Three Lost Children Walk

The Three Lost Children Walk is a 6.1 kilometre loop through Wombat State Forest and Hepburn Regional Park, starting and finishing at Jubilee Lake in Daylesford. Most walkers take 1.5 to 2 hours with a dog on lead. The name comes from an 1867 story of three boys who went missing in this forest, and the track passes goldfield relics and a memorial message tree along the way.

The walk

This is the Jubilee Lake loop variant, not the longer 15 to 16 kilometre linear route that runs between Daylesford and Sailors Falls. Expect forest track underfoot, gentle climbs, and uneven sections with roots and rocks. Old mining days left a few unmarked side paths that are easy to wander onto by mistake, and some intersections are not well signposted, so download a map or GPS track before you set off. The loop earns its moderate rating honestly: steady effort, but nothing technical for a healthy dog.

Leash status

Dogs are welcome but must stay on lead at all times. The land sits within Hepburn Regional Park and Wombat State Forest under Forest Fire Management Victoria management, and native wildlife lives in this forest, so control is a condition of access, not a courtesy. The lead also matters for safety: the route crosses Sailors Creek and passes old gold-rush workings, including uncovered mine shafts. Keep your dog close on the narrower sections.

Water and terrain

There is limited water on the track itself, particularly in summer. Bring at least two litres for yourself and extra for your dog, because there is nowhere reliable to refill once you leave the Jubilee Lake car park. Jubilee Lake itself offers a spot for your dog to cool off before or after the loop, even though the track provides little water along the way.

Max: Download the GPS track before you leave. Some intersections out here are not signed, and old mine workings make wrong turns worse than they sound.

Hazards and when to go

Summer heat in this part of Victoria can push past 40 degrees, which is dangerous for dogs on a forest track with limited shade relief in places. Save the loop for a cool morning or late afternoon in the warmer months, and check Parks Victoria for closures in the regional park network before leaving home. In winter the forest is at its best, though expect mud after rain.

Getting there and parking

Start at the Jubilee Lake picnic area, a few minutes drive from the Daylesford town centre along Ballan Road. Parking sits right at the lake, and Jubilee Lake Holiday Park and Cafe is on site if you want coffee before or after. The town's pubs and cafes are close enough to finish the outing properly.

More walks nearby

Tipperary Spring via Blowhole Circuit offers another on-lead forest option in the same park system. For a pub lunch with the dog afterwards, The Farmers Arms Daylesford is a solid stop. More options sit on the Victoria trails list and the Daylesford destination page.

Browse more dog friendly trails across Victoria at pawscapes.com.au/trails/state/vic, and everything nearby at pawscapes.com.au/destinations/daylesford.