Experience life as it was in historic Walhalla. Once one of Australia’s richest towns and home to over 4000 gold seekers, this sleepy mountainside town is now frozen in time and is home to only 20 residents. Walk through the lovingly restored centre full of heritage buildings, try your hand at panning for gold, or take a tour of the surrounding area.  Revel in the history that followed the discovery of Cohen’s Reef, a three-kilometre vein of gold running through Walhalla. Learn about the tough lives of miners, pan for gold down at Stringers Creek, and then explore the old hotels, shops, school and churches built in the 19th century when the town was at its peak.

 

You can also take a ride on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway. Enjoy the vibrant autumn trees, the beautiful Stringers Creek Gorge and, for something a little spookier, take a ghost tour at the old cemetery on the hill.

 

Accommodation

We will be staying in Rawson at the Mountain Rivers Lodge (15 mins drive from Walhalla).

It has a very good kitchen and common area.   There are 6 bedrooms – each room has queen bed + bunk bed + ensuite.

Cost is $70 per person, share accommodation.

 

Hikes

This trip is graded as medium. Most people with an average level of fitness will be able to do this. However, please be honest with yourself about your ability – it’s a hiking trip. You need to be able to keep up, so you cannot be particularly unfit or a very slow walker.

Trip leaders may decline a booking if they are not confident that you have the requisite fitness.

Punctuality is appreciated and expected. I will not wait for late comers. Sorry about that.

I would be pleased if a First Aider would make themselves known, and a back up navigator would also be useful.

 

Saturday: Walhalla to Britannia Creek Circuit, 17 km, Medium.

(From our friends at trailhiking.com.au)

Walhalla to Britannia Creek Circuit is a 17km, grade 3 Circuit hike located in Walhalla Historic Area Victoria. The hike should take approximately 5hrs to complete.

The Walhalla to Britannia Creek Circuit explores the historic mountain township of Walhalla and its surrounds.

Commencing in the centre of town head north towards the Long Tunnel Extended Mine until you see the zig zag track on the right which takes you up to the Walhalla Cricket Ground. Walk up to and across the cricket ground onto the Cricket Ground Track. Follow this to the junction of the track coming from Maiden Town. Turn left here and shortly after turn left again to go down to the Walhalla-Aberfeldy Rd. Cross the road and start down the Britannia Spur Track, crossing Britannia Creek and then up to Mormon Town Track. Turn left and follow Mormon Town Track past Sun Hill and Black Diamond Hill. Keep to the main track until you reach the junction of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Turn left onto the Australian Alps Walking Track and follow it back to Walhalla.

 

Sunday:  Walhalla Historic Walk (14 km, easy).

Walhalla to Thomson Station via Poverty Point is a 12.5km, grade 3 One Way hike located in Walhalla Historic Area Victoria. The hike should take approximately 4-5hrs to complete.

The Walhalla to Thomson Station hike commences in the heart of historic Walhalla. Follow the trail leading up the steps opposite the general store (or the steps adjacent to the band rotunda) up to the old tramway above the town. From the tramway there is a good view of the Walhalla township strung out along the narrow valley of Stringers Creek.

The hike follows the first 8 kilometres of the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) along the level bed of the tramway which winds its way past mine heads and through regenerated forest and ferny gullies. After 4 km the tramway crosses Mormon Town Track on the crest of a spur and turns north wards up the Thompson River Valley winding in and out of small gullies for some 4km until it reaches the Poverty Point Bridge (aka Old Steel Bridge).

After crossing the bridge the hike departs from the AAWT and back tracks along the opposite bank of the Thomson River along a level track for 4km to the bottom end of Old Depot Road. From here it is a short walk which passes under the Walhalla Road to the Thomson Station.

If you time your hike well enough, the train will return you to the Walhalla Railway Station. The Walhalla Goldfields Railway is operated and maintained by volunteers and is one of the most spectacular rail journeys in Australia winding through the spectacular Stringers Creek Gorge.

It is our intention to do precisely this. The Thomson to Walhalla train costs $15. It is a six km journey. There is a 1.40 and a 3.40 train.

In order to catch the 1.40 train, it is our intention to start the hike at 8.00 am.

From the station there is a 500 metre walk back to the trail head, and our weekend concludes.

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