Early in 2011 DSE closed the Lerderderg Track between Jubilee Lake and St Leonards Hill following storm damage. The track is still closed. GDTA has repeatedly requested that the track be reopened. At a meeting with DSE Midlands District in November 2011 the GDTA asked DSE to take urgent action to reopen the track.
DSE have advised that only DSE posts are allowed on their land. This means that on the Lerderderg Track between Jubilee Lake and Blackwood, DSE will replace all green GDT posts with grey DSE posts.
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity
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Lerderderg Track
Bacchus Marsh to Daylesford
71km following the Lerderderg River Valley
Passes Through:
- Daylesford
- Blackwood
- Bacchus Marsh
Useful Links:
Purchase Maps:
GDT Ararat Circuit Walk:
Click here to download map.
Goldfields Track FAQ:
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Site sponsored by City of Ballarat
Developed by Knowers Ark
Simmons Reef Walk
Balt Camp - Blackwood 16.6km
This walk takes you from the Balt Camp - on Camp Road - down into the catchment and headwaters of the Lerderderg River. While there are small seasonal streams in some of the wetter gullies - you should always carry water prior to getting to the Lerderderg River itself. There are some good views, some ferny gullies and some older trees on parts this walk. There is also some unusual, stunted high-altitude vegetation - including stands of Hakea on rocky ridges, exposed to seasonal extremes of temperature and moisture.
Access to the Balt Camp is from the east via the Spargo - Blakeville and Camp Roads, or via camp Road from Bullarto South. You should buy the Lerderderg Map - available via GDTA (for $5.50) or from a local Visitor Information Centre - which includes an access map.
There is space for car parking off the road at the Balt camp and also at Nolan's Creek.
Nolan's Creek Picnic Ground (with toilets and picnic shelter) is along the walk near the junction of Nolan's Creek Road and Lerderderg Road (that leads back to Blackwood).
Beyond Nolan's Creek picnic ground the walk follows the picturesque and ferny Lerderderg River Heritage Trail most of the way to Blackwood. This 9 km section between Nolan's Creek and Blackwood is a good, safe introduction to the GDT. Good drinking water is sometimes (but not always) available from the river nearby. The track passes the highly regarded Garden of St Erth at Simmons Reef and is worth a visit if you are in not in a hurry. There is a hotel and general store in Blackwood.