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"A Living History"
Walking Trails
There are a number of walks for those seeking to appreciate some of the history of the region. If you don't have a map pop into the Visitor Information Centre at 43 Albert Street and pick one up today, or download through the link on this page.
Short Walks
Why not take the time to explore the forest around Creswick by venturing out on some of these suggested easy walks.
Park Lake
Time: 10 - 15 minutes
This is a beautiful lake with two island features, a fountain, and a recently constructed rotunda. Located less than one kilometre from the Post Office at the start of the road to Daylesford (on the left hand side), it is easy to find because it is two hundred metres long and sits only 20 metres from the road.
A walk around this lake can easily be extended by walking up the path on the northern side to a beautiful parkland setting with more than a dozen grass tennis courts and four flexipave tennis courts that are open to the public at all times. There is also a new children's playground and an all weather BBQ facility with two free electric barbeques.
St Georges Lake Waterfall
This spectacular waterfall is located less than two kilometres away from the Creswick Town Hall. Approach from the northern side of Lake St George; travel from the Town Hall east down Water Street, then turn right down Moore St, then left into Lees St and then right into St Georges Lake Road. Less than a kilometre after the bitumen road turns into a dirt track, keep your ears peeled as you wil hear the roar from the waterfall as it is only 70 metres from the road. There is one solitary car park on the right hand side of the track, so it may be best to park back on a wider section of the road closer to Creswick and walk the last three quarters of a km.
The best view of this falls, as seen in this photograph is further around than the viewing platform. For those with more sturdy hiking boots, this is not difficult to find although it is more challenging terrain to get to this vantage point, but manageable for most people.
Landcare Trail
Time: 30 minute loop.
This easy self guided trail interprets land use and ways we can help the land, passing over wetlands, through plantations and grasslands, discovering ways to address landcare problems.
The serene beauty present at the Landcare Lake located next to the Creswick Nursery at the La Gerche Gully
La Gerche Forest Walk
Time: One hour loop.
A self guided walk through the nursery plantations surrounding the Creswick Landcare Centre and La Gerches' original plantings. These trees are now over one hundred years old and tower over the landscape, and were planted by Creswick's first forest bailiff - John La Gerche. It highlights the impacts of mining on the forest and La Gerche's efforts to rehabilitate the land. La Gerche experimented with a diverse range of conifers and deciduous trees from the Northern Hemisphere as well as some Australian natives.
The variety of tree species is both fascinating and picturesque. 1 hour, 2 km loop Landcare trail- is an introduction to general landcare issues including water quality, salinity, revegetation, weeds, conservation, biodiversity and farm forestry. A beautiful mayfly sculpture by Smeaton artist Bronwyn Snow is a recent addition to the walk. Keep a look out for echidna and kangaroo tracks and scratch marks on blue gums from local sugar gliders.
St George's Lake
Time: 40 minute loop.
The gently undulating track around the shore of St Georges Lake is a great place to watch water birds and maybe even catch a glimpse of the elusive Platypus. Wonderful scenery, this is a picturesque walk that will help you enjoy nature and the serenity of this wonderful spot. St Georges Lake is also a great place to start if you decide to venture on to one of the longer walks in the park.
Longer Walks
These longer walks are just a few suggestions to help you explore and enjoy the park. Remember to wear strong shoes and appropriate clothing. Always let someone know before you go.
Eaton's Dam
Time: One hour 45 minutes return.
Walk to the concrete ford on the eastern side of St George's Lake. Follow the track along the water race and through the gate into the Koala Park. Walk through the park and exit on the other side continuing along the water race across Jackass Road to the picnic area at Eaton's Dam. A relic from the gold mining era, Eaton's Dam is an interesting example of early stone and earth construction techniques.
In the early 1930's the dam wall breached (as shown) and the proceeding rush of escaping water seriously flooded the township of Creswick.
Koala Park
Time: 40 minutes to one hour 30 minutes.
Explore the many tracks within Koala Park and make your time here as long or as short as you like. You may even be lucky enough to catch sight of a Koala in the canopy of a Manna Gum, the Koala's favourite food source.
The Koala Park was established in 1941 and had many koalas re housed here. Unfortunately, most of the koalas have migrated, and it is a rarity to see any these days. However, it is a delightful walk amongst the native scrub of the Creswick forest.
The Great Dividing Trail
Time: Four to five hours to Ballarat.
The local section of the Great Dividing Trail takes you on an historical journey through Creswick Regional Park to Ballarat along the same path miners walked a century ago. Follow water races and trails marked by quartz stones, the same stones that the miners used to guide their journeys when travelling at night.
The Great DividingTrail, is a community-planned 260km public walking trail following the top of the Great Dividing Range from Bacchus Marsh to Bendigo, allows recreational walkers and tourists the time to savour central Victoria
Click Here To Download a copy of Parks Victoria Map of Creswick's Bush Walking Trails(pdf file)
