk ended at Sailors Falls, which was absolutely in full flow after the recent rain. It was stunning.
Thanks to Helen for leading us. This was my favourite walk.
Chris Edwards
Participants:
Helen W (leader), Pat W, Michelle P, Joy D, Val Mc, Shane B, John H, Gayle Mc, Barbara B, Michelle C, Wendy P, Ed J, Maree M, Ellen P, Sherrin H, Chris E.
End Note: Apologies that not all photos have been uploaded from this trip. Your editor has discoved that photos taken on an Apple I Phone have PHP code that prevents me from uploading them into Joomla.