Sailors Falls is a stunning waterfall near Daylesford which drops into a lush, fern-lined gully, where Sailors Creek meanders through a series of gorgeous rock pools before continuing on through the Hepburn Regional Park.
Located just a few minutes from Daylesford, Sailors Falls also features mineral spring taps, undercover picnic tables, and excellent information displays.
An attractive feature of this waterfall is that it is practically roadside, with a lookout right alongside the picnic area.
It only takes a few minutes to descend the stairs to reach the lower lookout, and a further few minutes to cross the creek and approach the base of the falls.
Wheelchairs and prams are able to reach the top lookout, which lies right alongside the picnic and parking area.
When is the best time to visit Sailors Falls?
Sailors Falls are spectacular with or without water flow due to the impressive rock face and beautiful lush ferns lining the creek.
The falls are worth visiting all year round, but water is most reliably flowing in winter / spring.
Sailors Falls will typically flow for a few weeks into summer, but once it stops flowing it will be dry from summer through to late autumn / early winter, except after heavy rains.
CAN YOU SWIM AT SAILORS FALLS?
Although there are no swimming holes or wide sections of creek to swim in at Sailors Falls, there are a series of gorgeous seasonal rock pools you can relax in beneath the waterfall.
CAN YOU BRING YOUR DOG TO SAILORS FALLS?
Yes, dogs are allowed at Sailors Falls but must be kept on a lead.
Mineral springs at Sailors Falls
There are two mineral spring taps at Sailors Falls, the first is at the picnic/parking area and the second is a short walk along the creek from the waterfalls.
A 480m circuit walk brings you past the second mineral spring tap. This second mineral spring tap is currently (March 2018) not operational.
Picnic area at Sailors Falls
The picnic area features two undercover picnic tables, another picnic table on a grassy area, a working mineral spring tap, a gravel parking area, and a toilet.
There are fantastic, informative displays lining the walls of the undercover areas, and a separate information sign with details about the mineral spring.
There are no rubbish bins available at Sailors Falls, please ensure that you take your rubbish with you.
Gold prospecting in Sailors Creek
Fossicking for gold is permitted along Sailors Creek - all adults must hold a current Miners Right to engage in fossicking.
More information on SAILORS FALLS
One of the many fantastic information signs at the picnic area displays the following text:
Welcome to Sailors Falls
Hepburn Regional Park is rich with mineral springs and relics from the gold mining era. All of this is part of Australia's rich cultural heritage and the spiritual nature of this area, along with the forest, waters and wildlife have drawn people here for thousands of years.
Caring for Country
The local Dja Dja Wurrung people (Traditional Owners) ask that you care and show respect for this Country while you visit.
Through their rich culture indigenous Australians have been intrinsically connected to this Country for tens of thousands of years. Parks Victoria recognises this connection and acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Communities of Victoria.
The Dja Dja Wurrung people are represented by the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, the Registered Aboriginal Party for this area.
A golden history
Gold was discovered in Sailors Creek in 1851 and the area underwent rapid, drastic changes. This was a time of massive growth for Victoria's cities and towns. Agriculture and forestry boomed and thousands of people crossed the world in search of wealth on Victoria's goldfields.
The surrounding hills were denuded of timber to be used for housing, heating, mining and food production. The park's hillsides are dotted with mining relics including mineshafts and rock-retaining walls; many hidden by forest regrowth.
Most of the park's creek-side walking tracks follow historic water-race channels dug by miners to deliver purchased water to work their diggings.
Remember that relics can be fragile and unstable. For your safety and their protection please stay on the walking tracks.
ALSO OF INTEREST
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