Great Dividing Trail
Encyclopedia
The Great Dividing Trail is a multi-use track through the historical Goldfields region of Victoria
to the north-west and west of Melbourne. The trail passes along the southern most parts of Australia's Great Dividing Range
.
The Great Dividing Trail has four legs, three of which meet at Daylesford
. The trail was primarily intended for hiking, but has proven attractive to mountain bikers
, and is being further developed for that purpose.
As the tracks pass through populated areas, they are suitable for day walks. In total, there are 280 kilometres of walking track.
The tracks are overseen by the Great Dividing Trail Association, a non-profit
, incorporated
organisation.
Lerderderg Track (80 km)
Wallaby Track (92 km)
Dry Diggings Track (55 km)
Leanganook Track (58 km)
There is no particular order in which sections should be completed, and each can be done independently. In addition, each section has several entry points, meaning many different combinations are possible.
Goldfields region of Victoria
The Goldfields region of Victoria is a region commonly used but typically defined in both historical geography and tourism geography .-Description:...
to the north-west and west of Melbourne. The trail passes along the southern most parts of Australia's Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
.
The Great Dividing Trail has four legs, three of which meet at Daylesford
Daylesford, Victoria
Daylesford is a town located in the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia. It is a former goldmining town about 115 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. At the 2006 census, Daylesford had a population of 3,073...
. The trail was primarily intended for hiking, but has proven attractive to mountain bikers
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, and is being further developed for that purpose.
As the tracks pass through populated areas, they are suitable for day walks. In total, there are 280 kilometres of walking track.
The tracks are overseen by the Great Dividing Trail Association, a non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
organisation.
Route
The four sections are as follows:Lerderderg Track (80 km)
- This track runs from Bacchus MarshBacchus Marsh, VictoriaBacchus Marsh is an urban centre and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately west of Melbourne and west of Melton. The population of the urban area is estimated at over 17,000 people, while the central locality is home to 5,566 people...
to Daylesford, through Lerderderg State ParkLerderderg State ParkLerderderg State Park is a 14,250 hectare park located between Bacchus Marsh and Blackwood, an hour's drive from Melbourne, Australia...
, via Mt Blackwood and the township of BlackwoodBlackwood, VictoriaBlackwood is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Lerderderg River, 89 kilometres north west of the state capital, Melbourne. Blackwood is in the Shire of Moorabool Local Government Area and had a population of 235 at the 2006 census....
.
Wallaby Track (92 km)
- Formerly known as Federation Track, it runs from BuninyongBuninyong, VictoriaBuninyong is a place in Victoria, Australia. The town is on the Midland Highway, south of Ballarat on the road to Geelong. It's known locally as the drug smuggling capital of the South West region. Local Dealers are said to import the majority of their cannabis supply from farmers in Durham Lead...
, via BallaratBallarat, VictoriaBallarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, CreswickCreswick, VictoriaCreswick is a town in west-central Victoria, Australia. It is located 18 kilometres north of Ballarat and 129 km northwest of Melbourne, in Shire of Hepburn. It is 430 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census, Creswick had a population of 2,485...
and Mollongghip to Daylesford.
Dry Diggings Track (55 km)
- The first section to be implemented, it runs from CastlemaineCastlemaine, VictoriaCastlemaine is a city in Victoria, Australia, in the Goldfields region of Victoria about 120 kilometres northwest by road from Melbourne, and about 40 kilometres from the major provincial centre of Bendigo. It is the administrative and economic centre of the Shire of Mount Alexander. The...
to Daylesford, via FryerstownFryerstown, VictoriaFryerstown is a small town in the "goldfields" region of Victoria, Australia.At the 2006 Census, Fryerstown and the surrounding area had a population of 476, which peaked at 15,000 during the Victorian gold rush....
, Vaughan Springs and Hepburn Springs.
Leanganook Track (58 km)
- This section runs from Castlemaine to BendigoBendigo, VictoriaBendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
.
There is no particular order in which sections should be completed, and each can be done independently. In addition, each section has several entry points, meaning many different combinations are possible.