Ok I might have used some artistic licence, but since moving to ‘The Rat’ a year ago. I have inadvertently discovered a couple of very nice waterfalls and accompanying countryside definitely worth a look as the weather warms up.

The first one is Lal Lal Falls, about thirty mins from Ballarat and fifteen minutes from Bunninyong.

There was a fair bit of volcanic activity in these parts going back millions of years and it formed large gorges which carry water into the Lal Lal Reservoir or Bungal Dam.

The park has picnic areas, toilets and plenty of room to kick the footy or have a game of cricket. You can walk down to the Falls themselves but stick to the track because three kids lost their lives falling from a great height a while back. There is a memorial to remind everyone. Here are some photos.

Now the second waterfall is Moorabool Falls. Both Lal Lal and Moorabool Falls are approximately fifty feet high and literally appear out of nowhere, such is the nature of the land and the impressive gorges.

If Lal Lal is easy access then Moorabool is quite the opposite. It’s an odd situation where the council in their infinite wisdom have built a couple of viewing platforms but you can’t legally enter the property or actually go down to the Falls.

You have to jump a fence from the road and then get confronted with a sign telling you what you can’t do. Naturally that only spurs you on.

I have a client who is in his mid 70’s and suffers from dementia. Both my parents had dementia so I do understand how debilitating and frustrating it can be.

My client is still very fit and he would probably describe himself as a ‘bushy’, a lifelong carpenter who built his own home on ten acres in the Goldfields.

We love going bushwalking for a few hours a week and he has introduced me to some of the most beautiful countryside in Victoria I’ve ever seen, much of it hidden and almost untouched.

As I experienced with my parents when they had dementia, when you take clients or loved ones into their treasured environments, their faces completely change. Life becomes almost whimsical again and it’s a treat to see their subsequent joy.

Anyway, we jumped the fence and got to Moorabool Falls through nothing more than a wallaby track, past an 1800’s shearing shed. We had to get across the river which my client negotiated easily, however both my feet slipped into the water and I’ll explain why.

I bought these so called hiking shoes last year for half price on line. If you ever see them, do not purchase them! It’s ok if you’re on dry land but the slightest bit of moisture, and you’re in strife. They are also loud in colour, so unless you’re planning on guiding some container ships into Corio Bay, avoid them at all costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few months ago whilst hiking in Tassie in these shoes, I slipped, landed on my knee, rolled over with my pack on and got stuck like a stink beetle on my back, legs and arms flailing for someone to turn me over.

Once we walked a few kilometres along the river and back to the Falls, we again had to cross the river to access what appeared to be a track to get up a steep hill to the lookout.

This time I made it dry but halfway up the hill, the shoes failed me again and I slipped sideways, over a log and into a huge black berry bush.

My legs were half hanging over the log, my torso below the log and the blackberry prickles, all hundred of them were in my T shirt and pulling me back into their wretched lair.

My client reached out but I feared if I pull him too hard he would slip and plummet to a premature death or if I somehow found some core strength, I would rise up and knock him backwards to a premature death.

I decided to place my right leg in an awkward and painful position in order to achieve some leverage therefore compensating for the lack of core strength and managed to get upright albeit with a pile of blackberry scratches and thorns to take home.

Unperturbed, we will be back, perhaps with some new shoes. At least my client had a good laugh at my expense. The worst Alby Mangels impersonator he’s ever seen he reckons. Fair call.

Here’s some photos from Moorabool Falls and a link to some more info including our next walk which will be Granite Falls.

https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/blog/10/waterfalls-of-the-goldfields