Sun, 20th Dec, 2015 Plantation Campground, Grampian State Forest, Vic (waterfalls & lake)

The wind didn’t come during the night. Still 30 degrees when we got up. On the news there are fires near Ballarat. Rang Mum and texted Erica to let them know we were ok. The wind has picked up but as the sun came out we decided to move over under the pine trees to get the van in the shade. Nice view of the Mt Difficult Range.

Headed off to explore. Into Halls Gap (220m elevation) then up the narrow windy Mt Victory Road.  Passed unusual rock formations on the edge of the Wonderland Range.

The wind is a lot stronger up here and lots of branches and leaves are falling on the road. Climbed up to 730m then down to 460m to the turn off to Mackenzie Falls. Skipped the two lookouts as it is too overcast now so the views won’t be too good.

A few spits of rain came down but we decided to do the walk. The Grampians were severely burnt in January 2014 – there are black trunks but most have new green shoots.

Walked down to Cranages Lookout where a plaque tells of the family who lived up here and ran the kiosk.

Took a couple of photos looking down to the top of the falls and the rock formations above it.

Headed down the walkway but then the rain got heavier and a flash of lightning then a roll of thunder sent us scurrying back to the truck. Wet and cold – such a change from dry and hot yesterday!!

Decided to do the walk tomorrow so went for a drive down to Wartook Reservoir which was constructed in 1887 – Victoria’s oldest reservoir. Information about the irrigation system that this reservoir feeds now.

Walked out over the overflow to the wall.

Water rushing through to join the Mackenzie River.

Looking over the reservoir – appears to be an island out there. There is a hut here for the Horsham Angling Club. The clouds are hanging on top of Mt Difficult Range.

Continued along the wall – amazing to think it was built over 100 years ago.

Back down to where the water continues down Mackenzie River.

Down on the overflow area was the information board – why isn’t it up in the carpark? Hard to photograph under the glass cover.

The rain has stopped. Drove down to Smiths Mill Campground on the Mackenzie River. The weir used during the sawmill days here.

Stopped on the other side of the river where we found a broken info board where the single man quarters used to be.

On the other side of the road was an old steam engine.

Back into the campground to find the main info board which was on the wrong side – the ranger came by and he said someone had put it up wrong!!

Using the map we tried to find the other info boards – obviously not worried about any more.

Steve went searching for the jinker – hidden in the bracken fern. He remembers having to pull it out at Woodgate as their block of land was covered in it. Found the chain off the bulldozer.

The jinker was buried so Steve set about clearing the area of the bracken. Then he put the bars back in the correct spot.

The sky has started to clear so we decided to go back to Mackenzie Falls.

As we headed down I realised I was nearly out of battery on my camera so waited till we got to the bottom to take photos.

Great falls, worth the walk down all those stairs.

Huge stepping stones.

Looking up to the lookout we were on earlier.

The river continues down and around the bend.

Crossed back over the stepping stones and then followed the river downstream.

Looking up to another lookout above us.

Looking back upstream – lots of cascading falls as the river tumbles its way downstream.

The track continues on for another kilometre to another waterfall but we decided to turn back. Looking upstream with the main falls in the background.

Started the climb up the stairs (only 520m straight up) as the wind picked up and spray the mist everywhere.

Major Mitchell named the falls but the aborigines named it after the Blackfish.

More stairs!!

Near the top of the falls – looking down on the pool.

The falls cascade over the rocks before falling to the pool below.

Upstream the river is split in two before coming across this flat area.

Up further looking down on the flat area then just the edge of the falls and the pool.

Where the river splits upstream.

Back up to Cranages Lookout – looking further upstream of the river.

Across the gorge to the road where the lady used to call out to the tourist bus to see how many were coming for tea.

Back to the intersection of the walks – the burnt trees regenerating.

140m down to Broken Falls Lookout.

I walked down to the old lookout which was further downstream. Looking back at another falls below the main ones.

Then the water continues downstream to then go over Mackenzie Falls.

Back to the carpark where the Cranages had their kiosk and a 12 seated swing. They moved here from the sawmill they sold to Harold Smith. The pathway down to the falls was built by out of work men during the Depression of the 1930s.

Continued around another walkway to the other lookout.

An echidna waddles by.

No sign on this chimney but we guess it was the old kiosk burnt in the 2014 fire.

Went back to Smiths Mill to follow a dirt road across to Boroka Lookout. Still very windy and now very cold too!! There are two lookouts – the first one gives great views over all the fields.

Lake Fyans in the distance.

Fabulous views over Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield with Mount William Range on the left and Wonderland Range on the right.

Back down the range to Halls Gap then south through town to Lake Bellfield – constructed in 1966. Walked out onto the wall.

Zoomed up onto Wonderland Range – looks a lot like the Blue Mountains.

From the wall looking over the Fyans Valley as Fyans Creek flows down through Halls Gap.

At least they didn’t have to transport the material to build the dam far.

Made it to the other side (850metres – Steve was reading the markers on the wall). The outlet.

Lake and dam wall.

Walked up the steps and around the hill left between the outlet and the spillway.

Zoomed in on Mount William Range in the distance.

Back across the dam wall and up the stairs in the observation tower.

Drove down below the dam wall – the caravan park is here, bit creepy to live right below it. These fellows don’t mind.

Steve spotted a couple of emus as we headed back to Halls Gap.

Nearly back to the campground and we saw two emus walk across the road.

Back to the van where it was only 24 degrees – what a change from yesterday. Bit cool now so we closed up the windows and put on the hot water for a nice hot shower. The wind gusts are still strong but nothing has fallen from the trees other than thousands of pine needles.

Our fridge is happy again but they are forecasting more hot weather by Christmas.