Blackwood, Victoria, Australia
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 5km
Dog Friendliness: 9/10
Scenery and Enjoyment: 8/10
Accessibility: 10/10
Overall Score: 9/10
Welcome back to another adventure in our series of dog-friendly hikes, Victoria! Today, Megan, Yuki, and I explored the Whipstick Loop Trail, and this one quickly became a favourite.
Starting the Adventure
Before leaving Melbourne, we made a quick pitstop at South Melbourne Market to gather supplies for our picnic! Armed with fresh sashimi, dips, and a warm baguette, we headed to the trail head. In hindsight, having our feast before the hike might not have been our best plan—we both spent most of the hike dreaming of a siesta!
The Trail Experience
The Whipstick Loop offers an impressive variety of landscapes. The trail begins winding through a beautiful eucalyptus forest, where evidence of past bushfires can be seen in the old trees. These towering giants provided welcome shade throughout our walk, making the summer heat much more bearable.
As we continued on, the scenery transformed dramatically as we descended into German Gully. The austere eucalyptus forest gave way to a lush, almost rainforest-like environment filled with ferns. This contrast in landscapes is one of the things that makes this trail so special.
Toward at the start of the walk, we came across an intriguing cave. While it certainly piqued our curiosity, neither of us was quite brave enough to venture inside. Yuki, on her Roam Wilder Long Line, seemed more than willing to investigate, but we kept to the main trail.
A Touch of History
One of the most fascinating aspects of this trail is how it intertwines with Victoria's gold rush history. Throughout the walk, you'll find signs that tell the story of the miners who once called this area home. Unlike the large commercial operations in places like Ballarat and Bendigo, the mining here in German Gully was done on a smaller scale, often by individual miners or small teams working in incredibly challenging conditions.
The signs along the trail paint a vivid picture of life during the gold rush era. Miners would work these gullies by hand, using basic tools like picks, shovels, and gold pans. They'd often spend weeks or months digging deep into the earth, following promising leads and hoping to strike it rich.
We learned the cave we spotted at the beginning of the walk is actually an old mining adit (a horizontal passage leading into a mine). While we didn't venture inside, it's a tangible reminder of the determination these miners had. These adits were dug by hand, as miners followed gold-bearing quartz reefs into the hillsides.
The Trail Head
One of the highlights of this location is the "Garden of St Erth," a small nursery and café near the trail head. After our walk, we treated ourselves to cold drinks at the café before driving home. The area is also well-equipped with picnic tables and toilets, making it perfect for a day out.
Final Thoughts
The Whipstick Loop Trail really does have it all—beautiful scenery, interesting history, and excellent facilities. The changing landscapes from eucalyptus forest to ferny gullies keep the walk interesting, and the well-maintained trail makes it accessible for various fitness levels.
This one's definitely earned its place among our favourite trails, and we'll certainly be back—though next time, we might save our picnic for after the walk! The combination of great facilities, beautiful surroundings, and interesting historical features makes this a must-visit location for anyone looking for a dog-friendly adventure in Victoria.
