Werribee Gorge (Ingliston)

Werribee Gorge retains a wild, rugged natural beauty. The park offers spectacular views and great opportunities for bushwalking and rock climbing.

The walk to Falcons Lookout which offers a fantastic rock climbing experience is a 3km return (2 hr return) walk graded as Medium. Walk in from the Ballan-Ingliston Road through the picturesque Ironbark Gorge. There are panoramic views of the gorge and beyond.

Go for a Walk

The park offers a variety of walking experiences to suit all ages, abilities and aspirations.

1. Circuit Walk - 10km - 4.5 hrs Grade - Medium - Hard
Start at the Quarry or Meikles Point Picnic Area and walk in an anti-clockwise direction. Excellent views along the gorge rim, steep in places with some rock scrambling along the river section of the track. The track along the river may become impassable after heavy rain.

This walk provides the opportunity to have a dip at Needles Beach or at the biggest rock pool, Blackwood Pool for experienced swimmers. The water quality here is often poor and don't expect clear water.

2. River Walk - 3km return - 1.2 hrs return Grade - Medium
Start at Meikles Point Picnic Area and follow the old aqueduct upstream to a point where you need to climb around the base of a cliff. This is the end of the River Walk. A wire rope attached to the rock wall assists navigation of this section for those wanting to continue further along the gorge.

3. Falcons Lookout - 3km return - 2 hr return Grade - Medium
Panoramic views of the gorge and beyond. Walk in from the Ballan-Ingliston Road through the picturesque Ironbark Gorge. Falcons Lookout offers a fantastic rock climbing experience. It is currently the only area in the park available for rock climbing.

4. Centenary Walk - 4km return - 2.5 hrs return Grade - Medium - Hard
Start at Quarry Picnic Area and follow Circuit Track before diverging and passing through open woodland to the bridge across Myrniong Creek. After crossing the creek there is a very steep climb to the top of the James Whyte Island Reserve with panoramic views over Werribee Gorge and beyond.

Have a Picnic

Enjoy a picnic with family and friends at Meikles Point or Quarry Picnic Areas. Fireplaces, picnic tables and toilets are provided.

How to get there

Werribee Gorge State Park is approximately 8km west of Bacchus Marsh via the Western Freeway and Pentland Hills Road to Myers Road (steep in places), or via Ironbark Road (Ballan-Ingliston Road) from Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Road.

Review:

There is a 1 hour (or longer with smaller kids) walk to the Falcons Lookout rock climbing wall which looks down on the gorge below. The track which can be a little slippery starts with a steepish descent and then follows some valleys before ascending. There is a section of scree which has to be traversed near the climbing area. The path is well defined for the whole walk. If it is not raining you are almost guaranteed to see some rock climbers at the cliff.

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