Parks Victoria have advised that the recent rains have caused extensive damage and flooding in the Creswick and Hepburn Regional Parks, Andersons Mill Historic Area and Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve.
Sections of the Goldfields Track have been closed, including:
- Tipperary Walking Track in Hepburn Regional Park. This is the track between Sailors Falls and Twin Bridges; Twin Bridges to Lake Daylesford and Lake Daylesford to Jacksons Lookout -
- Slaty Creek Campgrounds -
- St Georges Lake between the main car park and the Goldfields Track -
Mount Beckworth has also been closed. Please check www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
The Dept of Sustainability & Environment have today (8 Sept) advised that they are yet to check non-driveable sections of the DSE-managed GDT.
Goldfields Track and Lerderderg Track users are warned to be very mindful of potential hazards from flash flooding, fallen trees, erosion and falling branches.
Lerderderg Track
Bacchus Marsh to Daylesford
71km following the Lerderderg River Valley
Passes Through:
- Daylesford
- Blackwood
- Bacchus Marsh
Useful Links:
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Hidden Treasures brochure:
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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.