Hike at a Glance
Max elevation: 689m
Min elevation: 385m
Total Ascent: 1132m
Hike overview
An overnight hike in the Lerdy
The Lerderderg Northern Circuit is an overnight hike I’ve mapped out that provides a great introduction to the scenic beauty and remote ruggedness of the Lerderderg State Park.
The Lerderderg has a number of excellent ‘official hikes’ from short walks to Grahams Dam to remote and challenging day walks like the Razorback and Ah Know Spurs. There are no official overnight hikes other than the full river traverse so unless you spend some time mapping our a route for an overnight hike, and know the area well, it can be challenging to piece something together.
I’ve had quite a few people asking about overnighters and where a suitable campsite can be found. I you are new to overnight hikes, or are getting your kids into overnight hikes, East Walk to Mine Camp is a great starter as its not overly long or challenging. If you are looking for something longer, more challenging and more remote, I think you might enjoy the Lerderderg Northern Circuit.
The Lerderderg Northern Circuit exposes you to the parks amazing diversity. This includes dry open woodland, one of Lerderderg's deepest tributaries, the deep and spectacular river gorge, scenic Lerderderg River, historic mining ruins and sweeping views.
For anyone looking to undertake this overnight hike, it’s important to note this is is a remote and rugged area of the park. It is extremely difficult for search and rescue teams to evacuate people on foot if you become lost or injured. It is very likely that evacuation by helicopter will be required. So make sure you are well prepared, carry and PLB and let someone know before you go.
Day 1 - 13km
Commencing at the junction of O’Briens Road/Whisky Track, you can complete this hike in either direction. I always prefer to get the hardest day out of the way first so have written this up in an anti-clockwise direction. Day 1 has a number of steep descents and ascents where Day 2 has a gradual ascent from the Lerderderg River back to the trail head. Over the two days you will climb a little over 1,100m.
The trail head
This overnight hike can be accessed from a number of places, O’Briens Road, Mt Blackwood Road, and O’Briens Crossing. Given this overnight hike is approximately 28km, my recommended trail head is O’Briens Road/Whisky Track. This places Mine Camp, the recommended campsite, right in the middle of the walk.
Whisky Track to Whisky Creek
Start this circuit hike by following Whisky Track in a south easterly direction. Whisky Track is a vehicle management track with a locked gate at the entrance. It’s only accessible to walkers and management vehicles so you shouldn’t expect any traffic. Following Whisky Track for around 3.5km, you will pass Champagne Track and Rum Track on your left before arriving at the junction of Whisky Track and Kenworthy Track (on your right). Kenworthy Track follows a steep spur down to the Lerderderg River and if part of an excellent day hike, the Whisky Creek Circuit.
At this junction, Whisky Track becomes Vodka Track. Continue past Kenworthy and continue to walk south along Vodka Track. After around1.5km, the management track comes to an abrupt end and a trail marker (used for one of the Great Dividing Trail walks) indicates the start of your steep descent into Whisky Creek, one of Lerderderg's deepest tributaries. Note: hiking poles will be useful in this section.
On reaching Whisky Creek, take a moment to enjoy this deep and shaded gully as the fun is about to begin. If you need to top up your water at this point, you may be able to find pools of water in the rocky creek bed, as this creek generally only flows after heavy rain. Follow Whisky Creek a short distance downstream (east). Keep an eye out for the trail marker and trail on the right of the creek. If you’ve walked more than 200m, and have gone past the end of the spur, you have gone too far.
Whisky Creek via Square Bottle Track to Razorback Track
The trail now follows a steep spur as you gain 100m in elevation over a distance of around 500m. After the initial steep climb following a narrow foot pad, you will reach a much-welcomed knoll and the start of the well defined Square Bottle Track. You will now follow Square Bottle Track, a vehicle management track, for just under 2km as it gradually ascends towards Mount Blackwood Road.
Razorback Track to the Lerderderg River
Before reaching Mount Blackwood Road, you will intersect Razorback Track to your left. This is another vehicle management track. Turning east, follow Razorback Track across an undulating ridge for approximately 2.5km where you will reach a small knoll and the junction of Razorback North Track. Take the narrow walking track to your left and follow the Razorback North Track for the next 1km as it steeply descends along a narrow spur to the Lerderderg River below.
It's worth descending the entire length of the spur to the river where you’ll find a deep pool that is perfect for a refreshing dip. After spending a bit of time taking in the scenery, you will need to cross the river. As this pool is deep, retrace your steps 5-10 metres to an emergency marker (LER518) follow a short trail that leads from this marker to a more suitable river crossing point. Hiking poles would be useful in this section and even though the river level is generally only 300-400mm deep, I’d expect to get your feet wet.
The Lerderderg River to Mine Camp (the end of Day 1)
After crossing the river, the direction of travel is not always obvious. There is a small sign that points in the direction of Cowan Track, but it is generally just laying around on the rocky riverbank. Your best bet is to look straight ahead as soon as you’ve crossed the river. Locate a rocky outcrop and it will soon become obvious you need to climb up through that.
The climb out of the river is steep and sharp but it won’t be long until the terrain levels out and after around 400m from the river, you should reach the junction of Spanish Onion Track. Ignore this track to your right and continue along what is now called East Walk. After another 500m, you will reach the junction of Cowan Track. Once again, ignore this track on your right and continue along East Walk for approximately 600m towards the entrance to Mine Camp.
To access Mine Camp, keep an eye out for an emergency marker (LER 521) and faint trail on your left. Descend this trail to a flat open area on the river. This is the end of day 1.
Day 2 - 15km
Mine Camp to O'Briens Crossing
After getting the most challenging day out of the way, you can now settle into day 2 of the Lerderderg Northern Circuit. The fist section of day 2 follows what is known as East Walk. You will follow the east bank of the Lerderderg River for approximately 6.5km as it twists and turns, snake like, through the rugged wilderness of this park. This is a rewarding start to the day takes you through some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the park.
The East Walk follows the Lerderderg River upstream to O’Briens Crossing. The trail, which eventually hugs the Lerderderg River, is rough and narrow in places and subject to flood damage, which can sometimes make the path difficult to follow. If in doubt, stay on the east bank of the river, close to the water. Along the way, you'll pass a number of interesting features, including the remains of an old gold mine, with its collapsed adits and mullock heaps; A series of water races, which were used to transport water to the gold mines; A number of beautiful waterholes, perfect for a refreshing swim; The lush rainforest that grows along the riverbanks.
On reaching O’Briens Crossing, take some time to relax in this tranquil setting on the river. There are great places to swim as well as toilet facilities you can use. This used to be a camping area, but this activity is no longer permitted. It is a popular place on weekend for day trippers as it’s accessible by 2WD. There are also a number of walking trails in this area, including the The Tunnel Walk, which follows an old water race through the Lerderderg Gorge.
O’Briens Crossing to Byers Back Track
After enjoying this area, you have two options to connect to Byers Back Track. You can head directly up the spur, past the toilet block, or take the alternate Circuit Track which first follows the Lerderderg River upstream before ascending to Byers Back Track. Its my recommendation you take this alternate approach as it is a lot more scenic and not too much longer (around 500m).
Byers Back Track to Kangaroo Track
Byers Back Track runs high above the Lerderderg River and largely follows old water races which were cut into the mountainside to transfer water from dams or the river to downstream alluvial gold workings where panning for gold would be undertaken. The track is well-maintained and easy to follow, but there are a few sections that are quite steep and challenging. The trail passes through a variety of terrain, including dense forest, open grassland, and rocky outcrops.
Along the way you will cross over a number of 4WD tracks that descend to the Lerderderg River below. The first of these, Ambler Lane, leads to the Lerderderg River and Margarets Corner, a reasonably large campsite on the banks of the river. I wouldn’t recommend this be used for hikers as its accessible by 4WD and can get quite busy and loud.
The second track you will cross is Gribbles Track. This also descends to the Lerderderg River and a really interesting feature called The Tunnel. It is well worth dropping your packs at this junction and taking the short but interesting side trip.
The Tunnel in the Lerderderg State Park is a man-made diversion tunnel that was dug during the Victorian gold rush, most likely between 1855 and 1870. It was used to divert the Lerderderg River around a spur in a horseshoe bend, so that the exposed river bed could be sluiced for alluvial gold. The Tunnel is a significant historical landmark and a reminder of the ingenuity of the early gold miners. It is also a beautiful and scenic spot, and is well worth a visit.
Continuing along Byers Back Track, you will reach Kangaroo Track (approximately 2km from Gribbles Track).
Kangaroo Track to Whisky Track (trail head)
Turning left (south west) at the junction of Byers Back Track and Kangaroo Track you will slowly ascend Kangaroo Track through open woodland back to O’Briens Road. If you wanted to spend a bit more time on Byers back Track, your could continue past Kangaroo Track to Websters Track. Following Websters Track will connect you back to Kangaroo Track and won‘t add a great deal of distance.
On reaching O’Briens Road, turn left (east) and walk an easy 500m along this well maintained gravel road, back to the trail head and your vehicle.
Track grade
Grade 4 (Hard) - Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
Explore safely
Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.
Leave a trip plan
Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Planning checklists
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting there
Getting to the trailhead: Lerderderg State Park.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Accommodation nearby
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Lerderderg State Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.
6 Reviews on “Lerderderg Northern Circuit Hike (28km)”
This was a great hike over 18th/19th April
day 1 logged ~15k
– started solo, though another pair of hikers were hot on my heals on their way to mine camp also
– ascents/descents were tough going, but great scenery once into and through the creek and upon hitting the lerderderg river: loved the razorback section
– creek was empty, but plenty of water in the river
– no snakes or other wildlife encountered
– after reaching mine-camp, no one else was there, so I picked a spot and setup
– within a few hours, there were 8 other tents from a big hiking group that had all wandered over in smaller groups and joined forces so it was pretty much full and every managed to squeeze in
– I arrived around 2pm, and the place was full by 3-4pm, so if you’re concerned about getting a good spot, don’t leave too late (I likely just picked a day that the other unrelated group had also picked)
day 2 logged ~18k
– easy start following the river and then out
– the second half of the day was rough: some steep ascents were tough following the first day
– amazing views of the park after winding through the forest
Thank for the trip summary. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one. Interested to know if you followed the exact same route given you logged 33km which is 5km over what I tracked it at using my SUUNTO GPS. Also amazed to hear there were so many people at Mine Camp. Certainly becoming popular.
Nice hike.
14th and 15th of March 2026
Day 1: 16km logged
– nice scenery and mine camp was a beautiful little camp-site
– no water in Whisky Creek as expected
– water in lerderderg river, slowly flowing. fine to drink after purifying and filtering
– recommended river dip was justttttt doable, very very cold water despite the heat
– next to nobody on the trail
– encountered a huge red bellied black snake on trail. be careful.
– kangaroos hopping around camp overnight but none actually sighted.
Day 2: 17km logged
– much more overgrown.
– busier after O’Brien’s Crossing
– last place to fill water was O’Brien’s Crossing, necessary for what’s to come (on a hot day, which it was)
– Kangaroo Track (final trail back to car) was actually brutal with the heat.
– day 2 was much tougher in my opinion. Possibly due to hot weather, possibly more exposed to sun.
Overall a great hike. If I did it again I’d wait until after a period of rainfall to experience the river properly.
Both days around 30° Celsius.
Also worth noting that Darren’s notes are absolutely elite and thorough. Couldn’t have asked for much more.
Thanks Matt, really appreciate the detailed trip summary. It’s helpful for others planning the circuit, especially the notes on water, the heat exposure on Kangaroo Track, and the overgrowth along East Walk. Was there much impact from the recent bushfire on East Walk, near O’Brien’s Crossing? Good reminder about snakes in that area too. I often see a lot out there, especially near the river. Glad Mine Camp treated you well and that the notes helped.
Lovely walk. Can report as of September 2025 there is so much water in the Lerderderg river it is almost ridiculous. Can swim along most of it. Don’t have to worry about water for the next few months at least! Challenging, definitely go anti-clockwise as directed. Would never attempt it the other way around. Pretty dangerous too at times, so make sure you have good balance and are a very experienced hiker. Lovely! Thanks.
Really glad you enjoyed it and thanks heaps for the update on the current water levels, that super helpful. I do love this walk
Thanks for sharing Darren! I completed this overnight hike yesterday and absolutely loved it. Remote, rugged and change in scenery was spot on. Your notes definitely helped when finding the rock climb towards Spanish Onion Track – a great challenge! I downloaded your GPX file and stayed on route the entire time and my first day was 15km and my second was 17km totalling 32km which was interesting. Challenging time of year to complete it because of the lack of water in the river but carried 4L of fresh and a filtration system as back up and had no trouble.
Thanks again for creating the route!
Side note, I’ve got a blog where I’m uploading photos from overnight hikes and bike packing trips. I’ve completed a couple of routes you’ve posted now and would love to share them with you.
Cheers,
Jordan
Thanks, Jordan! I really appreciate you sharing your experience. Sounds like you had an incredible adventure—glad the notes and GPX helped along the way! That rock climb towards Spanish Onion Track is definitely a fun challenge.
Great effort tackling it this time of year with the low water levels. Carrying 4L plus a filter was a smart move. The total distance you logged is interesting—always good to compare real-world tracking. I have noticed different GPS devices often give different results, even when I’ve carried multiple devices on the same hike.
I’d love to check out your blog and see your photos from the hikes and bikepacking trips. Feel free to email me a link—I’m always keen to see how others experience the trails.
Cheers,
Darren
Oh nice one. I’ve been looking for a decent overnighter in the Lerderderg. Thanks for the write up.
Jesse
Leanne Chalker round 2 when you’re down here? 👀
yep.. overnight here we come 🐍 ⭐️ 🌙 ⛺️
More overnight/two day walks around Aussie Land pls Darren! 🙏🏻👌🏻😎
For anyone looking to undertake this overnight hike, it’s important to note this is is a remote and rugged area of the park. It is extremely difficult for search and rescue teams to evacuate people on foot if you become lost or injured. It is very likely that evacuation by helicopter will be required. So make sure you are well prepared, carry and PLB and let someone know before you go.
Erryn Stephens
I’ve had a few people ask about overnight hikes in the Lerderderg (Vic) lately. As there’s no official ones, they are all short walks to day hikes, I did a reccie this weekend and have written up an overnighter that gives you a good taste of the remoteness, ruggedness and beauty of the Lerdy.
Just a note, this is in one of the most remote areas of the park so good navigation skills are required. It’s not an easy hike so make sure you let someone know before you go and take a note of possible evacuation points and emergency markers.
Darren Edwards Thanks for sharing this 👍😁
Murky Murk my pleasure. It was a fun weekend exploring this one so I could write up decent notes.
Darren Edwards Sweet 👍😁
Darren Edwards Thanks for posting. I’ll be sure to leave a review after I have completed the hike.
Stuart Hislop awesome. Keen to hear what you thought of it. I certainly enjoyed it.
Thanks heaps for this.