At Ballarat Allied Health, we love walking…and all the benefits that come from it.
(Check out our blog on these benefits HERE!)
There are so many interesting (and some challenging!) walks around this beautiful city of ours. In the lead up to our Plate Up Ballarat 2019 event, Walk it Off, I’ve decided to list three of my absolute favourite walks in Ballarat.
1) Lake Wendouree
Of course! This stunning highlight of the Ballarat environment is a ‘no-brainer’ in my favourite walks. The story goes that the name Wendouree comes from a local aboriginal word, wendaaree, which means 'go away’. When settler William Cross Yuille asked a local indigenous woman what the name of the swamp was, that was her reply.
With a 6 kilometre track circling the lake, the Steve Moneghetti track, this walk can be done as a whole or in smaller walks. You’ll see wetland birds, grand homes, historic monuments, boat houses, and don’t forget a stroll through the lush Botanical Gardens with its collection of statue busts of Australian Prime Ministers.
See if you can beat Steve Moneghetti’s lap time of 16 minutes and 10 seconds!
2) The Yarrowee track - Peel Street to The Gong Reservoir
This 15km return walk has it all. Beautiful bush tracks, boardwalks, the odd wallaby, under freeway tunnels and so many rabbits!
Walk the entire length or a smaller segment. You could even finish off with a bbq at the Gong reservoir or a frosty one at the Brown Hill Pub!
3) Mount Buninyong - The ZigZag Summit walk
Buninyong is a picturesque little township 15km south east of Ballarat with the extinct scoria cone volcano reaching nearly 750m above sea level.
The trail follows Blackberry Lane to the foot of Mt Buninyong before continuing around the southern side of the crater before ascending Mt Buninyong via the Zigzag Track. Return via the same route, turning north on reaching the crater and return to the Blackberry Lane Picnic Area.
Push the weary thighs one last bit and climb the fire tower to be treated to a stunning view from Mount Buninyong towards Mount Warrenheip when you reach the summit.
