Best walks North of Melbourne (Bendigo/Echucca) ?

[Hallu]

Most of the walks we talk about are either on/near the coast, near Melbourne, or in mountainous regions (Alpine, Grampians etc...). But I've hardly seen any talk about walks near the Murray River at Echucca (Barmah NP for example) or near Bendigo (Greater Bendigo NP).

I've never seen this region (just drove through it many times), and I'm keen on discovering it. Usually books only show walks near towns or near mining relics in that area, how about long day walks in forests, near lakes and rivers, great camping spots etc... ? It also can be near Heathcote, Rushworth, Shepparton, or on the NSW side of the Murray. Thanks for your help.

[wazzawalkin]

Hi,

The Goldfields track offers a few options, http://gdt.org.au/
also,
Victoria’s Goldfield Walks , http://osp.com.au/?p=5509
or,
Have a look at the Park Notes on the Parks Vic web site, parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/greater-bendigo-national-park

Cheers,
Wazza

[peregrinator]

A few places I've walked and camped and enjoyed (but BYO H2O):

1. Terrick Terrick NP, on and off track. Navigate to the higher rocky outcrops.

2. Heathcote-Graytown NP in the vicinity of Mt Black, both on and off track. Only problem is that you may hear occasional distant explosions from Puckapunyal. (But as someone wittily observed in another post here, it's great to know we are preparing for the invading Koreans!)

3. The Kamarooka and Whipstick areas in Greater Bendigo NP. There is a c.19 km route described in J & L Daly's Take a walk in Victoria's National Parks (the Black Rock walk). There are also opportunities to go off track, as well as quite a few minor tracks on which I've never encountered any vehicles.

[Hallu]

Thanks. Yeah my main problem is the car shuffle needed for each of the long walks in Greater Bendigo and Heatcote-Graytown, otherwise it's limited to 2/3 h walks or off-track walking (not very much my thing I must admit). I think what I'll do is squeeze in 3 parks in one week-end, with short walks.

[Gusto]

Walk Bendigo to Ballarat on the Goldfields track. No need for car shuffling, use the Vline trains. If that's too far then start at Castlemaine instead and still use the trains. Or catch the bus to Dalyesford.

There are lots of springs along the way which make for interesting drinking and exotic flatulence.

[wazzawalkin]

The Goldfields track is a great public transport walk.
I used VLine to get to start of the walk and back home from the end of the walk.
http://wazzawalkin.blogspot.com.au/2012 ... track.html

Cheers,
Wazza