BWV Federation Walks Weekend 2015
Walk Information
WALK INFORMATION TEMPLATE
WALK INFORMATION SUMMARY
Submitted by (club, name)
Contact phone numbers
Contact email address
BBC – Rob Berry and Ian Sadler
Rob Berry 03 9844 2660 : 0417 515 707
Ian Sadler 03 9592 3119 : 0403 225 476
Rob Berry: rvberry@gmail.com
Ian Sadler: iansadler2@bigpond.com
Walk Title
Blowhole and Shepherds Flat
Total Uphill
543m
Gradients
Path Quality
Medium – includes short steep sections exceeding 10%,
generally less than 20%
Includes walking tracks through open forest on formed paths
and tracks as well as gravel and sealed vehicle roads. Some
sections are off-track through scrub, elsewhere there are
rough and slippery surfaces and a possible 10m stream
crossing during or after heavy rain.
Walk Grade
M
Walk Length (km)
14.2km
Walk Duration (hrs)
5 hours
Total Walk Duration (hrs)
7 hours
Walk Style
Return
Distance (km) / Time
(hrs:mins) from Base
Distance 2.08km / Time 0:05 minutes from base
WALK INFORMATION TEXT
Introduction
The walk traverses typical Goldfields bushland with varied topography passing a number
of interesting historical features. These include the blowhole, gold diggings,
aqueduct/water race and the home of Australian cricket bat willow.
Getting there
From the base at Hepburn Primary School, turn left into Hepburn-Newstead Road and
continue for 0.7km in a NNE direction. Turn left at Eighteenth Street and follow this road in
a westerly direction for 0.8km. Turn right into Blowhole Road and continue for a further
0.56km to the Blowhole parking area.
Preparations, Precautions & Hazards
Walking tracks and steps may be slippery during or after wet weather. They are steep in
short sections. Some off-track sections will be through moderately thick scrub. Care must
be taken when walking adjacent to the Hepburn-Newstead Road for 1.4km. Good walking
shoes or boots are required and walking poles may be helpful.
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Blowhole and Shepherds Flat Document1
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BWV Federation Walks Weekend 2015
Walk Information
Walk Description
Start the walk at the Blowhole car parking area (GR 446669) and follow the marked Great
Dividing Trail which descends to Sailors Creek. Cross the creek taking care during or after
heavy rain. Turn left after crossing the creek and climb to a junction of four tracks (GR
439671). Take the right-hand vehicle track heading N then NE and from GR 446680 in a N
direction. After 2.9 km pass through an old gate (GR 444695) and walk off-track through
moderately dense scrub passing a deserted stone house on the right 300m after the gate.
A further 500m join Wayman Road, turn right and follow it to the junction with the
Hepburn-Newstead Road. This road may be busy so caution is required when walking
along the grass verge in a NW direction for 1.4km. Leave the sealed road at the Willow
Café and follow the Shepherds Flat-Weroona Road for 1.2km before taking a minor track
(GR 434879) heading S. Continue in a southerly direction off-track along a spur for 450m
before meeting a track. Turn left and follow the track SW and then S for 1.6km keeping a
watchful eye for open mine shafts until joining Basalt Gully Road (GR 429688). Follow the
gravel road for 600m then make a left turn along Boots Gully track with its steady climb for
1.2km in a southerly direction. Head ENE along Blowhole Track for 200m before turning
(GR 433673) ESE along a poorly defined track that does not match the track location
shown on the topo map. After 200m the track becomes more clearly defined. A further
800m returns one to a junction visited earlier in the walk (GR 439671). Take care to
identify the remains of a former water race which meanders along a contour in a SE
direction. Turn left along the track heading SE and then NNE direction to the Blowhole
view site and then return to the car park.
Facilities
There are no facilities on this walk.
Maps
VicmapTopo 1:30 000 A4
7723-3-4-1
GDA94 / MGA Zone 55
Photographs
DSC05771a.jpg Steps descending to creek
DSC05773a.jpg View of Blowhole
DSC05782a.jpg Typical footpath through open woodland
DSC05786a.jpg Off-track through scrub
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Blowhole and Shepherds Flat Document1
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BWV Federation Walks Weekend 2015
Walk Information
WALK INFORMATION GUIDELINES
The walk information is to be entered into the WALK INFORMATION TEMPLATE and will be used
to generate the FedWalks 2015 walk sheets as well as possible entries in Bushwalking Victoria’s
Where2Walk.
NOTE - "Base" is used to designate the FedWalks 2015 base, Hepburn Primary School.
WALK INFORMATION SUMMARY
Submitted by (club - name)
BBC/GDTA - name, e.g. BBC - David Patston
Contact phone numbers
landline / mobile
Contact email address
Walk Title
e.g. Lost Children’s Walk
Total Uphill
Refer to table in Appendix 1 to this document.
Gradients
Refer to table in Appendix 1 to this document.
Path Quality
Refer to table in Appendix 1 to this document.
Walk Grade
e.g. - Easy, Easy/Medium, Medium, Medium/Hard, or Hard.
Refer to Appendix 1 to this document to determine the grade
Walk Length (km)
Length of the walk in kilometres
Walk Duration (hrs)
Total Walk Duration (hrs)
This is the time actually walking, which does not include stops
for meals, or visiting special points of interest.
For walk 'Start & Finish" scheduling, there is a need for total
activity time, i.e. the time from leaving the Base to return to
Base, including all breaks and car driving.
Walk Style
Return, One Way (car shuffle), or Circuit
Distance (km) / Time
(hrs:mins) from Base
This is the distance in kilometres from the Base, or the time
taken to drive from the Base to the start of the walk.
WALK INFORMATION TEXT
Introduction
General description of the area and information of general interest, e.g.: history, geography,
geology, significant features such as forests, lakes, mills, goldmine works, historic buildings or
artifacts, aboriginal history, early settlers, and so on. Indicate.:- the type of terrain eg “Basically flat
with some undulations, in open parkland", or "Some short steep hills in forest" Also include
statement on the type of track:- i.e.the surface could be concrete or bitumen sealed, gravel, or an
unmade dirt track. This should be about 100 words, max. 200.
Example:
The walk takes the Tipperary Walking Track from Tipperary Springs to Central Springs at the
picturesque Lake Daylesford. This is a man-made lake that covers the site of the Wombat Flat
diggings where gold was first officially reported in 1851.The narrow undulating track basically
follows the contours of the steep Sailors Creek valley through foothill forest. There are several
mineral springs you visit en route to sample the waters. After a circuit of the lake walk continues
back to the start of the walk at Tipperary Springs.
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Blowhole and Shepherds Flat Document1
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BWV Federation Walks Weekend 2015
Walk Information
Getting there
Describe the route to be taken from the Base to the start of the walk, and the applicable map
reference of the start point. Also include any car parking location(s) and limitations; i.e. maximum
car parking spaces if limited. This would include any car park closing time and fees.
Example:
From the Base, (Hepburn Primary School), turn right on to Main Road. Follow this road until it
turns right, i.e. South, and becomes C138. Continue on Main Road to Daylesford for about 4 km to
the roundabout at the intersection with the Midland Highway in Daylesford. Turn right and continue
on the Midland Highway for about 1 km until the turnoff to Tipperary Springs Road on the right.
Turn and follow the Tipperary Springs Road to the car park at the end of this road This is the Start
of the walk. (Grid Ref 449638),
Preparations, Precautions & Hazards
Include any significant safety information, equipment needs or hygiene concerns. These may
include: water; clothing; boots; traffic hazards like bikes or motor vehicles on the track/path; toilets
available or not; soil pathogens; hazards like mine shafts, slippery tracks, busy road crossings,
creek or river crossings; wildlife hazards like snakes, leeches, march flies, etc; tricky navigation;
cliffs; ravines; rock climbs; rock scrambles; pack hauls; map shortcomings; seasonal or weather
hazards like snow, ice, heavy rain or high winds. Indicate any prohibited areas near the walk like
restricted water catchments, private or army land. Also include a note if the walk should not be
attempted by inexperienced walkers.
Example:
The walk is on gravel, or concrete, bicycle paths. Boots are not necessary and runners, or sturdy
walking shoes, would be suitable.
or
Some of the bush tracks on this walk are steep and could be slippery if wet. Boots should be worn
on the walk and poles can be useful.
Walk Description
Divide the walk into a number of stages each preferably terminated by a feature or waypoint such
as a track junction, lookout, hill peak, water crossing or similar. In general between 4 and 8 stages
should be enough except for more navigationally challenging walks where more may be needed.
The length of the stages may vary from a few hundred metres to many kilometres depending on
the walk. Include map grid, or GPS references, for the start, intermediate or stage waypoints,
where considered appropriate when navigation is tricky or critical, and the finish of the walk, if not
the same as the start.. Describe the track to be followed in each stage and include any notable
features, views, and items of interest. At track junctions, or key waypoints, indicate the track to be
taken, or direction of travel, by compass point rather than, or in addition to “left” or “right’; e.g.
Ignore the left hand track (west) and take the track heading north-east.
(NOTE:- this walk Description could eventually be used to produce a walk in the BWV
Where2Walk list. The description should be written for a person doing a self-guided walk, hence
the detail required.)
Example:
Start the walk at the Tipperary Springs car park, (Grid Ref 449638), and head in a Southerly
direction down the Tipperary Walking Track. This track follows alongside the Sailors Creek and
after walking about 2 km meets a bridge on the Midland Highway, (Grid Ref 455627). Cross under
the Highway and continue along the track for a further kilometre to Central Spring, (Grid Ref
462625). The track passes Sutton Spring, Wagga Spring, and Hard Hills Spring on this section of
the track. Water may be sampled at these springs...etc.
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Blowhole and Shepherds Flat Document1
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BWV Federation Walks Weekend 2015
Walk Information
Facilities
These could include toilets, picnic areas, barbecue areas and shelters.
Maps
Each walk must include a map. An applicable unmarked map will be provided to each Leader, by
the Fed 15 Documents Team, as an email attachment.
Mark up the map with the walk route, direction of travel, start and finish points, and any important
locations (e.g. view-points) referred to in the walk description. Full guidelines for marking up the
map will also be sent by email.
Photographs (optional)
Please try to provide photographs of points of interest on the walk if you have them, or can obtain
them from others. We would like to have at least one photograph to illustrate each walk, preferably
more. Digital photos are preferred and may be sent as email attachments as per the note at the
end of this document. Please ensure that the walk name and a description of the photos are
included in the email. Hard copy photos are acceptable also and should be sent to as per the note
at the end of this document, with walk information etc.
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NOTE:



Walk leaders, please:complete the WALK INFORMATION TEMPLATE
mark up the MAP of the walk and
prepare any PHOTOS
in accordance with the guidelines, then send them to the FedWalks 2015
Walks Documentation Coordinator, David Patston.
Any material which cannot be sent by email can be sent by post. In this case, please make
sure that maps and photos are clearly labelled with the walk title and your contact details.
David Patston: email: patstons4@optusnet.com.au
post: 1 Dunfield Avenue, Mitcham, VIC, 3132
_____________________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX 1 – Grading of Trips
(extract from ABC of BBC v9.0 2014-02-01)
To ensure members participate in activities appropriate to their capabilities, all trips are graded. The grading is
based on the leader's assessment of the activity, the location and possible environmental conditions expected
at the time of the year. These grades are relative and subjective.
Walk grades
Walks are graded using the criteria shown in the matrix below. The overall walk grading is
determined by the maximum grade for the matrix. However, a hybrid grade may be used at the
discretion of the leader, if no more than 2 of the grading elements are graded higher than the base
grade. E.g. a walk may be graded M/H if no more than 2 of the grading elements are graded H and
the rest are graded M or less.
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Blowhole and Shepherds Flat Document1
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BWV Federation Walks Weekend 2015
Distance Total Uphill
km
Gradients
Walk Information
Steps
Path quality
Occasional
steps
S Less than Less than
10
150m
No steeper than
10% (5.7°).
"Gentle Hills"
E Between Between
10 and 14 150m
and 300m
Generally no
Some steps
steeper than 10%
(5.7°). "Gentle
Hills".
Generally formed Some experience
tracks
required
M Between Between
14 and 20 300m and
600m
May exceed 10% Steps may
for short sections; be common
generally less than
20% (11.3°).
"Short steep hills"
Generally formed Bushwalking
tracks, may be
experience
some rough
recommended
surfaces,
including offtrack in open
forest
H Between Between
20 and 30 600m
and 1500m.
May have arduous May be long
climbs and may
distances
have long steep
using steps
sections greater
than 10%. "Very
Steep".
Rough and rocky
tracks may be
common,
including offtrack through
thick scrub.
Diverse
bushwalking
experience
recommended
Difficult terrain
Special
knowledge &
experience
required.
X More than More than
30
1500m
Well formed
tracks
Experience
Required
No experience
required
The following table shows the general description for the overall grades for a walk.
GRADING
CODE
DESCRIPTION
Short
S
A walk with gentle undulations up to 10km on
well formed tracks.
Easy
E
Gently undulating terrain up to 14 km per day
on formed tracks.
Medium
M
Sustained climbs and/or descents up to
600m. May be some off track. Distances of
less than 20 km per day.
Hard
H
Consistent walking, moderate to hard ups
and downs, medium scrub and forest walking
off and on tracks.
Experienced X
Hard consistent walking in difficult terrain.
Special knowledge and experience required.
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