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Werribee Gorge & The Island

I visited Werribee Gorge State Park on Wednesday. It turned out to be one of those perfect spring days that  Melbourne is justifiably famous for. My friend, Ian, had never been to ‘the gorge’ before and I took the opportunity to show him around what I consider to be one of the most underrated parks near to Melbourne. It was also a good excuse to check out the new W. James Whyte Island Reserve (known simply as The Island). A new trail links the top carpark to The Island via some wonderful yellow box woodland. There are excellent views across Junction Pool and the trail allows walkers to experience a refreshingly new aspect of the park . It’s a steep climb to the top of The Island. Actually, I’ll rephrase that. It’s a BLOODY steep climb to the top. This massive basalt hill is part of the lava flow which originated from Mt Bullangarook near Gisborne. The views overlooking the gorge are arguably the best in the district.

The 204 hectare W. James Whyte Island Reserve was gifted to Conservation Volunteers in August 2006. There has been an enormous amount of work planting native trees and shrubs,  as well as a concerted effort at controlling weeds. It really is an big task. If you are interested in donating a bit of your time to Conservation Volunteers in their revegetation of The Island, check out www.conservationvolunteers.com.au or contact 1800 032 501.

The Island, overlooking Junction Pool. Werribee Gorge State Park.
The Island, overlooking Junction Pool. Werribee Gorge State Park.
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Cathedral Range Circuit (p110)

Roughly 92% of the Cathedral Range State Park (including the visitor facilities at Sugarloaf Saddle) were burnt by the February 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. All the roads and walking trails in the park are now closed. Parks Victoria have indicated that the park will be progressively reopened from December 2009.

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Walk into History (p102)

Some sections (between Starling Gap and Ada No2 Mill Site, and along the Latrobe River) have had their signs removed or vandalised. The trail is also quite overgrown in places. In wet weather leeches are a real problem. I reckon the trail needs some serious maintenance and new signage before it disappears into the bush for good.

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Lerderderg Gorge Walk (p80)

This walk has changed very little over the last few years. Unfortunately, the continuing dry conditions has reduced even the largest pools of water to little more than puddles. There is still plenty of water available (much of the river now trickles under the pebbles) but do remember to take a filter kit. In the warmer months there are large numbers of red belly black snakes which seem to feed upon smaller prey, which are forced into using the small number of waterholes. The gorge has taken a real hammering over the course of the last ten dry years and many of the shade trees (the wattles) have either died or have lost most of their leaves. Large areas of blanket-leaves and hazel pomaderris have vanished. This spring (2009) the river has been occasionally flowing, which has been really wonderful.


IMPORTANT UPDATE (Spring 2009): All of the original EMERGENCY SIGNPOSTS in the gorge have been replaced with new EMERGENCY MARKERS by ESTA (Emergency Services and Telecommunications Authority). Of major concern, however, is that the original numbering has been changed. The old (original) numbering is in use in a number of available publications, including two of our own books and in the very popular Lerderderg and Werribee Gorges Meridian map. Walkers using our guides and the Meridian map must not confuse the original numbering with the new numbering. Please download the following PDF which spells out all the changes and even includes the Emergency Markers GPS coordinates: LERDERDERG STATE PARK EMERGENCY MARKERS

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Lerderderg Track (p68)

The Great Dividing Trail is closed (due to the February 2009 bushfires) south of Daylesford between Jubilee Hill and Leonards Hill Road. This is currently effecting about 8km of the trail. Note: There is a bus service running on a 12 month trial between Blackwood and Bacchus Marsh on Fridays. The bus leaves Bacchus Marsh at 2.15pm and arrives in blackwood at 2.50pm. It leaves Blackwood on Friday at 9.05am and gets to Bacchus March at 9.40am. You can connect to both the Melbourne and Ballarat trains.

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Surf Coast Walk (p28)

Most of the walk as described is fairly accurate although there is a bit of confusion resulting in some trail and track realignments on the final section Aireys Inlet (Painkalac Creek) to Moggs Creek on p35. The following is an entirely new description and is accurate as for September 2009.

SPLIT POINT LIGHTHOUSE Continue along the main walking trail which passes the lighthouse keepers cottage and descends down to a toilet block and a turnoff left leading down to the mouth of Painkalak Creek and the lagoon. Cross the creek on the sandbar (usually dry) and walk west along the beach. After 1.4km you will reach the Fairhaven Surf Lifesaving Club and the bitumen road that provides boat launching access to the beach. Walk up the road to the Great Ocean Road where you will find toilets and a V/Line bus stop. Nearby is the Sunset Bar (attached to the lifesaving club). Cross the road with care and walk north along gravelled Yarringa Road. After 450m you will reach Forest Road turnoff. Stay on Yarringa Road for a further 30m to where it hairpins back towards the beach (and becomes Lialeeta Road). At this point a sandy (and soon very eroded) vehicle track heads off left (north) into the bush. It also seems to be a popular bridal path. Follow the track as it winds up through coastal scrub passing some spectacular grass trees. After 770m the track emerges on to the heath at the crest of the ridge at a crossroads. There is a Surf Coast walk sign and another sign pointing the way to Moggs Creek. Follow the track northwest down the hill to Old Coach Road.

OLD COACH ROAD Turn right and walk 200m to turn left into Gentle Annie Track. Walk a further 1km to an intersection of tracks. Turn left and enter the bush at a Parks Victoria gate proclaiming this to be private property but that walkers may enter. The track soon becomes a pleasant walking trail as it descends steadily for 1km through open bushland to emerge at Boyd Avenue (the main gravelled road leading to Moggs Creek Picnic Area). Turn right and walk a further 450m to the picnic area, a lovely quiet spot with picnic tables scattered among the trees. Definitely the place for a gourmet lunch.

Check out the further details on http://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/walkingtracks.htm

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Walks 68 to 73 (Cathedral Range State Park)

Walks 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 (all within the Cathedral Range State Park). The park is closed. Roughly 92% of the Cathedral Range State Park (including the visitor facilities at Sugarloaf Saddle) were burnt by the February 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. Parks Victoria have indicated that the park will be reopened progressively from December 2009.