Porcupine Ridge Estate is uniquely located on the Dry Diggings walking trail, midway between Castlemaine and Daylesford. We can arrange accommodation meals and provisions for walkers and cyclists. We can also provide secure car parking fo your vehicles and pickup-drop off can be arranged.
The Dry Diggings Track covers 55 km and is an easy three day walk in either direction, through three distinct areas of bush, Ironbark on the Upper Loddon Walk, Box/Stringybark on the Gold Fields Walk and Candlebark/Messmate on the Springs Walk.
As the track ascends the surrounding bush ranges from Ironbark around Eureka in the north to dry box and stringybark to wet, high altitude candlebark and messmate forests at the southern end of the walk.
In late winter, Golden Wattles blooms and during spring, the area is ablaze with wildflowers. The area is home to grey kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas, and birds of many varieties.
Both walkers and mountain bikers will enjoy the distractions of the beautiful and ever-changing scenery; sub-tropical forest one minute, all-natural Aussie bush the next. All taking in an amazing cultural landscape replete with ruins and artifacts of the gold rush days.
Among mountain bikers the Dry Diggings Track is the best known and most commonly ridden section of the Goldfields Track and understandably so. It has some brilliant sections of single-track, as well as plenty of challenging climbs, descents and creek crossings. The diversity of soil types is huge, so you are always paying attention to grip levels.
For mountain bikers the best sections of this 60km Track include the loamy single-track section that begins (if riding from Hepburn Springs) at Porcupine Ridge Road, just to the north of the Porcupine Ridge Estate.
No berms, no tricks, just flow at its best. Another is the Poverty Gully water race that signals you are closing in on Castlemaine. It’s a marvel of gold rush engineering that could have been designed for mountain biking, 120 years before the sport was invented.
Upper Loddon Walk: Vaughan Springs – Castlemaine 17km
This section is extremely rich in mining heritage. It goes past a number of historic mines and through a number of mined and sluiced gullies. It also passes through the historic township of Fryerstown and the former mining towns of Irishtown and Spring Gully.
Walkers are encouraged to leave the Trail and investigate several of the historic mining sites and buildings around Fryerstown and Spring Gully. Please respect the privacy of people who live in many of these buildings.
The section between Castlemaine and The Monk (a large hill with a stunning view) follows the Poverty Gully Water Race through the extensive goldfields of Eureka, Spring Gully and Fryerstown into Castlemaine.
Gold Fields Walk: Mt Franklin – Vaughan Springs* 23km
This section passes through historic goldfields only accessible by walking. It includes a number of often dry gullies. Water must be carried in this area most times of the year, as the first permanent water is found at Vaughan on the Loddon River.
There is no permanent settlement at all once you head north of Mt Franklin, except for Porcupine Ridge Estate. It is a great area for experiencing a quiet, challenging walk through a forested, uninhabited but once thriving mining area.
The walk takes you through a diverse series of historic mining landscapes which have been worked from the first discovery of gold in the 1850s up until recent times, and include the main mineral spring areas of Vaughan, Hepburn and Daylesford.
NOTE: Following severe flooding in late 2010 and early 2011, some parts of the track were damaged. The section of track between Bryces Flat and Hepburn Springs is still officially closed, but the section from Bryces Flat to Daylesford reopened on 30 March 2011. A map with an alternative route between Daylesford and Hepburn Springs is available on request through the Daylesford Visitor Information Centre.
Springs Walk: Daylesford – Mount Franklin 21km
This is a long walk best done in two days. The section from Daylesford to Hepburn Springs follows the existing ‘Tipperary Track’ and passes six mineral springs on the way. Most of the walk is along the bottom of the valley.
NOTE: Due to severe flooding and track damage in this valley in late 2010, the section of track between the Midland Highway near Daylesford and Hepburn Springs (which includes Tipperary Springs, Bryces Flat, the Blowhole and breakneck is officially closed until the track can be repaired and made safe. An alternative route with map is available via the Daylesford Visitor Information Centre.]
From Hepburn Springs the Walk goes up into dry box forest around the old mining settlement of Dry Diggings. It includes a number of significant mine sites either side of the Track, particularly in Beehive Gully.
Once you are on the Midland Highway you can take the 8 km side track to Mt Franklin.
Day/family Walks on the Dry Diggings Track include:
- Any walk between Vaughan and Fryerstown or Fryerstown and Castlemaine and Spring Gully.
- A walk in either direction from Hepburn Springs.
- A walk in either direction from Tipperary Springs or the Blow Hole.
- A walk up Mt Franklin.
See the Hepburn Regional Park & Mt. Franklin Reserve Visitor Guide
Entry points for the Dry Diggings Track are located at:
- Lake Daylesford – on the embankment adjacent to the spillway, access via Central Springs or the cark park near the ‘Boat House’.
- Castlemaine – corner of Forest Street and Wheeler Street, adjacent to the oval, one block from the historic Castlemaine Market.
The GDTA is a non-profit community organisation, with most revenue coming from membership subscriptions and map sales. This is why maps are not available in electronic format on the internet.
If you wish to order, maps please follow the map sales link.
All GDTA maps now cost $7.50 each including postage if purchased via GDTA (PO Box 429 Daylesford 3460 Victoria , Australia).
Maps are also available from the following outlets:
Melbourne
VicInfo, 356 Collins St, Melbourne
DSE Info Centre, 6/8 Nicholson St, East Melbourne;
Melbourne Map Centre 740 Waverley Road, Malvern East, Vic. 3145
Phone : (03) 9569-5472; Fax : (03) 9569-8000; www.melbmap.com.au <http://www.melbmap.com.au> Email: info@melbmap.com.au
Ballarat Visitor Information CentreThe Eureka Centre
Corner Rodier and Eureka Streets
Ballarat 3350
Ph +61 3 5333 1854
Freecall 1800 44 66 33 (within Australia)
Email information@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Bendigo Visitor Information CentreHistoric Post Office
51–67 Pall Mall, Bendigo 3550
Ph +61 3 5444 4445
Freecall 1800 813 153 (within Australia)
Fax +61 3 5444 4447
Email tourism@bendigo.vic.gov.au
Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre
Historic Market Building
44 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine 3450
Ph +61 3 5470 6200
Freecall 1800 171 888 (within Australia only)
Fax +61 3 5471 174
Email visitors@mountalexander.vic.gov.au
Daylesford Visitor Information Centre
98 Vincent Street, Daylesford 3460
Ph +61 3 5321 6123
Fax +61 3 5321 6193
Email visitorinfo@hepburn.vic.gov.au
Blackwood Visitor Information Centre
21 Martin Street, Blackwood 345
Ph +61 3 5368 6525
Fax +61 3 5368 6834
Email ahaack@optusnet.com.au
Public Transport
The regional centres of the Great Dividing Trail can be accessed through Victoria’s regional train and bus network, Vline. Links to the Vline timetables which link the Great Dividing Trails spokes can be found below:
All VLine Timetables
http://www.vlinepassenger.com.au/timetables/
Melbourne -Bacchus – Marsh Ballarat Train service
http://www.vlinepassenger.com.au/timetables/west/vline_mlb_blrat.htm
Melbourne – Castlemaine – Bendigo Train Service
http://www.vlinepassenger.com.au/timetables/north/vline_mlb_bendigo.htm
Melbourne – Woodend – Daylesford Train Bus Service
http://www.vlinepassenger.com.au/timetables/north/vline_mlb_daylesford.htm
Ballarat to Bendigo Bus (one bus each week day via Daylesford and Castlemaine)
http://www.vlinepassenger.com.au/timetables/southwest/vline_glng_bendigo.htm
During the fire season an update on fire affected areas throughout the State can be obtained from the ParkWeb. Click on the bushfire information and then click on Draft Access Reopening Strategy.
Click here to download the Great Dividing Trail Tips & Guidelines brochure.
The ‘Tips’ leaflet has handy tips about food, how to find your way, preparation for walking and safety advice. There’s so much to see and do on the Goldfields Track that you may want some help to plan your trip! Ask us for our assistance and you may wish to stay with us en route.
Castlemaine to Daylesford via Dry Digging trail
