Bushwalkers' latest walks

Thankfully the new year has brought us some perfect walking weather and members enjoyed a number of wonderful walks in February.

The first excursion was a fabulous walk around Geelong with 11 walkers, led by Pierre and Margaret. We started with a walk along the picturesque foreshore and its many attractions. We then moved on to the Geelong Botanical Gardens, enjoying the magnificent plantings, both old and new. We finished up at the National Wool Museum for a reminder of the major industry of the early white settlers. All attractions are well worth a trip to Geelong.

Our second outing was a History Walk of Melbourne, when 13 walkers had the good fortune of tapping into Keith’s knowledge of early Melbourne, including the

Local Walk

Distance: 7km

Level: Easy

This is a great bush walk, with some spectacular trees in their heights. The track is wide and safe, with no severe gradients. Views are restricted due to tree cover, but, due to recent pine harvesting, about 1km of Barringo Road after leaving Hells Hole track is rather open to the elements.

Directions: From Gisborne, drive up Mount Macedon Road towards the summit. Do not take the road to the memorial cross, but take the next turn right for Days/Sanitorium Lake picnic grounds. This is Barringo Road.

Do not take the left turn to Days picnic ground magnificent buildings from the boom times. Keith is an avid historian of early white settlement with an appreciation of the effect on the First Nation peoples. His many anecdotes made the 1800s period come to life and we all learned many, sometimes humourous, facts about Melbourne. Our favourite part was a visit to the Little Lon area and hearing Keith’s many tales of this once bawdy area. Some walkers completed the day by attending the free concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

If you are interested in joining us on a walk or require further information, please contact Margot on 0438 260 792, or Gail on 0419 374 603. Our website is www.gisbornebwc.org.au.

Janeen Edward but continue along Barringo Road for 1.5km until a left turn indicates Sanitorium Lake. Park off road at this junction; the walk begins from here.

Look for a gate opposite to the lake road indicating Zig Zag track. Follow the track downhill for about 1.3km before reaching a signpost for Hemphills track (Zig Zag track transitions to the Moola track at this point). Walk along Hemphills track for approximately 1.5km; continue past the right turn to Mt Towrong to a cross road.

Link tracks are to the left and right and Hells Hole track is straight on. Walk Hells Hole track until it ends in a junction after about 1.5km. You are now back at Barringo Road. Take the left fork to return to your car.