Catherdral Ranges (Jawbones) Walk - April 23rd 2008

Now this was a spectacular and challenging walk. I’d rate it as medium/difficult – for the steepness and terrain – but well worth it. The only hiccup for me was the smoke. A controlled burn-off and still conditions conspired to have the smoke linger for days, so the views were smoke-limited.

Parks Victoria has a web page ,but my main reference was the excellent book Daywalks Around Melbourne, Walk 70, The Farmyard. Please use that for details. The essence is: start at the ground and walk up the ziz-zagging and steep track that runs along one side of the ranges, to the very top. You are pretty much under cover and it’s one of those cool ‘work-reward’ walks; you do all the work (climbing) and it’s only when that’s all done you get the spectacular views. In this case it’s the views from the rock formations known as the Jawbones; actually two sets – North and South.

An added bonus for me was a pair of courting Lyrebirds on the way back down. It’s pure magic to hear the male one doing his impressions of many bush sounds – mainly other birds. Indeed part of this walk takes you through an area known as The Farmyard. Names because the Lyrebirds do imitations of the farm animals sounds, from way below in the valley.

A highly rated walk. You really should wear sturdy boots and take a walking pole. Some of my photos are available too.