Pathway to central Victoria's hidden treasures from deep gorges and fern-lined rivers to the artefacts and cultural heritage of the greatest gold rush the world has ever seen.

The Great Dividing Trail, a community-planned 280km public walking trail following the top of the Great Dividing Range from Bacchus Marsh to Blackwood, Daylesford, Castlemaine, Bendigo, Creswick, Ballarat and Buninyong, allows recreational walkers and tourists the time to savour central Victoria's unique combination of gold rush heritage and its natural beauty.

Created by a community-owned organisation, the Great Dividing Trail Association (GDTA), the Trail links the old gold rush towns at the heart of Victoria, as well as the forests, hills and lakes, straddling the Australian Great Dividing Range.

The Trail's completed spokes consist of four major Tracks, each of which in turn are separated into thematic Walks that can be easily accessed for day or shorter walks. Since the official launch of the Goldfields Track on 17 May 2011, the three major track sections between Bendigo and Ballarat/Buninyong are collectively  referred to as the 'Goldfields Track'. The Goldfields Track is now both walker and mtb accessible with signed diversions where single use is required. An extension of the GDT is also completed within the Ararat township, with a proposal to link it to Ballarat. Work is proceeding to create a new leg of the GDT between Blackwood and Mount Macedon.

NOTE: All prospective walkers and cyclists should check and be fully prepared for any predicted adverse weather conditions, and never walk or ride on the GDT in extreme weather (predicted heat, cold, rain or wind, including total fire ban days). Carrying sufficient water is essential at all times. 

CURRENT TRACK ALERTS (updated January 2012):

• The Dry Diggings Track between Daylesford (Twin Bridges) is now reopened
• There is NO guaranteed or permanent natural or potable drinking water available along most parts of the Great Dividing Trail all year. Walkers and cyclists should carry sufficient  water with them at all times and replenish in towns from public and commercial supplies. Good rains in early 2011 resulted in some strong flows (and even damaging floods) in the Loddon and Lerderderg Rivers, and some creeks, including the Jim Crow Creek were flowing strongly for much of 2011. However summer flows (including in early 2012) typically reduce and lead to problems with water quality.
  
• Walkers should carry GDTA maps, Meridian publications or survey maps  and carry a compass and whistle. A GPS would be useful.
• Mobile phones will not operate on all  parts of the Trail.