Mixed Naturist Walk to the deep Lerderderg River Valley (new date)

This walk is for naturists. Enjoy a clothes free walk into a remote section of the Lerderderg River to find a pleasant waterhole and possible swim, near an old gold mine. A choice of two return routes. A challenging walk 1 km along the river boulders and up a steep return track. Or if you prefer, return on the easier but still steep track used to come in to the river.

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System):

• Option 1: Grade 3: medium to hard 9 km circuit walk on steepish tracks and a 1 km rocky section along the river.
• Option 2: Grade 2: approx 6 km medium walk in and out on the same track, on a reasonably good, but steepish walking track.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: We will meet in Lohs Lane for a short catch up at 10:30am. There is no food or drinks available here, sorry. If you’d like coffee, you will need to get it in Bacchus Marsh which is 20 km and 20 mins before the Lohs Lane meeting place.

Once packed with minimal gear, and sunscreen on exposed skin, we will head off past one country house and the Mt Blackwood summit, 600m above sea level, along a pleasant walking track down towards the river. Once past the house, we can totally strip off, complete our sunscreen application and continue on down to the river. The river is a good spot for lunch and a swim. The group taking the challenging river walk and steep return trip will head off first after lunch. The group returning on the easier route can take off about 45 mins later, so that we can all meet at a track junction on the way home and then all return to the cars together.

AFTERNOON DRINKS AND SNACKS: If we’d like a cool drink or coffee and some snacks after our walk, we can drive back to a hotel in Bacchus Marsh. The particular hotel and address will be advised later.

BOOKING: Preferably by Thursday 13th February. For more details and links to book tickets click on the Learn More button below (the black one)..

MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10.30am in the car park at 89 Lohs Lane, Myrniong, 3341. The car park is at the eastern end and 1 km along Lohs Lane. Lohs Lane is a public road. If you come across a closed wire gate, open the gate, drive through and then close it after you. If the gate is open just leave it open.

MAP REFERENCE: Google map maps.app.goo.gl/Dee8PRkD9xxKi2Es9.

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 81 km, approximately 1 hour 10 minutes via Western Fwy. Once past Bacchus Marsh take the Myrniong exit. At the end of the exit ramp turn right towards Myrniong. After about 1 km turn right onto Mt Blackwood Rd. (The turn is easty to miss as it’s on a sharpish left hand turn!) Turn right into Lohs Lane which is 6.8kms from the start of Mt Blackwood Rd.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: There is no public transport. Contact the leader to see if he can arrange a lift for you.

FOOD: Carry lunch, snacks and a litre of water.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes, sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses. A small towel could be handy if the waterhole is deep enough to swim in. Shorts will be required until we get past the one and only house. The forest is quite thick providing good shade, and is very sheltered from any wind. However the weather can be variable from very hot and sunny, to quite cool. Take contingency clothing as
appropriate.

LEADER: Russell W. | Email LeaderRussellW@nomads.org.au if you have any questions.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.