Sunday Bus: Picnic at Hanging Rock - 11 & 15km - Sunday 06 January

The first Sunday walk for 2019 will give us the opportunity to explore the volcanic formations of Hanging Rock and the fables that surround them, and then view them from above on top of Mt Macedon. Enjoying all this with a sense of celebration.

We’ll find the ''hanging rock'' suspended over the summit track and have enough time to scramble over the rock formations and glimpse views of the land below; beautifully framed by the rock. We’ll also do the Base Walk an easy, flat circuit around the perimeter of the rock, a wide dirt track between the gum trees where you can stop to admire how steeply the rock rises from the ground. The longer walk will also walk through and around the racecourse to see an amazing view of the rocks from a distance.

Once we are back at the bottom of the rock, we can unpack our picnic on one of the tables next to the racecourse and watch the many crimson rosellas. As lunch can left on the bus it can be quite extravagant! An hour for lunch also gives you plenty of time to explore the Discovery Centre.

After lunch, the bus takes both groups up to the Memorial Cross on Mt Macedon, The longer walk group heads off to Camels Hump right away, while the shorter walk group gets to explore. We all follow the Western Lookout loop to Camels Hump; a short, steep climb for afternoon tea and a view of Hanging Rock from above. We continue over Mt Macedon Rd and on to Days Picnic Ground. The longer walk group also do the Sanatorium Lake Eco track loop back to Days Picnic ground for the bus pick up.

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DISTANCE(S): 11km and 15km
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TOTAL ASCENT(S): No major hills.
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Melbourne Bushwalkers' Gradings: Easy and Easy/Medium
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MORE DETAILS:
Day Walks by Bus with Melbourne Bushwalkers: https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/walks/MBW_bus_walks.php

Additional walk Preview notes for this activity: https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/2019010601

For details of other Melbourne Bushwalkers activities, including day walks and multi-day trips, visit: https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/MBW_activities_program.php

Please note, registration (membership) on Meetup is not the same as paid-up Membership of MBW. To become a paid-up Member with online booking and other benefits see: https://mbw.org.au/MBW_membership.php

WHAT TO BRING:
A day pack containing:

• Lunch, a morning and afternoon snack.
• Full water bottle - we recommend 2 litres, more in warmer weather.
• An unlined waterproof jacket or cape, waterproof over-trousers (if your jacket is short).
• Whistle, pencil and paper.
• Personal and first aid items, including, sun screen, lip screen, toilet paper, identification, club green Health Card, some money etc. Note: The leader always carries a first aid kit.
• A change of shoes is required on bus and car trips.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:
Your RSVP on MeetUp lets us know who may be interested but does not add you to the booking list.

To book on this walk you must attend in person at our clubroom on either of the two Wednesday evenings before the walk. (From 1st January 2019 we are located at The Mission to Seafarers Victoria, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands. We are open 7:00pm - 8.30pm. If you arrive early enjoy a coffee or wine from the bar and look around this impressive historic building which is open to the public from 11am to 8pm.).

The costs for the walk are $25 bus fare plus $10 visitor fee if you are not a paid-up Member of Melbourne Bushwalkers.