Last Visited: 15/01/2010
Length (km): approx. 5.8
Time (hrs/min): 2 hours 30 mins
Grade: Easy/Moderate
Return / Circuit / One-Way / Partial Circuit: Return
Region: Western Victora
Park: Werribee Gorge State Park
Closest Town: Bacchus Marsh (11.5 km)
Maximum Elevation: approx. 403 m (according to MapMyHike.com)
Total Ascent: approx. 220 m (according to MapMyHike.com)
Further Details / Source(s): This is walk #24 in Daywalks Around Melbourne (by Glenn Tempest – available in many bookstores). The Falcons Lookout walk is listed in the ParkWeb Park Note Werribee Gorge State Park – Visitor Guide but does not include the (2.8 km return) Ingliston Granites section.
Car Access: From the main street of Bacchus Marsh, follow the signs to Geelong and then turn right at the roundabout just before the railway line (onto Griffith Street). Turn right into McCormack Road after approximately 2 km and after a further 2 km, turn right into Ballan-Ingliston Road (aka Ironbark Road). You will cross a railway line after about 6 km and after a few hundred metres there is a small carpark on the right. The hike is signed from here.
Much of the track follows the bed of a creek so you may not want to attempt this after heavy rain. Head north on Ironbark Track, descending into Ironbark Gorge. Follow the creek for nearly 1 km on an easy to follow but very rocky track (watch out for snakes!) and then up the hill away from the creek bed.
You will soon reach a signed junction where you should follow the sign to the right, heading to Falcon’s Lookout. The views of the Werribee Gorge from here are amazing! Be careful as none of the cliffs are fenced, due to the fact that this is a popular rock-climbing spot.
Falcon’s Lookout
Retrace your steps back to the junction and follow the sign heading the opposite way (to Ingliston Granites). After a short distance you will find a fence, which you should follow down into a hollow and then to the left. When you reach a gate, don’t go through it but rather follow the fence a little further to the right. There is a group of granite boulders here on the spur which mark a great spot to sit and look over a different section of Werribee Gorge and across to Ingliston Granites. Retrace your steps back to the car from here. The section of the hike to Ingliston Granites borders farmland, so it is not the most exciting hiking but in the end it is well worthwhile for the views.
The “track” to Ingliston Granites (just follow the fence)
Ingliston Granites
Ironbark Track (on the way back to the car)
- Werribee Gorge Circuit is an excellent day-walk, which covers a nearby section of Werribee Gorge State Park.
Have you visited Falcon’s Lookout and/or Ingliston Granites yourself? If you have any stories, updates or corrections, please let us know by commenting below.
Hi Neil,
I *accidentally* did this walk with my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago. I say accidentally because we meant to do the Werribee Gorge circuit, inspired to do so after reading your blog. After getting to the carpark we looked for the signs and set off, however we didn’t realise the only signs were for Falcon’s Lookout etc.
Do you follow Ironbark gorge to start off both walks? And then veer off somewhere? I feel stupid asking but I want to go back and tackle the circuit now!
Cheers,
Wil
Hey Wil,
That’s a bummer haha… At least this one is a nice walk too, though. 🙂 So the bit where you went wrong is at the first junction after you descend from the carpark, you should have taken a right turn to head into the Werribee Gorge, but instead you must have turned left. It’s definitely worth going back and doing the full circuit. Enjoy!
Cheers
Neil
Hi S & C,
Glad you enjoyed the walk… Gotta hate those grass seeds though!
Cheers
Neil
Just did the walk today. Kept going past the granites for a kilometer or so and found a nice shady spot for lunch. Certainly well worth the trip. One downside, the grass was very high when following the fence line and our socks attracted a mass of prickly grass seeds. S and C
No worries Melissa. Happy to help.
The weather has been making it hard to get out for a hike lately!
thanks so much!
i think we might postpone our day as the weather seems to be taking a turn….
thanks again 🙂
Hi there! 🙂
thinking of doing this walk tommorow, been a little rain the last 2 days, and as it is early august wasnt sure if this would be a good spot to head? any thoughts?
I did the entire circuit walk last October and found the area to be a hidden gem within reach of the city. There were spectacular views as you mentioned, a little bit of rock scrambling also made it interesting, as well as the reasonably well maintaned remains of a water race. I rated it 5 stars!!
Hidden gem is right… Most people I mention it to have never even heard of it! Thanks for commenting!