Walk Description

Distance: 16.7km

Total Elevation Gain: ~500m

This is a loop trail walk near Hepburn Springs, Victoria. The walk starts by taking the 100 steps down to the Blowhole “beach” to view the northern end of the diversion tunnel cut through the ridge by miners in the 1850s. Take the 13 steps up the west side of the creek bank and turn right (north) on the signposted Diggings Walk. After 55 m the track swings to the left and climbs south-west up the spur above the cutoff segment of Sailors Creek for 450 m through alluvial mining rock heaps, to an earth embankment just short of a pine post marked with two arrows. Turn right onto the embankment, which was formerly a water race, and follow it for 1 km to meet a four way vehicle track junction on a saddle at GR 439671.

Cross the track coming in from the left and continue north-west to follow the water race for 200 m to the first big bend then head north off-track down the spur for 200 m to the floor of the gully and a rough vehicle track. Turn left and cross a creek bed then veer left at an indistinct fork at GR 438674. (The right fork continues to a large dam on private property.) Pick up a faint track heading south-west, which becomes an indistinct former vehicle track, for 500 m as it heads uphill alongside a gully to meet Yam Gully Road at GR 433673, where there is an old charcoal-burning site. Continue uphill on the track, which is now Blowhole Track, for 200 m, taking a right fork near the ridge to then turn right (north) onto a well-defined vehicle track.

Follow the track for almost 1.3 km along the ridge over a summit then down to Basalt Road, at GR 429681. Turn left down Basalt Road for about 400 m then turn right onto Henderson Spring Track which starts heading north-west and swings south to Boots Gully. From the end of the vehicle track follow a small water race another 100 m to the spring. Cross Boots Gully at the spring and climb steeply straight up the hill to a vehicle track. Follow this track uphill to the left (south-east) then right (south) to Basalt Road.

At Basalt Road turn right heading south-west, then south-east, for 1 km to the junction with Old Werona Road at GR 425669. Turn right and walk south-west for 500 m to its junction with two diverging tracks at GR 421667. Take the left track and head south-east for 1.1 km to the Charlesford Track and Basalt Road intersection. Turn right onto Basalt Road and walk south for about 100 m and turn left onto Pfeiffers Track at GR 428657, which is marked by a whimsical gas cylinder letterbox.

Follow Pfeiffers Track for about 2.5 km, descending gradually to the Bald Hill Creek crossing then gradually ascending to meet Bald Hill Road at GR 440644. Turn right (south) on Bald Hill Road then after 500 m turn left (east) on a vehicle track and follow this track for 1.3 km to Tipperary Springs. Follow the walking track north on the west side of Sailors Creek for 3.3 km to Bryces Flat (GR 448659) and then about 1.5 km on the Great Dividing Trail to the Blowhole and the start of the walk.

 

Transport

Transport to and from the walk location is by car. Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.

If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations.

Drivers can choose whether they wish to take passengers or not.

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please discuss the preferred method of payment with your driver.

 

Booking

Booking is  required for this walk.

For harder-graded walks, the leader has the right not to accept bookings from anyone they consider is not sufficiently fit or experienced to undertake it, so please provide as much relevant information as you can when booking. Unless the leader knows you well, please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this walk. Refer also to Walking Grades.

The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the walk, or not, via email.  The leader will provide details of where and when to meet.

Booking Fee:
Members: free.     Non-members: $7.

Payment:
To avoid handling cash, non-members are required to pre-pay their booking fee.
Payment by Paypal or card is the quickest method, but if you choose to pay by EFT please follow the instruction to email the Treasurer with your payment details.

Cancellation:
If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity.
There will be no refunds, so please do not book unless you are fully committed to walking.

 

What to bring

• Hand Sanitiser
• Face Mask
• Day pack
• Sufficient water (2 litres, more on hot summer days)
• Lunch and snacks
• Hat, sun screen
• Suitable outdoor clothing (no jeans/sneakers!)
• Rainwear & warm jacket
• Proper walking shoes/boots

Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details.   If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.

 

COVID-19 Requirements

We need to follow all state government requirements regarding COVID-19 as explained here:   Coronavirus Victoria: How we live

• You should not be attending this walk if you are Covid-19 positive and/or are required to be in quarantine or isolation.
• If you have any Covid-19 symptoms, you should get tested and follow the instructions in the Coronavirus Victoria website.
• If you are a Household Contact (Close Contact) or a Social or Workplace Contact, you must follow the instructions in the Coronavirus Victoria website.

Check out our Covid-19 status.

 

Safety and Ambulance Insurance

We strongly recommend that you have Ambulance cover. For more details refer to Joining a walk and your safety

 

Still have questions?

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Day walks and social activities.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.

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