Whipstick Loop Walk, Wombat State Forest - March 2021

The Wombat State Forest was looking about as good as it gets this morning. 

I've been thinking about heading up here and checking the Whipstick Loop for awhile, I remember way back in the golden age of bushwalking blogging Mt Fiasco had published his take on this stroll, however up until today apathy has held me back though. I'm thinking of doing the Daylesford to Bacchus Marsh leg of the Great Dividing Trail soon and I've got a rough idea of spending a night in a cottage in Blackwood on that stroll, so I figured that a visit to Blackwood this morning would kill two birds - I could walk the Whipstick Loop and I could suss out a few accommodation options. Oh, there was one more reason I headed up here today, yes this was a Saturday on a long weekend and with the population of Melbourne still desperate to get beyond the ring of steel that had kept us locked in for so many months last year I figured that most of the more popular walking spots in the state would be a bit like of a circus today.

Blackwood was reasonably quiet when I set off this morning.

Thankfully when I arrived in Blackwood this morning the nice little town wasn't yet over run with tourists so it looked like my cunning plan might pay off. After locking the ute and checking out a couple of accommodation options I shuffled out of town and back up the Greendale - Trentham Road for a few hundred metres before branching of right along the Great Dividing Trail up the steepish Cann Street. Now if there are any real bushwalking trainspotters out there then they'll probably be muttering to themselves around now that the Whipstick Walk starts at the Jack Cann Reserve and not in town... and that is true, however a little extra length is alway's a good thing (so I'm told) so I decided walk from town this morning. After Cann Street topped out I dropped down the lesser McLennon Street and followed the GDT markers down to officially reach the Whipstick Track.

The old servo in Blackwood is now the Post Office/General Store. Apart from the Pub and the Caravan Park this was the only commercial operation open in town this morning.

The Tea Rooms look like they are closed.

The walk out of town along the Greendale - Trentham Road was little un-inspiring.

I picked up the GDT track markers when I turned up Cann Street.

Dropping down McLennon Street to meet the Whipstick Walk.

The Wombat State Forest was looking sensational this morning.

Once I'd arrived at the signposted Whipstick Track I turned left and started a fairly long walk south up the Whipstick Creek Valley. Initially the benched track intersected with a 4wd track a couple of times before it entered an area of the Wombat State Forest that was mostly untouched by 4wd tracks, something that is not that common up here in my experience. It wasn't just that scarcity of interacting tracks that I noticed this morning either, the other thing that stood out for me was the wet forest and ferns, in spots it was almost as though I was walking in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne and even at the end of summer the gully still had a bit of water flowing down it. 

Manna Gums on the Whipstick Walk.

Whipstick Walk, Wombat State Forest.

The track was surprisingly well marked and maintained today.

Some of the gullies on the Whipstick Walk are surprisingly lush.

Like I said, lush.

Eventually the track swung over Whipstick Creek and I started my return journey downstream, climbing around the base of a spur I then crossed over German Gully and picked up a water race that I followed downstream. This walk has a lot of old gold mining history and from here on it would be fairly constant as apart from the fact that I was walking a water race there was also the occasion sluicing scar or old mine shaft to check out. I haven't mentioned it yet however I'd jagged a beautiful morning for this walk, so not only was I walking largely deserted tracks through some very nice bush but I was also doing it under a bright blue and sunny sky... life was good.

Whipstick Walk, Wombat State Forest.

Wombat State Forest.

Dropping back down steam the Whipstick Walk follows some old water races.

This type of dry and open forest is more typical of the country up in the Wombat State Forest in my experience.

Approaching Back Creek on the Whispstick Walk.

Just after crossing over Back Creek the Whipstick Walk passes by this deep (fenced) mine shaft.

Arriving at the side track out to the Jack Cann Reserve and the Garden of St Erth I wandered up for a bit of a look. Now while the Whipstick Walk had been pretty well devoid of people (I'd met two couples) I successfully located the crowds at the Garden of St Erth, this spot was heaving with people on this beautiful morning. After perusing the very bucolic Garden of St Erth for a little while I retired back to the nearby Jack Cann Reserve to enjoy a quick break on one of the picnic tables. The Garden of St Erth has a café however if you BYO your own supplies then the Jack Cann Reserve has shade, picnic tables and a toilet which is all you really need I suppose.

The Garden of St Erth.

The Jack Cann Reserve - time for smoko.

The St Erth Humpy at Jack Cann Reserve.

There is another big mine shaft just down from the Jack Cann Reserve - this one isn't fenced off.

Leaving the Jack Cann Reserve I backtracked a few hundred metres to re-join the Whipstick Walk and set off down along Back Creek again (the Whipstick Walk had left Whipstick Creek, crossed a spur and was now following Back Creek). The next section down Back Creek was along another old water race and this was probably the roughest section of today's little stroll with the water race benched into sometimes a very steep hillside. Like Whipstick Creek, Back Creek still had a bit of water flowing down today, something that is a little unusual up here towards the end of summer (even the more major Lerderderg River is normally a series of pools by the end of most summers). After crossing over Back Creek, or maybe it was Whipstick Creek as they had converged by now, I climbed up to meet my outward route and headed back into town. Meandering through town warmed by the sun, beneath the bright blue sky I pondered why I'd never checked out this stroll before, the Whipstick Walk had made for pleasant stroll this morning.

The Whipstick Walk along Back Creek was a little rougher.

The Whipstick Walk above Back Creek.

Following the old water race downstream. 

Whipstick Walk, Wombat State Forest.

Wombat State Forest.

After crossing Back Creek (or is it Whipstick Creek?) the Whipstick Track climbed a little and I completed the circuit part of the walk.

The Dirt.

I walked 9.4 kilometres and climbed 235 metres on this easy stroll. Now to be honest this walk is probably best done starting and finishing at the Jack Cann Reserve and omitting the 1.5 kilometre each way walk out from Blackwood, the Whipstick Walk section was very nice walking indeed - the road bash in and out of Blackwood, not so much. In spots the damp bush along this walk was more reminiscent of the Dandenong Ranges than the drier Goldfields region of Victoria. I used the notes and map out of Mr Tempest's Melbourne's Western Gorges book along with my GPS topos this morning.

Relevant Posts.

Lerderderg East Walk, Lerderderg State Park, 2018.

Byers Back Track & Shaws Lake, Lerderderg State Park, 2018.

Alright... time to head back into Blackwood.

Following the GDT track back into town through the Wombat State Forest.

I dropped down this informal pad instead of walking the Greendale - Trentham Road as I headed back to town.

Blackwood was a lot busier when I arrived back in the early afternoon.

Studley Park Walk - June 2021

Since typing this post up have come out of lockdown #4... and are now in lockdown #5! 

Deep Rock Swimming Hole.

Here's lockdown walk #453276 err, actually I've kinda lost count... you know... fog of war and all that! Officially the media and politicians are saying we are out of lockdown in Melbourne again now, yes tell that to someone who works in the arts industry, works or runs a gym or works in a live music venue... or who wants to travel more than a few kilometres from their front door....Fuuuuck!... Ah.... now that feels a little better. For any of my friends who aren't in Australia then Google the lengths and harshness of the Corona Lockdowns in Melbourne and you'll understand my frustration, but what do you do? With FA of our population vaccinated down here the other options aren't really palatable to most decent people at this time.

It was a cold and grey morning this morning at Studley Park.

Anyway, pushing my Covid bubble pretty well to breaking point this morning I thought that I'd revisit Studley Park and go for another stroll along the Yarra River. The reason Studley Park sneaked onto my radar this morning was that the Yarra River was under a medium flood alert so I was thinking that Dights Falls might be pumping. As is usual on these Corona Walks I hadn't even managed to finish my coffee before I arrived at the start of the walk this morning - those relaxing breakfasts that I use to enjoy as I motored through the countryside on my way to another great walk are but a fading sepia toned memory now!

Around ten metres into this morning stroll I crossed the Yarra River on Kanes Bridge.

Jumping out of the ute into a frigid and foggy morning I reset the GPS and wandered off to see what I could see. Crossing over the Yarra River on Kanes Bridge I picked up a sealed shared path heading downstream. Now while it was reasonably foggy and grey this morning it was more or less dry, the Yarra River was flowing a banka although that was because of some big rain a couple of days ago upstream. Making my way downstream along the good track I soon arrived at the site of the historic Deep Rock Swimming Hole. This spot is the site of one of the original swimming clubs in Melbourne and while a swim wasn't really on my agenda this morning the imposing cliffs on the opposite side of the river always get my attention.

The Yarra River at Studley Park.

Kanes Bridge.

There wasn't a lot of sun around to dry this blokes feathers out.

The Yarra River had broken its banks in a few spots. 

The Yarra River near Studley Park.

Deep Rock Swimming Hole.

After leaving the Deep Rock picnic area I continued along beside the river to cross over Merri Creek and a few minutes later I arrived at Dights Falls. Now as I'd mentioned the main reason that I'd done this walk was to check out Dights Falls with the Yarra River in flood and gazing out over the white churning water I was glad I did. While these falls are only very low, the white water below the falls stretched for 100's of metres downstream, the river also had broken its banks and was starting to engulf the trees on the low lying banks. There is a white water canoe coarse set up here but even these slightly crazy/brave guys and girls weren't risking it this morning.

Approaching Dights Falls the river was backed up a bit.

Dights Falls.

Dights Falls.

Downstream from Dights Falls.

Yes, we are still on masks outside and distance from home restriction here in Melbourne. 

Leaving Dights Falls I continued on downstream following the sealed Main Yarra Trail. My route now got very close to the flooded river in a few spots, actually the brown water was lapping over the path in a few sections along here. After passing by a long graffiti covered concrete retaining wall I passed beneath the substantial Johnston Street bridge, the grey concrete structure looking quite nice in the misty conditions this morning. This section of the walk actually has quite a few interesting things to check out as shortly after passing beneath the Johnston Street bridge I arrived at the Collingwood Children's Farm.

The Yarra River was lapping over the path in a couple of spots.

The Main Yarra Trail.

The Main Yarra Trail.

Winter has arrived in Melbourne.

Johnston Street Bridge.

The Main Yarra Trail basically passes through the middle of the Collingwood Children's Farm and this spot makes for a great spot for a break or a bite to eat in the café. Leaving there café the trail drops slowly back down towards the river again, passing close to the historical Catholic Convent along the way.
Shortly after arriving back down at water level again the Main Yarra Trail arrived at the Collins Footbridge, the trail here crosses over the Yarra River on this high bridge. This is a fairly strait forward crossing if you are on foot, if you are riding the Main Yarra Trail though there are around four flights of steps to lug your bike up, and if you are on an electric assist bike... well I'm thinking this crossing is going to be the hardest thing you'll do all day.

Collingwood Children's Farm.

Collingwood Children's Farm.

The Catholic Convent at the Collingwood Children's Farm.

After passing through the Collingwood Children's Farm the Main Yarra Trail dropped back down top water level again.

I'm thinking that pushing an electric assist bike up these stairs onto the Collins Bridge maybe the hardest this bloke has worked all day.

Once over the Collins Bridge I picked up a more informal path that stayed fairly close to the river again. On the opposite side of the river here is the Carlton & United Brewery, the top of its industrial smoke stack disappearing into the low fog. This section of my stroll was probably the best of the day I think, as after staying close to the water level for a while the benched track started to climb higher up the sides of what is more or less a gorge. After a fairly easy climb that featured many river views, and I'm thinking maybe city views if the fog wasn't down so low, I emerged from the bushland into an empty suburban park beside Wolmer Street.

Collins Footbridge.

After crossing over Collins Bridge I picked up the dirt path that runs close to the river.

The top of the stack at the CUB site across the river was hidden in the fog. 

This section of the walk was arguably the best of the day.

My mornings walk was pretty well coming to its conclusion now. After climbing up through the park and then along Wolmer Street I carefully crossed the fairly busy Studley Park Road near a bus stop before picking up an un-signposted track descending back into the bush behind the bus stop. This track soon dropped me onto the Yarra Boulevard which I immediately crossed over and picked up another un-signed pad that dropped off the boulevard back into the scrub again. A couple of minutes down this rough pad had me back at the ute and heading off for home.

As the track started to climb I got some nice Yarra River views.

After one last climb...

... I emerged from the bush into this suburban park beside Wolmer Street.

I passed by the Villa Alba Museum as I climbed up Wolmer Street.

The Dirt.

According to my GPS I walked around 7 kilometres and climbed about 129 metres this morning. This is a nice urban walk, it is a little hard to believe sometimes that you are only a few kilometres as the crow fly's from the Melbourne CBD. While grey and overcast conditions arguably aren't the best for photos on this stroll keep in mind if you come here on a blue sky and sunny day you won't be alone, so if we are still social distancing then the cold foggy conditions maybe a good thing. Sections of this walk follow the sealed Main Yarra Trail which makes for easy walking, other sections follow some rougher un-sealed walking tracks which are a little tougher, although its all pretty easy really. There is a café at the start of the stroll and another one at the Collingwood Children's Farm about two thirds into it. I used an old set of notes and a mud map out of one of Tyrone Tomas' old books 40 Bushland & Park Walks in Metropolitan Melbourne and even with the book dating back to 2001 it was still accurate. Before leaving home I had a. good look at Google Maps and I also used my GPS topos on the stroll.

Relevant Posts.

Yarra Bend Loop, 2020.

After crossing Studley Park Road I picked up this un-signed track dropping into the bush behind a bus stop.

Crossing over the Yarra Boulevard I dropped down another un-signed track.

Time to head home.