Monday 24th of March, 2025
Leaders: Graham
Trip Participants: Geoff & Peggy, Ramon, Colin & Heather
Our instructions were to meet at a service station and bakery at Kinglake West. By the time some of us had checked out Kinglake, Kinglake East, Kinglake Central and Kinglake West we were a little late for our planned rendezvous. When we had all assembled, we were ready to depart north towards Mt Disappointment State Forest and were glad to leave the gentle waft from a nearby piggery behind.
We entered the Mt Disappointment State Forest via Forest Rd which our maps called Flowerdale Road. Our planned morning tea spot was to be Strath Creek Falls, but we were warned that like an Ikea purchase “some imagination required” as the Creek was dry. Even more imagination was required as the road to the falls was closed, so we couldn’t even see where they would have been. A brief stop beside the track proved fine for morning tea.
We took Murchison Spur Track north to Murchison Gap where we paused at the lookout to take some photos of the Goulburn Valley which a nearby signboard described as the valley of 1000 hills. We didn’t count the hills but there were certainly plenty.
Horan Track took us north into Tallarook State Forest where we made our way to Mt Hickey which has become a telecommunication centre with numerous towers and video surveillance, so we had to be on our best behaviour.
From there we made our way down Mountain Track, an interesting combination of boulders embedded in clay. Plenty of shake, rattle and roll there. This took us to our lunch spot at Freemans Camp & Picnic area. We did a clean-up of much rubbish strewn around the area then we enjoyed lunch.
Falls Road took us to Falls Creek Reservoir (Tineke’s favourite swimming hole) where the surrounds have been upgraded since our last visit. It is a very pleasant spot.
From there we made our way to Strath Creek where the trip ended, and we took ourselves homeward via one of several available routes. Our thanks to Graham for showing us some of his extensive backyard.
Text: Heather
Photos: Colin