Brisbane Ranges National Park
SAPLING GULLY
Distance: 12km or 10.1km round walk. Time: 4½/5 hours or 3½/4 hours.
Elevation Gain: Approximately 350m or 300m.
Distance from: Melbourne 71km; Bacchus Marsh 18.4km. Approach Map: Melway 255 E2.
Walking Maps: VMTC Brisbane Ranges National Park, 1:50,000, contoured, 1988; Staughton Vale 1:25,000 (covers almost all
the walk; the Ingliston 1:25,000 sheet covers the northern edge). Geelong CFL Region.
From Bacchus Marsh follow the Geelong road. just before the rail crossing, turn right into the Anakie road, also signposted to
Brisbane Ranges National Park. At a crossroad 8km south of Bacchus Marsh, turn right toward Glenmore, then left after lkm along
Reids Road. Follow this bitumen and gravel road for 8km and turn left into Aeroplane Road. Sapling Gully picnic area is 1.4km
down on the right.
Wildflower garden
Brisbane Ranges National Park is one of the richest wildflower areas in Victoria. Over 400 species have been recorded including a grevillea
which is found only in the Brisbane Ranges. So try do to this walk during the flowering season, which usually extends from June to October.
Red, white and pink common heath makes the earliest appearance. Golden wattle, which in many places completely dominates the scene, should
be seen at its best around the beginning of August. A good wildflower field guide (see Background Reading page 19 ) will enhance this walk,
and also add an hour to its estimated time.
O.Okm Sapling Gully picnic area. Walk along Aeroplane Road, cross the creek and almost immediately bear right along aptly named Red
Ironbark Road. This eucalypt is common throughout the walk and readily identified by its deeply grooved black bark. About 400m up a narrow
valley, bear left along Wattle Track which climbs a narrow spur, lightly timbered with ironbark and grey box. Higher up, young grass trees are
quite plentiful and you first encounter bushy needlewood (commonly known as hakea), a prickly plant with knobby fruit and transformed when
in bloom by masses of white, spidery, scented flowers.
1.7km
At a T-junction, turn left along Possum Track and follow it down, steeply in places, to the upper reaches of Sapling Creek (note that
the tracks in this area are incorrectly shown on the Staughton Vale map). Continue upstream for a short distance, cross the creek and start
climbing through forest of ironbark, box and red stringybark, the bark of which is actually grey on the outside but red underneath.
3.7km
Having reached level ground, turn right into the broad and well made Aeroplane Road. This next section could be a little tedious but
the displays of spike wattle, with leaves to suit its name, are very attractive.
4.5km
Turn left at a cross roads, along Spike Track. This is grass tree country and would be a magnificent sight when the tall creamy flower
spikes are in bloom, usually late spring.
4.8km
Turn right at a minor junction (grid reference 607160 Staughton Vale, but not mapped). For the shorter walk,follow Spike Track
down to Brisbane Track then continue as described below. The next turn is nearly 0.8km further on to the left along Stony Rise Track. This soon
proves to be an undulating route along a slender spur, at least until the highest knob is reached. There are good views, especially southward over
pleasant rural countryside and to the north Mt Blackwood can be seen. Golden wattle thrives on the rocky ground and, during its flowering
season, paints wide sweeps of colour across the slopes.
8.3km
The descent is steep and the T-junction with Brisbane Track, at the foot of the Brisbane Ranges, is soon reached. Turn left and
generally follow the boundary of the National Park. A narrow strip of open forest separates the Park from adjacent pastures. Another species of
eucalypt can now be added to the forest trees seen on the walk so far - yellow gum (or white ironbark) with its typical dark, ridged bark
extending part way up the trunk.
None of the recommended maps show all of the many twists and turns along the track. It is far from straight. Watch for a fine view of the You
Yangs about 1.5km north of the junction with Spike Track (at grid reference 630167 VMTC Brisbane Ranges). Continue along Brisbane Track
and eventually climb steadily to Aeroplane Road.
11.Okm
Turn right and Sapling Gully picnic area is barely lkm further on, and downhill all the way.
1st CENTRAL MOORABBIN SCOUTS
Pioneer Cord
SAPLING GULLY WALK– BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK
Dear Scouts and Parents,
The Pioneer Cord Journey component of the Campcraft badge requires the scouts to walk for a day.
The aim of this walk is to prepare them for the overnight walk required for the Explorer Cord.
To enable the scouts to experience walking with a pack, the scouts are asked to carry a pack or back pack
containing the following items.
1 Litre of water
Lunch
Wet weather coat
Jumper
Hat
Map in plastic Sleeve
Whistle
Compass
Personal First Aid Kit -
Insect Repellent
Sun Cream
Band Aids
Antiseptic Cream
7.5cm Crepe Bandage
Triangular Bandage
3 safety pins
Personal Medication
These items weigh about half the amount that would be carried on an overnight hike.
It is important that scouts wear good, preferably woollen socks and well worn in hike boots or runners.
If you do not have all of these items, it is not necessary for you to go out and purchase them. The group is
able to supply some of the items.
Scouts are to meet at the hall at 9.00 am on Sunday 20th of October and drive via left into Bignall Road,
left into Center Road, right into East Boundary Road over North Road (becomes Murrembeena Rd), left
into Dandenong Road into Kings Way then left onto Westgate Freeway M1, over Westgate Bridge, left
onto Western Ring Road M80. Left into Western Highway M8, through Rockbank and into Bacchus
Marsh. Through main shopping area then left into Grant Street, right around round about just before Rail
crossing into Griffith Street, left into Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Rd (Melways 219, 220), under railway line,
right into Rowseley Exford Road, left into Reids Road –sign to Brisbane Ranges State Park. Left into
Aeroplane Road and travel down dirt road 1.4km to Sapling Gully picnic area on right.
The total distance is approximately 12 km and the walk is expected to take about 4 hours, this includes an
hour lunch break around 12.30 pm at the top of Stony Rise Track..
Scouts after the walk will be dropped home.
A map of the walk is supplied as well as a consent form that must be completed and given to Peter by
Sunday morning. $4.00 is required from each walker to cover some of the transport cost.
Parents may be required to assist with transport and are welcome to also walk.
Peter and Scott will be walking with the scouts. Scott will have his mobile phone 0417118091.
Yours in Scouting
Peter and Scott
Scout Leaders
1st CENTRAL MOORABBIN SCOUTS
SAPLING GULLY WALK– BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st CENTRAL MOORABBIN SCOUTS
SAPLING GULLY WALK– BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK
I ………………………………………. will be attending the Sapling Gully day walk in the Brisbane
Ranges National Park on Sunday 20th of October
I have included the required $4.00.
Parent’s Signature
…………………………………..
1st CENTRAL MOORABBIN SCOUTS
Pioneer Cord
SAPLING GULLY WALK– BRISBANE RANGES NATIONAL PARK
How to get there:Scouts hall left into Bignall Road, leftt into Center Road, right into East Boundary Road over North Road
(becomes Murrembeena Rd), left into Dandenong Road into Kings Way then left onto Westgate Freeway
M1, over Westgate Bridge, left onto Western Ring Road M80. Left into Western Highway M8, through
Rockbank and into Bacchus Marsh. Through main shopping area then left into Grant Street, right around
round about just before Rail crossing into Griffith Street, left into Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Rd (Melways
219, 220), under railway line, right into Rowseley Exford Road, left into Reids Road –sign to Brisbane
Ranges State Park. Left into Aeroplane Road and travel down dirt road 1.4km to Sapling Gully picnic area
on right.
Total distance from home – 90 km..
Time:1½ hours to drive to Sapling Gully picnic area.
Track:Walk along Aeroplane Rd, crossing creek then right into Red Ironbark Rd. Walk about 400m along
flattish ground, crossing three creeks then left into Wattle track. Track climbs reasonably steeply over a
short distance then flattens out on top of ridge to arrive at Possum track after 30 minutes. Left along
Possum track along top of ridge then short steep decline that then flattens out following creek. Cross creek
and another short steep climb to top of ridge then track flattens to Aeroplane Rd. Right along Aeroplane
Rd then left into Spike track then after around 250m opposite a dam, follow track to right over slightly
undulating land to left into Stony Rise track. Track climbs up a few short rises and follows top if ridge,
good views to south then short steep decline over rocky ground, track bends to right with quarry up track
to left. Keep going down then left into Brisbane track that keeps going down to edge of park with pasture.
Track is flat with good views to south and east, cross three creeks, deeply cut, past Mistle Tow track then
track has three short steep climbs then flattens out and right into Aeroplane Rd. Road is downhill all the
way back to Sapling Gully 10 minutes away.
Total distance 12kms.
Left Sapling Gully picnic area at 11.20 am, 12.15 Aeroplane Rd, 1.20pm lunch at 1st creek crossing on
Brisbane Track, 20 minutes lunch. 3.00pm back at car. Walking time – 3hrs 10 minutes.