Formally known as the Great Dividing Trail, you’ll encounter forests, both natural and man-made, pastoral countryside and a single track that in some places flows on grippy loam and in others jumps and jags across roots, rock ledges and coarse sandstone.

Regional cities and picturesque villages are always nearby, with a host of cafés, restaurants, wineries, shopping, day spas and galleries – all the ingredients for a memorable break from your everyday routine.

Very much a track in three parts, the Goldfields Track covers a diversity of landscape. The first section, the Wallaby Track, covers 90 kilometres from Ballarat to Daylesford and traverses forest paths, undulating farmlands and thriving goldfields towns.

From Daylesford you’ll walk the Dry Diggings Track to Castlemaine. The most popular section of the track, the 61 kilometres takes you through ever changing scenery, from sub-tropical forest to all-natural Aussie bush. But perhaps the best thing about the Dry Diggings Track is that the last few kilometres are downhill!

The Leanganook Track – 58 kilometres from Castlemaine to Bendigo – is arguably the hardest section of the Goldfields Track. It climbs over beautiful Mt Alexander, before following a section of the Coliban water system into Bendigo.

Take your own: water, food, map, compass, *no mobile coverage.

Start from: Ballarat or Bendigo

Difficulty: Medium to high

Distance:  three legs, 58km, 61km and 90km

More info: http://www.goldfieldstrack.com.au/