The Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club invites you to join them on an explore of the Grass trees and Forest Walk, Woowookerung Regional Park, just 7kms from Ballarat. This walk is part of the Try Bushwalking Month, celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Bushwalking Victoria, the peak body representing 60+ bushwalking clubs across Victoria.

This easy 2 hour walk is on both walking tracks and quiet roads on the outskirts of Ballarat near Mt Clear. We climb gently for the first half of the walk, then loop back and down through native forest and pine plantation to the start point. Club members usually stay on for a thermos and snack after the walk.

DISTANCE: 7km Loop walk that will take 2 hrs

WHO IS THIS WALK FOR? This is an easy introductory walk to stretch the legs and also meet members of the club who can explain the types of activities and walks that the club undertake.

CHILDREN AND PETS: This walk is for adults 18 years and over, and due to the nature of the walk, we ask you to leave dogs and other pets at home. Please contact the club directly to inquire about service animals, and any family or pet friendly walks.

AWT GRADE 2 (Easy): Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. AWT Grade information.

PACE: Why hurry when the surrounding bush is lovely? We will go at a comfortable pace

TOTAL ASCENT: 150 m overall, but the main climb at the start of the walk is relatively gentle.

WALK DESCRIPTION:

MEETING POINT: Meet at the playground located at the junction of Hermitage Avenue and Hocking Avenue, Mt Clear. It is located approximately 7 km south of the centre of Ballarat just off the Geelong Road (C 294). Google Map

DIRECTIONS: Take Geelong Road from the Ballarat city centre (C 294) for approx 7 km, turn left into Hocking Av, and the meeting point at the playground is 200 metres on the right.

PHONE SIGNAL: There is mobile coverage for the whole walk.

TOILETS: There are no toilets along the walk, or at the start/finish point. The nearest toilets are at the Mt Clear shopping Centre on the Geelong Road, about 1 km south of the meeting point.

WHAT TO BRING

Mandatory:

Emergency contact form with medical info. Download this form here, or get one from the leader on the day.
1L water
Backpack
Rain/wind jacket (conditions can change along the foreshore quickly and even a simple breeze can feel cold)
Personal first aid kit (your health is your responsibility)
Sun hat/sunscreen

Recommended:

A thermos and snacks for a chat and a cup of tea at the finish

LEADER: Denise is the trip leader. She can be contacted via the club email address - ballaratbwc@yahoo.com. The leader will be in touch in the week prior to the walk with her direct contact details.

EXTRA INFORMATION: Please contact the leader directly if you have any queries.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK: When registering for this event, we ask that you view and agree to our Acknowledgement of Risk.

ABOUT OUR CLUB:

The Ballarat Bushwalking & Outdoor Club has a range of events on week-ends as well as a regular mid week walks that are led by club members. Visitors are always welcome. The website (link below) provides a summary of upcoming activities and if they wish, visitors can register online for more detailed information. Membership of the club is a good way of meeting others who share similar interests and has been a great source of friendships for those new to Ballarat or those wanting to explore outdoor activities with like-minded friends. The club holds a meeting at 7.30 pm on the first Thursday of every month (except January) at the Uniting Care—Sunways Function Room, 1311 Gregory Street, Lake Wendouree 3355. The club night is a social occasion with updates provided on planned activities, and often a guest speaker or presentation is organised. A monthly newsletter, Rat Tales, is emailed to members. Visit our website.

PRIVACY:

Your privacy is important to us. Bushwalking Victoria and its member clubs are committed to safeguarding your personal information and ensuring that your privacy is protected. The personal data we collect from you is used solely for the purpose of facilitating your participation and communicating important details about the event.

Please note that your contact information will be shared with Activity Leaders for the purpose of organising activities. Your information will not be shared with any external parties without your consent, except where required by law, but may be used for follow-up contact regarding your participation in this event.

You can view the BWV Privacy Policy on our website.

Inclusion in Photographs

We encourage participants to take photographs during activities, which may be shared publicly through various channels such as newspapers, magazines, websites and social media. If you do not wish to be included in any photographs, it is your responsibility to inform the photographer and take reasonable steps to avoid being captured in the images.