|
Whipstick Loop Walk Blackwood, Victoria |
This is an old walk, we did it some 35 years ago with our then young kids and dogs. Since then, fires have been though parts of the area, changing for a while the landscape and I feel allowing the actual tracks to be upgraded and realigned. We always walked clockwise but the layout now pushes you to do it anticlockwise; not an issue. The track is generally flat with a few, easy ups and downs. A nice toilet block is now placed at the start of the walk. Always a nice touch. |
| Whipstick Loop Walk - Map |
|
|
| Click on map for larger view. |
 |
 |
 |
| Walk Start - 5Km -2 hours | Panel 1, Area and Walk details | Track starts off quite wide and easy to walk on. |
 |
 |
 |
| Looking back at the work area where steps are being put in. | Old mine shaft, a few seen along the track. | |
 |
 |
 |
| Decision Point! Going straight has you going anticlockwise around the loop, the way they want you to go. We usually did it clockwise years ago. | New bridge after the fire. | Great to see Tree Ferns in the area. |
 |
 |
 |
| Tree Ferns | Tree Ferns - winter wet stream | Tree Ferns |
 |
 |
 |
| Follow the signs and you shouldn't go wrong | Burnt area, recovering nicely. | |
 |
 |
 |
| Open forest. | Tall Trees. | Maidenhair Fern - must get a fair amount of rain here. |
 |
 |
 |
| Lush forest | Still easy walking | Tree Ferns over the track. |
 |
 |
 |
| Panel 3 - missed Panel 2. Water Race Details | Parts of the track run along old water races. | Lush bush in the valley leading to tall trees on the ridges. |
 |
 |
 |
| Tall trees on the ridge. | Some lovely orchids on the way. | Fading fast. |
 |
 |
 |
| Remember to follow the signs. | lovely valley floor - so green in summer! | |
 |
 |
 |
| There are a few cross roads along the track | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Recent! Dogs? | Open forest again due to the recent fires. | |
 |
 |
 |
| Track follows road for a very short time. | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Decision Point. Their were a few tracks here, so pick the correct one | That's the left one. | |
 |
 |
 |
| Panel 4. Alluvial Workings. | Bridge, | Lush bush for such dry contry. |
 |
 |
 |
| Panel 5. Wet Sclerophyll Forest. | Walking along the water race is often tricky. | |
 |
 |
 |
| Wonderful, Tree Ferns make a great track to walk along | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Panel 6. Crusher details | Finished steps by the Forest Workers |