Tipperary Spring via Blowhole Circuit

This 10 km circuit follows Sailors Creek through Hepburn Regional Park, linking the Tipperary Springs mineral spring with the Blowhole, a tunnel 1850s miners cut through the hillside to divert the creek and work the gold-bearing bend below. Dogs are welcome on lead, but check Parks Victoria before you drive out because storm damage has closed parts of this track network.

The walk

AllTrails logs the full circuit at 10.1 km, moderate, three to three and a half hours, following the creek through old gold workings and water races with the Blowhole viewing platform as the natural turning point. The track is uneven, narrow in places, close to the water and slippery after rain.

Closures to know

Parks Victoria currently has the Twin Bridges to Tipperary Springs track (east side) and the Blowhole to Golden Spring track closed until further notice. Between them they cut into the standard loop, so treat the full circuit as unavailable and plan an out-and-back on whatever section is open; notices sit on the Hepburn Regional Park page.

Leash status

On-lead throughout, as a Parks Victoria regional park rule, and the park is jointly managed with the Dja Dja Wurrung people. Part of the 210 km Goldfields Track runs through here and is shared with mountain bikers, so keep the lead short where the routes join.

Water and hazards

Sailors Creek runs alongside most of the walk, shallow and slow through most stretches, and a hand pump at the Tipperary Springs picnic area pours the effervescent mineral water. Hazards are the creek below the narrow track, slick rock after rain, and gold-era mine workings off-path; koalas, kangaroos and echidnas are common.

Pepsi: Sailors Creek is a friendly first creek for a dog unsure about water. Pick a flat bank rather than the steep cut sections near the Blowhole.

Getting there

Start at the Tipperary Springs picnic area on Tipperary Springs Road, five to ten minutes south of central Daylesford, with free gravel parking, toilets and tables. There is a smaller car park at the Blowhole end.

There is effectively no public transport to the trailhead.

More walks nearby

Three Lost Children Walk is the other Daylesford classic and La Gerche walking trail at Creswick is a solid backup while the Hepburn tracks are shut. In town, The Farmers Arms has a dog-friendly courtyard and Muffins and More does the coffee.

More options are in the Victorian dog friendly trails guide and on the Daylesford destination page.

Go in autumn for the colour or mid-winter when the Blowhole is actually running, and aim for weekdays or before 10am on weekends. Good for big runners with a long morning to spend, once the tracks are open again.