Leanganook Summit Walk
Specimen Gully Rd junction – Sutton Grange Rd
This section is walkers-only. Bike riders refer to the previous section.
Start on Salathiel Rd after going under the Calder Freeway. Walk easterly to Harmony Way, be aware of fast moving traffic while carefully crossing the road bridge and then turn left onto McQuillans Rd. Adequate room for parking here makes this a good place to start a return journey day walk of 7.7km to Leanganook’s summit (Mt Alexander). You begin by strolling through farmland, along a sandy road between large, old red gums.
Sharp right over a stile onto a narrow fenced easement across farmland, then a steep zig zag climb up the western flank of Mt Alexander. On top of the spur, you reach Ed’s seat constructed from koala park parts by Ed Butler and a Conservation Volunteers crew, with view west across granite slabs. Immediately north is a track leading 1.3km east to the Leanganook Picnic and Camping Ground, which has fireplaces, a toilet block and vehicle access.
Huge granite tors are a feature of Mt Alexander, with a most impressive cluster at the Dog Rocks. After the prominent rock platform at Langs lookout, you head south-east, the track winding steeply down hill among granite tors capped by large, spreading manna gums and yellow box – a magnificent patch of old growth woodland.
Turning north, you gently descend past fields of pink feldspar-sculpted boulders to meet the Coliban Water Channel. Rock walls line your western flank all the way to the signed gate of the Ballantinia Track at walk’s end.
SUPPLIES & FACILITIES
Supplies at Castlemaine. Camping and toilet on top of Mt Alexander at the Leanganook Picnic and Camping Ground. Vehicle access at McQuillans Rd and the end of the walk and on top of Mt Alexander at the campground and Dog Rocks.
Refer maps 28 - 29 of the Goldfields Track Walk or Ride Guide
New Guidebook Now Available
Click here to purchase.
What you can expect to see
