Date and time:  9:00am, Saturday 4th June

Description:  The trip winds its way from Daylesford to Castlemaine on forest roads and tracks through heritage rich goldfields.  Leaving Daylesford, we travel on tracks through the Hepburn Regional Park stopping in at the historic Blowhole.  Continuing on we briefly stop at the Swiss-Italian 19th century Lavandula Farm and at Cricket Willow, which are both worth visiting and staying for some time on another occasion?  We then travel through the Dry Diggings State Forest on forest roads before visiting the village of Yandoit for morning tea.  Crossing the Midland Highway, we then travel on forest roads and tracks through the Upper Loddon State Forest to Vaughan Mineral Springs, stopping for lunch and a cleansing mineral water.  We then travel through the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park where we will visit the ruins of the largest water wheel in the world, being the Garfield Waterwheel, the Eureka Reef Walk and other heritage sites.  The Castlemaine Diggings was once the worlds richest shallow alluvial goldfield with the landscape we will travel through being reflective of this history.

The trip is on a Saturday which will allow those that may wish to stay overnight in the heritage towns of Castlemaine or nearby Maldon to further explore the historic goldfield heritage of the area or perhaps a ride on the Goldfields steam rail between Castlemaine and Maldon.  Alternatively, returning to Daylesford there is the very large Daylesford Market on the Sunday from which a ride can be taken on the heritage Daylesford to Musk rail motor.

Daylesford is approached either along the Western Highway via Ballan or the Calder Highway via Woodend. The distance from Melbourne either way is approximately 115 km.

Weather:  This is Victoria, so anything is possible, potentially cold and wet. Bring appropriate clothing and footwear. 

Equipment:  Vehicles need to have low range 4WD capability with good all-terrain tyres and UHF radio equipped . Usual recovery gear is to be carried.

Trip Standard:  Easy to medium

Fuel:  Full tank ex Daylesford

Distance:  Approximately 80km

Duration:  1 day

Convoy limit:  12

vehicles  

Meeting Arrangements:  09:00 at the Daylesford Information Centre, just south of the roundabout at the top of the hill in the main street of Daylesford.

Trip Leaders:  Graeme and Carolyn Allen. Contact Graeme on 0477488434 for any queries