Easy weekend in the Goldfields
Date and time: 9:00am, Saturday 12th October to 4:00pm Sunday 13th October
Trip Standard: Easy in dry conditions – mainly gravel forestry roads and tracks
Description: Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
It is a social weekend trip and its aim is to enjoy a beautiful area of Wombat State Forest, winter weather, charm of Goldfields towns, good food and hot springs (for those who want to spend Sunday’s morning at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa).
As a proper club trip there will be a four-wheel driving component, but fairly easy along unsealed roads and green rated tracks (based on Newtracks rating). That is making the trip a good first outing for those new to off-roading or wishing to take a classic vehicle or try out a new one.
Here are details of the weekend trip:
Day 1 – Saturday
- 9:15 am – 04:30 pm. An easy trek on dirt roads and green rated tracks from Bacchus Marsh via Trentham to Daylesford (approx 81 km) via the following tracks - Blue Gum Track, O’Briens Road, Ambler Lane, Domino Road, South Lyonville Road, Leonard Hill-South Bullarto Road, Specimen Hill Road
- 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Check-in at accommodation
- 6:30 pm – late. Dinner in Daylesford or Hepburn Springs
Day 2 - Sunday
- morning – 12:00 pm. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa https://hepburnbathhouse.com/
- 12:00 pm – 01:00 pm Lunch
- 01:00 pm – 04:30 pm Trek 2 - Wombat Wanderings – an easy trek from Robert Pepper’s book from Daylesford to Blackwood (approx. 30 km)
Weather:
Goldfields region in spring - days can be sunny or cold and wet. Check the weather before departure and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.
It is a dry weather trip so I reserve the right to cancel or postpone it with a one week notice if rain forecasted.
Equipment: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if your vehicle is suitable for a trip, please have a chat with the trip leader.
A well-maintained 4WD vehicle with All Terrain tyres, UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club). Bring your standard recovery gear including rated snatch strap, shackles and a shovel. It is an easy trek, but in winter/ after rain roads can be wet, slippery and with some puddles.
Additional Equipment required: Clothing for wet and cold conditions. Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos).
Camper trailers welcome. Hard accommodation to be booked individually.
Accommodation: Arrangement of accommodation for the night 12/13th October will remain in participants’ discretion. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs offer a variety of hotels, motels and B&Bs. Weather in winter can be unpredictable, so flexible bookings are highly recommended (ideally allowing free cancellation before 9th October).
Meals: Coffee stops will be in the bush – BYO simple morning/ afternoon teas (I believe that everyone will enjoy warm tea or coffee so please consider taking a thermos or a gas stove).
Around lunch time we will be in Trentham (Saturday) and Hepburn Springs/ Daylesford (Sunday). These places offer opportunity to buy some food, or if you prefer you can bring your own lunch a have it in a park/ picking area.
It is a social weekend trip so it would be great to enjoy Saturday’s dinner together – a restaurant (in Daylesford of Hepburn Springs) will be booked once participants have registered for this trip. I will share details once arrangements have been made.
Sunday’s breakfast can be arranged by yourself, at your accommodation or you can grab a breakfast from one of many local cafes and bakeries.
Maps and Reference Material: Meridian Maps Wombat State Forest
Fuel: a full tank ex Bacchus March, fuel available in Daylesford
Distance: Melbourne – Bacchus Marsh (57 km), Bacchus Marsh – Daylesford (81 km of mainly high range driving), Daylesford – Blackwood (30 km of mainly high range driving), Blackwood – Melbourne (88 km) – Total: 256 km
Duration: 2 days
Convoy limit: 8 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: We will depart at 9:15 am from Bacchus March from the front of Baby Black Espresso Bar (10 Church St, Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340). If you plan to get coffee beforehand, then you will need to arrive a little earlier. We will aim to finish on Sunday about 4.30 pm in Blackwood.
Club Guest Registration policy: It is club policy in regard to insurance cover that if a member brings any non-members on the trip they must be registered and have paid the required fee as Temporary Members BEFORE the event.
i.e. non- members can no longer register on the day with the trip leader.
Temporary Membership information and ways to register can be found at:
Temporary (Guest) Membership
Also if a non-member wishes to bring their own vehicle, the member inviting the non-member must contact the trip leader for approval to bring the vehicle. Such approval will take into account skills of the driver, suitability of the vehicle and whether or not a place within the convoy limit is available for a non-member's vehicle.
Trip Leader: Piotr Pecho mobile: 0427 439 908 email: piotr.pecho@gmail.com
