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Length: 11.6km
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Duration: 3hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Hepburn Primary School
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End: Hepburn Primary School
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Location: Hepburn Regional Park
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Closest Town: Hepburn Springs
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Distance from CBD: 112km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.309321
Longitude: 144.132589
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Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...



Hepburn Regional Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
The Jacksons Lookout and Breakneck Gorge circuit commences at the Hepburn Primary School. Turn left into Hepburn-Newstead Road and continue for 700 m to Eighteenth Street. Turn left and follow this road for 800 m and turn right into Blowhole Road.
Continue for a further 600m to the Blowhole. Descend steps for 100 m to view the Blowhole, and then retrace steps back to the track. Follow the marked Great Dividing Trail (GDT) for about 300m to the Diggings Track on the right. Continue on this track for 2.5 km as it winds north-east alongside Sailors Creek, finally swinging south-east along Spring Creek to meet Hepburn-Newstead Road and Breakneck Gorge.
Turn left (north) and walk across the gorge via the road bridge. Cross over the road and after about 100m turn right onto a track that follows Spring Creek (signposted Golden Spring 2.2 km 40 mins). Continue on this track south-east for 1.7 km, follow the GDT track uphill and cross the 4WD track, then follow GDT signposts to the lookout tower. Continue east for about 1 km to meet the Dry Diggings Track.
Turn right and head south on the Dry Diggings Track for 300m and cross Back Hepburn Road. Take the right track up to Jacksons Lookout and ascend the steps for views over the surrounding area. Descend steps and retrace walk back to continue south on the Dry Diggings Track, which, after an east then south-west loop over a creek, turns west for about 1.7 km to the end of a car park at (Sulphur Spring). Walk through the car park to Mineral Springs Crescent and turn left.
Continue on this road as it swings from north to south and climbs to a T junction with Main Road. Turn right and walk along the footpath of Main Road for 700 m to the base (Hepburn Primary school) and the end of the walk.
About the region
The Blowhole is an artificial diversion tunnel on Sailors Creek, built by gold miners around the early 1870s. A tunnel through the spur was cut to redirect water flow from the original creek line. The soil in the dry creek bed was then sluiced for gold. It is now an impressive sight when the creek is in full flow.
A single file track along the Great Dividing Trail (GDT) leads us to Breakneck Gorge. Continuing on the GDT to the Dry Diggings Track there is the optional detour to Jacksons Lookout before continuing on to the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.
Getting there
From Melbourne head west via the M1, M80 and the Western Freeway/Highway (M8) and take the C141 exit, turning north to Daylesford. Proceed north through Daylesford on Main Road to Hepburn Springs and turn left onto Hepburn-Newstead Road for600 m to Fourteenth Street. Turn left into Fourteenth Street and park near the Hepburn Primary School.
Tips
- Stay on the walking tracks to avoid mineshafts.
GPX File
Max elevation: 531 m
Min elevation: 400 m
Total climbing: 326 m
Total descent: -326 m
Hikes Nearby
19 thoughts on “Jacksons Lookout and Breakneck Gorge (11.6km)”
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Great walk with a moderate amount of effort required. It starts and ends in the town of Hepburn (at the primary school) which gives you a chance to explore the town which was nice. The hill displayed in the map isn’t a traditional climb, and I was surprised when I got to the top that it was done. The first half of the walk is a bit compressed/winding on the map so it appears as if you’re not half way, but you are! Also in the last km there is a cafe, which is a great spot for lunch. The walk is 3 hours, but it’s an easy one. Would recommend this walk.
Shivanthri Pilapitiya Julia Hume Daham Pilapitiya
Kaye Leigh this looks bomb????
Don’t be including me in this!!
It’s only 11km! And not even on the hard list
Yeah only 11km… be quiet
You would be way fitter than me now ? I struggle walking up the school driveway!
Kaye Leigh I think you walk a alottttt more than me????
Julia Hume you run more than that isn’t it?
Shivanthri Pilapitiya are you on drugs?
Both of you need to calm down!
Julia Hume it’s just 11kms?
Shivanthri Pilapitiya that would take you and your tiny little legs HOURS!
Julia Hume I have grown tall now?????????
Emily Smith yessss
Jessica Smith come down to vic and hike with meeeee
Simmon Little doable!
Cara Ward get organising hehehe
Sounds like a plan
Looking forward to our upcoming hike and camping up that way in a couple of weeks. Will have to check this one out too!