Bald Hill Granite Peak Loop

Granite Peak Loop Walking Track is one of the walks at Bald Hill Reserve, which is located on Mt St Mary's Lane, off Pipers Creek Road, Kyneton,Victoria.

Car parking is limited and there is no toilet at the start/finish of the walks. If I am correct, the reserve is only about 6 km northeast from the town, in which a range of food items can be chosen to please your appetite. 

Attached below is the options for walking at Bald Hill.

 

Bin not provided. Take your rubbish home.

Granite Peak Loop is the walk I did. An enjoyable short walk through an open forest. 

GPS track of Granite Peak Loop at Bald Hill 

Black Hill Ridge Track

Wyperfeld 2025

It was worth a revisit to Hattah North Roadhouse after leaving Hattah-Kulkyne NP. For three days without a shower, I enjoyed a hot shower there. A big thank you. I also had food and a cuppa at the roadhouse before the drive to Wyperfeld NP via Calder Hwy A79 back to Ouyen and Sunraysia Hwy B220 at Lascelles then Hopetoun where there was a signpost to Wyperfeld NP.

 

Hopetoun is the closest service town and it is the last opportunity to top up fuel and get general supplies. The access road to Wonga Camping area in the south is sealed. It was a pleasant drive and the park was full of wild life in the late afternoon. I also noticed the signpost of my planned walks when getting close to the camping area

 

There was a couple who arrived here before me. While I was pitching tent up, the male partner came over inviting me to join their camp fire. 'Plenty of firewood', he said. However, because an unexpected shower occured that evening, I did not join them.

 

There was an opportunity to walk with them in the morning, but I politely declined and thanked them both. They headed for the lookout walk and I tried to get ready for mine with a plan to walk the loop Wonga Camp - Weedy Lake - Meridian Walking Track - Everard Track - Lake Brambruk shore south - Discovery Walking Track - Wonga Campground. Instead, I did just a loop of less than 10.0 km. The aim was to practice with the new GPS Watch that was given to me as a present.

 

Here is the loop walk I did: Wonga Camping area - Weedy Lake (dry) junction of Black Flat Track and Cameron Track - crosscountry heading east then southeast and back to the camp ground. 

I camped on the east side of the shelter in Wonga Camping area. The magpies took a bit of my time in the morning and in the late evening. There were stories about their aggressive behaviour but these were not. It was in late June - freezing in the early morning, sunny and cool during the day (good time for walking), and cold at night.

Discovery Walk via alltrails  Easy, 4 km, 1 hr, loop only

 

The signpost of Discovery Walk can be seen near Wonga Hut and the start of the walk is on the east side of the Wonga camping area. The track is well marked. My neighbours started the walk early. We met on the track and had a quick chat about birds and plants. 

 

Wyperfeld Park (L), Discovery Walk GPS file including side trip to Lake Brambruk (dry)

Followed the markers going clockwise. If you want just a short loop walk, leave the track leading to Lake Brambruk and take the turn to Mt Mattingley lookout in the southwest and get back to the camp ground.

 

 

 

The above right photograph was taken near the junction of Lake Brambruk and Cameron Tracks. There was a seat among the trees on the left of the track if you want to take a break.

 

I continued along Lake Brambruk Track for about 500 m and I reached Cameron Track. There was a water tank here. And a further 400 m, I reached the south side of Lake Brambruk, which was bone dry. I could not tell it had been a lake. The right photo was taken on the return near Lake Brambruk.

 

There were signposts at the junction: retracing your steps or take the foot track (above left) to Mt Mattingley and then continue to the Wonga campground.

 

 

Tyakil Nature Loop  Easy, 4.8 km, 1 hr 20 min, loop

The start of Tyakil walk is about 3.5 km west of Wonga Campground. There is a signpost on Park Road near the Park Office. It can be seen on the drive in and out Wyperfeld Park. The track is also well marked and signposted.

 

 

Tyakil Nature Walk car park. Here's also the start and end of a pack carrying North South Walk via Meridian Walking Track with an overnight camping at Remote Camp, a Walk-In Camp, which is located near Meridian Track and Nine Mile Square Track junction. I myself have done this overnight walk years ago. Will try to find photos when time permitting.

 

After walking north for about 400 m I reached Little Black Flat Track. A further 400 m I arrived at the Meridian WT turn off (Above Left). From here the track turned west for about 1.0 km, then south about 1.0 km crossing Outlet Creek and Little Black Flat Track, at which there were signposts of the track to Lookout Dune in the west, to Cameron Track in the east, and to the car park.

Lookout Dune and back  Easy, 5.1 km, return walk

I did not have time for the Lookout Dune when I was on the Tyakil Nature Loop. Therefore, I drove back to the car park the next day. Walked back to the signposts on Little Black Flat Track and followed the Lookout Dune by taking the left turn heading west.

 

Desert Walk  Easy-Medium, 6.9 km, 2 hrs, loop

 

The start of the Desert Walk is on Nine Mile Square Track and the signpost of Nine Mile Square Track can be seen on Park Road, which is about 4.5 km before Wonga Campground. The turn off from Park Road to the walk start is about 1 km, just after crossing Little Black Flat Track.

 

Take notice of the signpost (above right) that is easy to be missed. It is just about 200 m from the start. By following this sign, you head south on a foot path and walk in a clockwise loop. If you miss it by continuing on, you walk the track anticlockwise.

 

Rather nice spot for a break. So peaceful here and love it.

Kidney Track  Easy-Medium, 8.2 km, loop

 

Located about several kms north of Lake Albacutya. Access via Hopetoun, last service town for fuel and general supplies. From Hopetoun, head west taking the Hopetoun - Yaapeet Road - Wyperfeld Park Road - Park Road (5 km) - turn west along Goslings Road. For safe driving, the last 1 km of Goslings Road is suitable only when weather is dry. 

 

If you look for a basic car camping, Yaapeet Bushland Reserve is the place. There is no need to book a camp site, just turn up and arrange payment via an honesty box: $10 a night ($2.0 for a hot shower for non-camper). I had been here with my walking buddy some years ago. It looks like this campground is a popular place for grey nomads who plan to travel to SA, up North, and/or to WA to escape winter.

 

Ref: Walk 109 Albacutya. BYO water

Book 150 Walks in Victoria by Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close. 

In fact, I did not walk the whole 109 walk. I did just a part of it. My aim was to have an enjoyable time, to see more when I was out there and so I left the 109 walk and took a shortcut track to the Kidneys Track. Then I went 200 m down the Kidneys Track and then crosscountry south to reach the Werrebean Track. From here I followed the Werrebean Track west for about 1.3 km to join back to the Outlet Creek Track. From there, I retraced my steps back to the starting point.

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Hattah Lakes 2025 

Hattah Lakes 2025

Getting there

Hattah-Kulkyne NP is about 450 km from Melbourne CBD off the Calder Hwy (A79), between Ouyen and Mildura. It is 35 km north of Ouyen and 74 km south of Mildura.

 

It took more than 6 hours drive including a stop at Bendigo for dinner. I spent an overnight in tent at Hattah North Roadhouse. PT bus stop is also located here.

 

I had had a plan of pack carrying for 3 days and 2 nights walk, but it was abandoned. There was no pressure of booking campsites; hence, I wanted to take it easy just by doing day walks.

 

Mournpall Lake Loop  9.5 km, about 3 hours.

It starts at the entrance of Lake Mournpall camping area where there is a signpost showing the 9.0 km Mournpall Lake Walk. It is a well-marked track with orange triangle markers.

GPS route taken on the walk and 

the sandy ridge track after crossing Mournpall Track near the start.

 

 North around Lake Konardin

 

However, the last few track markers were not obvious and the foot path became harder to follow. I started the walk late and so I was walking into the sun which got straight into my eyes slowing me down. I was unsure if I had to leave the track beside the dune on the right and follow the lake shore. I had no time to play around. I trusted in the handheld GPS and the compass. 

 

I continued on trying to locate the next orange marker and I was happy to spot a toilet and nearby was a vehicle parked next to a tent. This site was about 200 m east of the camping area entrance, where the lake loop walk started. My car and tent were also right there.  

 

Now, I can understand the comment about the track from one of the park staff I had met outside the park office in the morning, that there could be a bit of the problem to find the markers near the end of the loop walk when the track emerges at the campground.

It was a pleasant evening. I cooked and had dinner in the dark with a head torch on. It was so peaceful here. The satellites reception was good and I was able to send a message to my contact via phone after the meal. 

 

My neighbour, a couple, who travelled with their Vista camper, were from Geelong and I was welcomed to look at its internal built in the morning before they left for the drive to Lake Hattah, which is about 10 km south of Lake Mournpall.

 

A side trip to check out the area for a plan of future walks.

I arrived at Lake Hattah camping area too early, hence, I could not find a reasonable camping spot. All shelter sites for vehicles with small tents were still occupied. Hattah camping area was rather busy and it was less wild compared to Lake Mournpall. A few visitors were cooking their breakfasts.  Few others showed their interest in bird watching.  There were a few vans near the lake side, but my previous neighbours' Vista was not seen here.

 

Finally, I found a spot.  After having tent up, checking the day pack for the walk and eating breakfast, I set out for Bugle Ridge and Brockie Tks Loop Walk.

 

The start of the track is between Little Hattah Lake in the north and Lake Hattah in the south.  There is a signpost of the Bugle Track.

 

  

A rather nice start of the Bugle Track.

The rest of the Bugle track is mostly sandy. In fact, the Bugle and Brokie loop walk was on a vehicle track, Authority Vehicle Only (AVO). I was unwell on this day; therefore, I was rather slow and kept to the track. If you have the time and are well equipped with navigation gear such as a handheld GPS (AA lithium batteries), a mobile phone with pre-loaded maps and tracks for offline use (and only turn the phone on when I really need it), etc., there are some opportunities for off track walking included: 

1/ that starts from the junction of the Brockie Walking Track and Nip Nip Track, and

2/ Off the Brockie Track after the Hattah Nature Drive junction by following the Lake Hattah shore in the south.

 

 

 GPS route of the Bugle and Brockie Tracks Loop  

 

 

 Lake Hattah from the lake south. Birders would love it.

 

Having felt unwelI, I did not stop to watch the local birds. I tried to get back early to reunite with the tent and the car. The sunset show put on in the late afternoon was not bad. It was windy and cool in the evening, chilly at night, and freezing in the early morning. I did not sleep well that night if memory serves me correctly.