Daylesford to Castlemaine Day Trip
Date and time: 9:00 for 9:30am, Saturday 7 December 2024
Trip Standard: Mostly Easy, with some Medium – mix of gravel forestry roads, some medium rocky tracks and hills and small creek crossings.
Although most of this trek is suitable for AWD vehicles with good clearance, there are a number of hills and muddy sections that are best suited to vehicles with low-range.
This is an easier route in dry conditions. Seasonal closures do not apply to this route. Unless there has been recent flooding the creek crossings are likely to be dry or just trickling.
Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
Description: Easy day to explore Hepburn Regional Park, from the historic town of Daylesford through forest old gold-mining areas, to historic and pretty Castlemaine. From Daylesford we pass through some wet forest, to the Lavandula Lavender farm and cafe (and cricket willow museum). The route follows some lush wet forest tracks, on to Vaughan mineral water springs, where you may be able to pump your own mineral water and the Eureka walk (1.8km), around old gold diggings and aboriginal rock wells. The road goes through a few small creek fords before heading into Castlemaine.
This trip will try to follow Trek 10 of 4wd treks close to Melbourne and is not a validation trip. The club ran this trip last March 2024.
NOTE: Depending on how many signup from RRCV, I might also advertise this trip on my local 4wd club (so will possibly a joint trip with another club), please reach out to the trip leader if you have any questions/concerns.
Weather: Expect possibly warm summertime conditions.
Keep an eye on weather, bring gear as required. The track has a few small creek crossings and maybe muddy after rain.
Trip maybe cancelled by trip leader if weather is not good
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 vehicle with normal road tyres are OK for this trip (All Terrain tyres would be preferred, but not necessary), UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club). After rain the track has a few muddy spots so consider mud tyres if there s rain ahead of the weekend. Recovery gear is not mandatory, but if you have it, bring your standard recovery gear including, rated snatch strap, shackles and a shovel.
Not suitable for All-wheel drive vehicles (as per book)
Additional Equipment required: Compressor as we may air down if there has been recent wet weather.
Morning tea and lunch will be on the road. BYO snack, meal and thermos ‘on the move’.
No camper trailers, pets or firearms
Maps and Reference Material: Trip leader will be using NewTracs and 4wd Treks close to Melbourne book
Fuel: A full tank ex Daylesford. Fuel is available in Daylesford (and at the finish in Castlemaine)
Distance: Daylesford is approximately 132 km from Melbourne. The trip is mostly off-road and a few km of bitumen roads.
Duration: 4-5 hours (depending on walking to sights)
Convoy limit: 8 (with minimum of 4 to proceed)
Meeting arrangements: We will meet at 9:00 at the Visitor Information Centre on Vincent St, Daylesford, and depart at 9.30am. If you plan to get breakfast/coffee beforehand there are plenty of cafes a block or so away. We will aim to finish about mid-afternoon.
Trip Leader: Ledri Argonza, email: ledzargonza @ hotmail.com (preferred), or text/call 0404722372 ,
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.
