Hepburn - Spur Loop Walk
Spur Loop Walk is a 700m family-friendly loop from 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 Spur Loop Walk is located in the Hepburn Regional Park.
There is also a 2.4km long Diggings 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 Diggings Loop Walk (->) is 2.4km long loop and passes historic gold mining sites.
- 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:
The standout feature is the impressive rock tunnel hand-blasted by miners in the 1800s to divert Sailors Creek. The walk starts near the exit point of the Blowhole.
A short walk which initially rises on a rocky path and then crosses to the other side of the river before returning to the Blowhole. Along the river there were a few waterholes when we visited in May.
Part of the walk overlaps the Diggings Loop Walk.
Photos:
Location
Blowhole Road, Hepburn 3461 View Map
Web Links
→ www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/the-blowhole
