Warrie Circuit

Our Warrie Circuit walk was a wonderfully successful experiment. During a chat at work about enjoyable weekend pursuits (walks, food, wine, friends) Amanda, Baz, and I agreed we should do a full-day walk, and take good deli-style food and wine for the lunch break. Baz and Amanda had done sections of the Warrie Circuit walk before, and enthusiastically suggested we do the whole thing. Baz was confident Sandy would be keen, and thus a plan was formed.

We met early at Amanda's lovely Auchenflower apartment, then piled into Baz's Pajero for the trip down the coast to Springbrook. With McDonalds breakfast under our belts we arrived at the Goomoolahra picnic area carpark, geared up, and set off. Shortly afterward we were back in the Pajero having found that there is no access to the Warrie Circuit from Goomoolahra. An inauspicious start, but a reminder to READ THE MAP.

The Warrie Circuit is a 17km walk taking in some 11 waterfalls, three of which are passed under by the track. It includes lower track of the Twin Falls Circuit, following the foot of some impressive cliffs and rock outcrops. We completed the 10km to The Meeting of the Waters - our lunch stop - in record time, as we wanted to stay ahead of a huge noisy group (20 or more).

Lunch was a lovely memorable experience of good food and wine and great fun conversation in friendly company. Baz, Sandy, and Amanda brought an incredible spread of antipasto, cheeses and crackers, flavoured chicken legs and wings, and the best savoury miffins I've ever tasted. I brought two bottles of shiraz (a Yarra Burn and a Water Wheel) to show off two of my favourite Victorian wineries.Baz displayed innovative use of a Mini Maglite torch to open the wine, after I forgot to bring a corkscrew. He would have gained full marks for that spark of brilliance but for spraying wine all over everyone and everything. The Meeting of the Waters was a perfect setting to sit, eat, drink, and relax; and we had the perfect spot - a small flat-bottomed half cave beside the creek. Sandy caused a storm of laughter when she pointed out that another group lunching nearby was settling for sandwiches.

After about an hour and a half, set off again - rather unsteadily - on the 7kn return leg. Baz rightly pointed out that in future we should choose walks in which the uphill leg comes before the food and wine. The uphill track was a struggle at times, and I was grateful when we stopped for afternoon tea. Out came the gas stove and espresso pot, and in short order we had lovely cuppa's to accompany the lovely muffins Amanda brought.

This walk was long, sometimes a bit steep, and the rucksacks were heavy - between us we were carrying about 13 litres of water. It was well worth the extra weight for the memorable lunch and afternoon tea. The scenery was spectacular and the company was first rate.

Here's a link to a good map (PDF)

And here's some photos: