Bookings for this event have reached the limit and are now closed. To join the 'waitlist' please email the Leader. Travel by train or car to Castlemaine, and enjoy a day walk in the historic Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park and your BYO picnic lunch. This walk is also a Castlemaine Pride Festival event and is run in conjunction with the local gay men’s social group, ‘The Alluvians’, so it’s an opportunity to meet Castlemaine LGBTIQA+ bushwalkers too.
GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Medium walking - approximately 10 km circuit walk on paths that are at times rocky and steep.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Meeting at 10.31am in the car park of the Castlemaine Railway Station, we introduce ourselves and then car-share with those who have driven from Melbourne or are Castlemaine locals. If insufficient cars, then a Taxi mini bus will be arranged (small shared cost). There are NO lunch shops near the railway station, so you will need to bring your lunch, snacks and water with you.
It is about a 15-minute drive to the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. We leave our cars, admire the ruins of the massive 1887 Garfield Water Wheel, and learn from the information boards the scale of development here.
We commence the walk uphill through the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park and past the remains of many mines, some surprisingly deep. We are heading for the stone-hut ruins of the Welsh Village, and here we will take a break to inspect the remains of a once-thriving community. Continuing to gain height we reach our highest point, the banks of the Expedition Pass Reservoir, the source of water for the waterwheel, and locally known as ‘The Rez’. We will stop for lunch at a suitable spot along the way.
The walk is easier now, returning downhill on the easy Forest Creek Track, and at Chinamans Point Road taking the track back to the Garfield Water Wheel.
We leave the Garfield Water Wheel by about 4pm, and we travel back to the Castlemaine Station where some will board the 4.29pm train to arrive at Southern Cross at 6.24pm, and others drive home.
The Castlemaine Pride Festival is from 18th to 28th April – more details available at castlemainepride.org.au. After the walk you may wish to have a cleansing ale at the Loveshack, a Castlemaine microbrewer, who are hosting 'Beers for Queers' and the festival Finale. Other options include travelling to Castlemaine on Friday 26th and enjoy a Queer band at the Taproom (another local micro-brewer, at The Mill) or on Saturday 27th April, enjoy the Q+ Activation in Mechanics Lane all day, explore the town and join in a PubSing also at The Taproom on Saturday evening. Please contact the leader for accommodation options and Castlemaine Pride discounts.
BOOKING: By Thursday 25th April, and indicate if you are driving to Castlemaine Station or travelling by train. To register click on Get Tickets.
Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
MEETING TIME | LOCATION: Meeting at Castlemaine Railway Station carpark, (intersection of Templeton and Kennedy Streets) at 10.31am. NOTE: You need to bring lunch, snacks and water with you to the Station as there are no food shops near the station and we will not be stopping to buy food or drink during our trip from the Station to Garfield Water Wheel.
MAP REFERENCE: Melway map X909 C6 | Google map maps.app.goo.gl/93kAUPqBE8NUKt4r6.
DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: Castlemaine is about 130 km, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by train or 1hr 30 minutes to drive via the Calder Highway, exiting at the marked B180 turnoff to Castlemaine. .
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: There is a regular ~ hourly train service from Southern Cross Station to Castlemaine (the Bendigo line) that takes about 1 1/2hr.
To join the walk you should depart Southern Cross Station on the 9.06am Bendigo line train, alighting at Castlemaine about 10.31am. The return train departs Castlemaine at 4.49pm and arrives Southern Cross 18.24pm. There is no need to book a seat, and payment is via MyKi card. Capped fares apply on weekends and public holidays if using myki money - $7:20 Full or $3.60 Concession/Seniors.
FOOD: Bring picnic lunch and we suggest you carry snacks and at least 1 litre of water. Note: we will not be stopping in Castlemaine township to buy food or drink.
APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes, jacket, hat and dress according to the Castlemaine (not Melbourne) weather forecast.
Average daily temperatures for Castlemaine in April range from 8 - 21 deg C. You should consult the Castlemaine weather forecast (not Melbourne) a day or two before the event and wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear for walking.
LEADER: Ian G. | Email LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you have any questions.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.
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