Naturist Mixed Walk, Carrolls Spring & the Upper Werribee River

A very pleasant place for a naturist walk amongst the tall trees of the Wombat State Forest and along the banks of the upper Werribee River, with a short detour to visit and taste the water from the Carrolls Mineral Spring. If it's hot there are waterholes for cooling off.

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Easy to medium 7km circuit walk. Although we mostly walk along the banks of the river there are a few ups and downs where the track climbs over cliff tops beside the river.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: This event is for naturists. Enjoy a naked hike along the banks of the upper reaches of the Werribee River. At times the small track deviates into the open forest to avoid cliffs along the river bank. Along the way we will visit Carrolls Spring, one of the southernmost springs in the Hepburn-Daylesford area. The water flow can be a bit slow but it tastes quite good. Lunch will be on the grassed and shady river bank. If the day is hot we can cool off in one of the river waterholes or where the water cascades over the rocks. (Maybe include a pair of jocks just in case there are campers on the bank near the cascades, hopefully not).

BOOKING: Preferably by Friday 16th February. To register click on Get Tickets.
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MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10.15am for coffee and catch up at the Pergola in the small Community Park at 131 Inglis St, Ballan (the main street). It is next to The Ballan Takeaway shop. The best parking is around the corner in Fisken St. There are a few coffee shops nearby. Toilets are located at the rear of the Community Park. (Optus mobile coverage in Ballan is at times not very good.  If you need to contact us and the phone doesn't work, try a text.)

10.45am Briefing for the day and car pooling to the start of the walk, which is just off the main road to Daylesford. It is 16kms and 15 mins from the meeting place along a bitumen road. The car park is gravel.

MAP REFERENCE: Melway map X911 grid D1 | Google map maps.app.goo.gl/BhNQ5V379caNEAg18. 

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 75kms. Allow 1hr 10mins. Take the Western Highway towards Ballarat. Then take the Ballan exit after about 72 kms.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: V/line train towards Ballarat leaves Southern Cross Railway Station at 8.14am and arrives in Ballan at 9.16am.  The meeting place is 8 mins, 450 m walk from Ballan Railway Station, so you would arrive at the pergola at 9.24am. (Check that there is not bus replacement on the day.)

Even the following train would do. It leaves Southern Cross 1 hour later at 9.14am, and arrives at Ballan at 10.16am, plus 8 mins walk will get you to the meeting place at 10.24am. We will wait for you, but it means you will have less time for coffee. Alternatively send Russell an email to request a lift from Melbourne.

FOOD: Carry lunch, snacks, water/drinks (600ml to 1 litre). A plastic cup to collect and sample the spring water would be handy.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Sunscreen, hat, dark glasses, comfortable walking shoes/boots. (The track is easy to walk on, being mostly padded down earth.) Shorts maybe needed for the first and last 100m of the walk. Jocks would be handy in case there are campers near the cascades. A small towel to dry off after a dip or splash in a waterhole or the cascades.

COST: Free for Nomads financial members, $5 for non-financial members.

AFTER WALK REFRESHMENTS: If you feel like cool drinks, coffee and snacks after the walk we will return to Ballan and meet at the Commercial Hotel at 151 Inglis St, Ballan. After drinks, you can stay on for dinner if you wish. The hotel is now doing meals again after the dining room was closed during Covid and Facebook gives them a pretty good rating for their food.

LEADER: Russell W. | Email LeaderRussellW.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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