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Length: 6.1km
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Duration: 3hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Western Bluff car park
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End: Western Bluff car park
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Location: Werribee Gorge State Park
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Closest Town: Bacchus Marsh
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Distance from CBD: 67km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.66312532
Longitude: 144.3494245
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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...
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Werribee Gorge 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
Warning
Parts of this hiking trail traverse through private land. You will need to seek an alternate route or seek permission of the land owner to access their land.
Hike Summary
This Western Bluff and Falcons Lookout hike commences at the Western Bluff car park and gradually descends the ridge to the rocky outcrop of Western Bluff. From the bluff the trail descended steeply via Needles spur into the depths of the Werribee Gorge.
Once I reached the Werribee River I crossed via some large rocks then turned left to follow the Werribee River gorge trail to Needles Beach. A great spot for a rest and a fish. I then continued along the trail for about 150m before finding a suitable crossing point back to the opposite side of the river. Listen out for running water as that is where you will often find the best crossing points. I then turned left and walked back to the entrance to Ironbark Gorge.
I slowly ascended the steep ridge immediately to the right of the gorge. This is called Falcons Spur and is a well defined but rocky trail. Alternatively you can follow Ironbark Gorge along its length to rejoin the Falcons lookout trail. The trail was not as well defined though. After about 200m the ridge levelled out to expose some amazing views through the Werribee Gorge.
I continued along this trail to the base of Falcons lookout and a popular rock climbing site. There is a set of timber stairs taking you to the base if the site. From Falcons lookout the trail followed the crest of a wooded ridge before dropping into a narrow and shady valley.
This trail them enters the upper section of Ironbark Gorge before climbing out of the valley and on to IronBark carpark.
From the carpark it was then a short 400m walk back to my starting point.
About the region
Werribee Gorge is a wild, rugged natural beauty shaped by 500 million years of geological history. A range of challenging walks amid the steep, river-washed gorge and surrounding rocky ridges offer spectacular views and access to a rock-climbing site within the park. The main feature of this park is the Werribee Gorge, through which the Werribee River meanders. This gorge has acquired some renown throughout the 20th century for its geological value.
Werribee Gorge has attracted the attention of geologists as one of the earliest known ancient glacial deposits, parts of which can be seen. The 200m deep gorge was formed about a million years ago when movements along a fault in the Earth's crust steepened the river's gradient. Since then the stream has continued to deepen the gorge through underlying rock to ancient sediments deposited in a sea more than 400 million years ago. Other geological events that have since occurred include the advance and retreat of an ice sheet and the inflow of volcanic lava.
Tips
Hiking poles will be of benefit. Best direction is to start at the Western Bluff section. Don't attempt to cross the river if the water levels are too high. A lot of this walk traverses private land from Western Bluff lookout to needles beach then the section from the entrance to Ironbark Gorge to the top of Falcons Spur.
GPX File
Max elevation: 400 m
Min elevation: 176 m
Total climbing: 375 m
Total descent: -375 m
Hikes Nearby
3 thoughts on “Western Bluff and Falcons Lookout (6.1km)”
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Werribee Gorge is a great spot close to MELBOURNE where newcomers to hiking can get areal sense of adventure.
I think the part of this walk from Western Bluff to the Werribee River may be through Private Property. See the Parks Vic notes.
Yes, that is correct. There is a large warning at the very top of the hikes description that states: ‘Warning – Parts of this hiking trail traverse through private land. You will need to seek an alternate route or seek permission of the land owner to access their land’.