WALKING THE GOLDFIELDS GDT)

[rocketrm2]

It had been years since I had done any hiking. I was blessed with a beautiful boy child who took a liking to "expeditions" 5 km now 10 km hikes. His school principle is impressed by his intelligence, she asked about how I fostered the growth of intelligence. I said hiking is one, he can read maps use a compass etc.

But anyway after several short day hikes , I thought it was time to see if I was up to doing long hikes solo. Using the The Great Divide Trail guide, did in a day the 28 km Ballarat to Creswick section enough to consider cancelling pre admission bookings to nursing homes.
Its time get the overnight hiking act back on the road.

Got the train to Castlemaine, nice ride, on time and all.
Hit the GDT, avoiding the eateries of Castlemiane, cruised up to the Monk, being Spring, lots of green grass and wild flowers. The track wound thru old diggings, gullies one or 2 hamlets, before reaching Vaughan Springs.
Vaughan is a delight, grassy flats the Loddon river, Mineral Springs and no camping signs, (even tho the GDT lists it as a designated camp spot) but no one around camped and cooked. Nearly 20 kms that day, slept well. Next day 28 km ahead of me, thru "Dry Diggings". Nice walking history all round along with the regeneration of the land after the mass destruction of the Gold Rush.

Staggered into Hepburn Springs to the cafe had closed for the day missing out on that cold beer. Can I camp here? No answer in the GDT book, did not see any "No Camping" signs. so with difficulty found a secluded piece of lawn to put up the tent, slept well.

Hit the Tipperary Track to Daylesford, delightful hiking along the river thru lush bushland, got to to Lake Daylesford, only to find that the lakeside cafe was in the process of reconstruction, hence missed another planned cold one. Was buggered now staggered up to Daylesford, Stella, latte, ice cream spirits restored bus train back to Melbourne. A hiker born again!

Saw about 5 people on the whole trail no of them hikers

[walk2wineries]

Excellent! Love to do the 3 days as a supported walk if any of the vendors offered it, not into carrying tents and stuff that far. The Hepburn to Daylesford is a great day walk since a million dollar footpath has been placed - the Tipperary is sort of c-shaped and the 5km footpath closes the loop.