This photography event comprises 5 destinations: Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, Taradale Railway Viaduct with optional 2km walk if time permits, The Cascades, Metcalf, The Pink Cliffs, and the Valley of Liquid Ambers in Heathcote.
Our first stop is the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens. This stop includes morning tea. We will explore the gardens and hopefully see one of the Bombardier trains as it crosses the viaduct on its way to or from Bendigo
Time permitting, we continue on to the Taradale Railway Viaduct – a bluestone and metal girder viaduct built in 1862 on the railway line to Bendigo. It stands 36.6 metres above Back Creek, with five spans and a total length of over 250 metres. This stop includes an optional 2km walk.
We’ll park at the Royal Oaks Park which has an interesting story of its own! The oak trees are said to have been planted in 1863 to commemorate the marriage of Queen Victoria’s son, Edward the VII, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
Our third stop is The Cascades at Metcalfe, a beautiful little spot for lunch and grab some photos of the delightful Coliban River where it flows over huge boulders.
Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve was once a hydraulic sluicing site. In the late 19th century mining activities washed away the top layer of earth, and further erosion created the dramatic, colourful cliffs on display today.
Five minutes’ drive from the cliffs we journey to a reserve with acres of Liquid Ambers which, hopefully, we will see at the peak of their autumn colour. Co-located with a short historical walk and a picnic ground, this will be our last stop for the day.
