The Wombat Forest 4WD Touring Route starts at Gisborne and takes in the scenic sites of the Wombat State Forest managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). The route is approximately 100 km and will take a full day to complete if you wish to explore some of the
points of interest along the way. The route ends at Ballan. It can also be driven from Ballan to Gisborne. If you have time to spare there are many opportunities to camp in the forest and extend your stay in the Wombat State Forest.
4WD Touring Route – Getting started
Grade: Easy to Medium 100 km full day
Track grade applies to dry conditions. Will become more difficult in wet weather.
From Gisborne take the Gisborne to Bacchus Marsh Road (C704) and travel approximately 11 km. Turn right into Carrolls Lane which joins Finger Post Road and leads you into the forest. Follow the tracks indicated on the map to get to the points of interest.
Points of Interest PoI 1: Firth Park
Firth Park was established by Joseph Firth who in 1881 became the superintendent of the State Nursery at Macedon. In 1890 Firth obtained 100 hectares here, cleared some of the land, dammed the creek and built a small house. He then planted the many exotic trees seen here today. There is a pleasant picnic area, camping and toilets.
Leaving Firth Park the route travels through the forest crossing many creeks and gullies.
PoI 2: Yankee Mine Site
Located beside Yankee Road two kilometres from the junction of North Blackwood Road this old mine site has many relics of the bygone mining era.
PoI 3: Rat Hole Mine
Returning to the main route an interesting drive brings us to Rat Hole Track. On this track is Rat Hole mine, an example of a recently worked mine in the district.
PoI 4: Balt Camp
Balt Camp was built in 1946 to provide accommodation for young refugees from war torn Europe who became forestry workers. The only ruins remaining today are the chimneys and concrete slabs on which the huts were built.
PoI 5: Mt Hope
This is one of the highest points in the forest at 878 metres. There is a trig station here but views are very limited by the surrounding forest.
PoI 6: Werribee River Picnic Area
This pleasant small picnic area is located close to the bridge over the Werribee River. Werribee River Walk
Return 5.1km l 1.25 hours Short steep hills l Formed track, some obstacles Sign posted l Occassional steps Some bushwalking experience recommended
The walk begins at the picnic area and follows the eastern side of Werribee River. A river crossing is required at the northern end of the walk before the walk returns via the western side of the river back to the picnic area.
Wombat Forest 4WD Tour ISSN 1440-2262 FS0125
Places to visit
Leaving the forest
The route leaves the forest at the Daylesford to Ballan Road. From this point you could proceed on to Ballan or to the Western Freeway if you are heading for Melbourne. Alternatively you could travel north to Daylesford.
4WD Touring Here’s some information to help you ‘tread lightly’ in the bush and to help us keep tracks open for your enjoyment. Vehicles may only be driven on open formed roads and vehicle tracks. Stay on the track. Drive your vehicle only on roads that are open to the public. Never “bush bash” or drive on closed roads. Off-road driving is a major cause of erosion and vegetation loss. Off-road driving is illegal and some roads may be closed seasonally for reasons of safety, weather, or to minimise erosion. They are usually signposted or enforced by barriers. Drivers must be licensed and vehicles must be road registered and roadworthy. Remove fallen trees or limbs from roads or report the obstruction to DELWP – don’t create a new track by driving around it.
Forest use guidelines There is no rubbish collection service so please take
your rubbish home.
Dogs are allowed in State forest but must be under direct control at all times and are expected to be on a leash in picnic and camping areas or when near other visitors.
Use toilets where provided. At some sites hand washing facilities and toilet paper may not be supplied. Come prepared.
Campfire safety – Use fireplaces where provided. The fire must be attended at all times by a person with the capacity and means to extinguish it. For solid fuel fires, the ground and airspace within 3m of the outer perimeter of the fire must be clear of flammable material. Ensure the fire is extinguished with water before leaving. If it’s cool to touch it is safe to leave. It is your responsibility to know if a Total Fire Ban is declared. If in doubt, do not light a campfire.
Safety information On Code Red Fire Danger Rating days, parks and
State Forest are closed to the public. Do not enter
parks or forests on Code Red Days. If you are already there when a Code Red day is announced, you should leave the night before or early in the morning. For more information contact DELWP (see below).
Be responsible for your own safety. Be aware of extreme weather events, carry your own first aid kit and let someone know before you go.
Seasonal road closures Some roads within the forest are seasonally closed each year from the Thursday after the Queen’s Birthday holiday through to the Thursday before Melbourne Cup. This is to protect track surfaces and the environment, and for public safety. Road closures may be extended beyond these dates, depending on weather conditions. These closures are enforced by a gate. Contact DELWP for information on road closures.
Join a 4WD club We hope you enjoyed your drive in the Wombat State Forest. Maybe you would like to do more four wheel driving with like-minded folk. If you are available during the week the Offpeak 4WD Club offer day trips, week long camping trips, base camps with daily trips and outback trips. Their meetings are also held during the day. They support the aims of Four Wheel Drive Victoria www.fwdvictoria.org.au and the Four Wheel Drive Victoria Code of Ethics. If you are interested check out their website at www.offpeak4wd.com or contact them on [email protected] for more information.
For more information The Department of Environment, Land, Water &
Planning (DELWP) is responsible for managing Victoria's
State Forest. For further information contact DELWP's
Customer Service Centre 136 186 (TTY: 1800 555
667) or visit DELWP’s website at
http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water
and Planning 2015. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its
officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or
is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all
liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you
relying on any information in this publication.
W O M B A TW O M B A TS T A T E S T A T E
F O R E S TF O R E S T
o2M4Firth Park
W O M B A TW O M B A TS T A T E S T A T E
F O R E S TF O R E S T
L E R D E R D E R GL E R D E R D E R GS T A T ES T A T EP A R KP A R K
Dis til le ry Trk
Finger PostRd
Yankie Mine site
Rat HoleMine site
i Mt Hope
BaltCamp
o4 Werribee RiverPicnic Area
Mt Blackwood
Mt Hope
Campas
pe Riv
er
WerribeeRiver
Lerderderg
RiverS Conroy Rd
Blackwood Ridge Rd
MulcahyRd
Lerderderg
Rd
DiggersTrk
High St
Blackwood
Rd
Ballan
-
Greendale Rd
LynchTrk
HockingRd
SpargoCreek
Rd
Cartons
Rd
Greendale
-Myrniong
Rd
Paradise Rd
Green
hills
Rd
Daylesford -Trentham
Rd
Racec
ourse
Rd
Wheeler
Rd
Kearneys Rd
WestNo5
Trk
NorthBla
ckwoo
dRd
Gibbs Access Rd
Pearsons Rd
FirthRd
Yankee
Rd
Obriens Rd
Possum Trk
ChettleRd
Ashbourne Rd
Countess
Rd
Blighs RdMiller CuttingTrk
Carrolls Trk
Jocks Gully
RdBa
cchus
Marsh
Rd
Gleed
s Lan
e
XlTrk
Domino Rd
Kearc
es
Rd
Back Settlement Rd
ReserveTrk
Darcy
Trk
Nigra
Trk
Western Fwy
Burnt Mill
Rd
Old Melbourne Rd
Rat Hole Trk
BrickhouseRd
Roach
RdFitzgerald Rd
Hell Hole Trk
Pines TrkChase Rd
Taylor RdClarrie Donald Trk
Saggers Trk
Bergs Lane
Binks Rd
Pronk
T rk
Osbo
rneRd
Hickeys Rd
LaCo
te Rd
Falloo
n sRd
Lagoo
n Rd
Pearces Rd
Dehnerts Rd Gisbo rneRd
Cooper Rd
Bol dis
to nRd
Chambers
Rd
Allens Creek Rd
South
Lyonv i
lleRd
Nagle
Lane
Orrs Rd
Developmental Rd
Callaghans Lane
Moorabool West RdMo
rrison
sLan
e
Coffeys Rd
Barhams Rd
Bradys Lane
Amble
rsLan
e
Shuter
Av
Cant illons
Rd
Coles Lane
Flacks Lane Muirs Lane
Pattinsons Lane
Shuter
Lane
MattiesTrk
XlLin
kTr k
Camp
Rd
BobbysLane
BlakevilleRd
Spargo- Blakeville Rd
Mill Rd
Ballan-
DaylesfordRd
MtBlackwood
RdGree
ndale
-Tren
tham
Rd
BluegumTrk
South
Bullart
oRd
Finge
r Post
Rd
Saltwa
terRd
Mt
Wilson
Trk
ReservoirTrk
Horga
nTrk
James
Lane
Waterloo Flat Rd
Billet
T rk
Blackwood
RangesTrk
Ottie
Trk
Germ
an
Trk
Wombat
Creek
Rd
Stockyard Trk
Nolan
Creek
Rd
Burnt
Stable
Trk
Olsen
Trk
StoneHut Lane
BUNDING
BARRYSREEF
COLBROOK
BLAKEVILLE
DALESCREEK
SPARGOCREEK
NEWBURYNORTHBLACKWOOD
KOROBEIT
GREENDALE
TRENTHAM
BLACKWOOD
BULLARTOSOUTH
BULLENGAROOK
KORWEINGUBOORA
0 2 4KilometersWombat State Forest tour
© Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. July 2016Forest Notes Map
FS-0125
To Gisborne
To Bacchus MarshTo Bacchus Marsh
To Daylesford
Main road - SealedMain road - UnsealedMinor road - SealedMinor road - UnsealedTrack - 4 wd
oM2i4
Picnic areaCampgroundToiletsLookout pointWalks