Hepburn - Diggings Loop Walk
Diggings Loop Walk is a 2.4km long walk which passes historic gold mining sites including the Blowhole. This artificial diversion tunnel on Sailors Creek was built by gold miners around the early 1870s. A tunnel through the spur was cut to redirect water flow from the original creek line. The soil in the dry creek bed was then sluiced for gold. It is an impressive sight when the creek is in full flow and water spurts out over a rock face to a pool below.
The walk includes multiple viewing points of the Blowhole. There is a view point of the upstream creek and tunnel inlet, another next to the tunnel outlet and another from across the river opposite the tunnel outlet.
The Diggings Loop Walk is located in the Hepburn Regional Park.
There is also a short 700m family-friendly loop Spur Loop Walk in the area.
The Blowhole Area Map
There are no facilities such as picnic tables and toilets.
Getting there
From the Hepburn Springs town centre, drive north and then east along Main Road for about 1.3km. Turn left into Eighteenth Street, and then right after about 1km into Blowhole Road. Blowhole Road is a 0.8km dirt road that leads to the Blowhole carpark. The road is generally suitable for 2WD vehicles.
Walks
Other walks in the area from the car park include:
- The Blowhole (->), only a short 100 m side trip.
- The Spur Loop Walk (->) is a short 700m family-friendly loop.
- Breakneck Gorge (->) is a longer 3.1km one-way walk through the rugged gorge section.
- Bryce's Flat (<-), a 1.7km one-way walk, is a riverside camping and picnic area connected to the Goldfields Track.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash
Review:
An interesting walk with the standout feature being the impressive rock tunnel hand-blasted by miners in the 1800s to divert Sailors Creek. The walk passes the inlet and exit point of the Blowhole.
We did the walk in an anti-clockwise direction which starts from a point with views of the Blowhole exit. The walk passes through an open eucalypt forest and has some inclines but is quite an easy walk. After the initial rise, the track skirts gullies and stays at the same height. There are plenty of coppiced trees which is a sign of previous gold mining in the area and also some mullock heaps. The track, which is rocky in sections, then descends down to the gully floor beside the river. The track then has a steep uphill section with steps. Near the end of the walk the Diggings Loop Walk intersects with the Spur Loop Walk. You can head directly back to the carpark or follow Spur Loop walk for a longer return.
Photos:
Location
Blowhole Road, Hepburn 3461 View Map
Web Links
→ www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/the-blowhole
