
Dry Diggings Track
Australia’s first National Heritage Park, the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, was created in 2002 in recognition of the place’s association with the Victorian gold rush.
DRY DIGGINGS TRACK ELEVATION
The Dry Diggings Track twists and turns on narrow tracks contouring along steep slopes following water races above streams underhanging Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. This section is not suitable for bikes. From Breakneck Gorge, drop through walls of blackberries to Golden Springs and a track intersection with the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.
The Mt Franklin View Walk/Ride largely follows rough 4WD tracks through forest. Start with a steep pitch to Mannings Rd and first glimpses of Mt Franklin’s distinctive cone. Down to wind around the massive erosion pillars of Beehive Gully. Take a break at the Chocolate Mill, before crossing the highway and continuing down a sandy road. Leave this and regain height lost on a singletrack through box forest next to Tarilta Gorge.
Golden Mountain Walk/Ride starts at Porcupine Ridge Rd. From the ridge, down to follow Browns Gully, then steeply uphill before a sharp drop to Wewak Trk. Brace yourself for a series of twisting, narrow gold rush gullies that descend in stages to Tubal Cain Mine. After a short reprise, long uphill grind to Gurr Trk. Walkers and bikers separate. The last pitch for walkers into Vaughan Springs is very steep and rough, including steps and a narrow water race with a sheer drop.
Cry Joe Walk/Ride starts with a track separation for bikers and walkers. The climb out of the Loddon River is as tortuous as the way down, although involving some rewarding views. From Three Ways Rd, the shared use singletrack goes up and over the old Irishtown gold workings before hitting Fryers Crk flats. Up to the bitumen and the campground in Fryerstown. Undulating track to Spring Gully mines and beyond to contour on a water race around the base of The Monk. Lots of singletrack and rough going. This continues on your winding way along the Poverty Gully water race before hitting suburban Castlemaine. You could bypass Castlemaine to link with the Leanganook Track at Dingo Park Rd (feature pt 37).
What you can expect to see







