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Length: 11.3 km
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Duration: 4hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Circuit
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Start: O'Briens Crossing
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End: O'Briens Crossing
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Location: Lerderderg State Park
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Closest Town: Blackwood
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Distance from CBD: 91km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.49490978
Longitude: 144.3569513
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4WD Access
2WD Access
Camping Area
Campfire Pit
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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
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Lerderderg State 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 Tunnel and Sardine Creek hike commences at O'Briens Crossing in the Lerderderg State Park. Walk up the steps past the toilet blocks and follow the steep ridge following Byers Back track. The trail crosses Amber Lane then continues along to Gribble Track. Turns right at the Gribble Track junction and descend the steep track down to the Lerderderg River and the Tunnel.
The track then leaves the river behind the tunnel entrance and continues across the Eastern bank of the river. The trail beyond this point is not particularly easy to follow and in some places it may be easier to simply follow the Lerderderg River through to the Ambler Lane ford. There is a section on this part of the trail that requires you to scramble over a cliff face before descending to the river.
Turn left onto Ambler lane and follow this track for a few kilometres to reach the Trout Track junction. Alternatively (in dry weather) you can follow Clear Water Creek for approximately 2km to the end of Trout Track.
Descend Trout track (steep) until you reach Sardine Creek. Cross the creek at the ford and continue along Trout Track until its end at O'Briens Road. Turning right you then walk a few hundred metres until you reach Short Cut Track on your left. This is indicated by two marked posts at the start of the track.
Follow Short Cut Track back to O'Briens Road and continue along until you reach O'Briens Crossing and the end of the hike.
About the region
Rising in the Great Dividing Range, the Lerderderg River has cut a 300 metre deep gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. The park has a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife and some interesting relics of gold mining. Lerderderg State Park encompasses scenic and geological gorge formations surrounding the Lerderderg River as well as the volcanic cone of Mount Blackwood. The adjacent and separate block called the Pyrete Range forms part of the park. The Lerderderg is known for its remote setting and the 300m deep Lerderderg River gorge is a dominant feature. Private land abuts the park to the south and the Wombat State forest abuts to the north and west.
Lerderderg State Park (incorporating the former Pyrete State Forest) is a 14,250-hectare park located between Bacchus Marsh and Blackwood, an hour's drive from Melbourne, Australia. There are several maintained tracks for walking through the park and camping is allowed.
The park is named for the Lerderderg River which has cut the 300 metre deep Lerderderg Gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. Parks Victoria maintains six designated walks: three short walks of 3.5 km or less; Blackwood-O'Briens Crossing and return (22 km); O'Briens Crossing-Cowan Track loop (14 km); and the overnight walk O'Briens Crossing to Mackenzies Flat (20 km).
In addition, one leg of the Great Dividing Trail, the Lerderderg Track, passes through the park, entering from Blackwood in the park's northwest, and exiting south towards Bacchus Marsh. Bicycles are prohibited from one section of this track, due to a conservation area.
Tips
There are some steep sections that will benefit from the use of poles. Following rain, when the river is high, several creek crossings may be required. The trail along Clear Water Creek is not marked and you will need to pick your way along its length. Best not to attempt this section following heavy rains.
GPX File
Max elevation: 613 m
Min elevation: 449 m
Total climbing: 522 m
Total descent: -524 m
Hikes Nearby
2 thoughts on “The Tunnel and Sardine Creek (11.3km)”
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The tunnel was hand carved (with explosives) to divert the river for gold exploration.
Hi All
“”””The trail beyond this point is not particularly easy to follow and in some places, it may be easier to simply follow the Lerderderg River through to the Ambler Lane ford”””
The trail beyond this point is non-existant with no markers what so ever. Walking along the river is difficult and depending on rain, impossible.
At 3325M, east of the tunnel exit after crossing, you are better to set a direct bearing of NEE or about 75-80 degrees, climb up over the ridge and meet up the trail at the amber lane crossing next to Emergency Marker LER524.
If you are doing this counter-clockwise, turn left at LER524 and take Byers track to the tunnel.
Also. 7063M to 9364M is an old abused 4X4 track, lots of shale and loose stones, footing can be very difficult.
This one ambushed us a bit, parts of this walk are definitely class 4 maybe even small parts class 5.