Lerderderg campground

Introduction

free camp in a valley in a fairly remote tall forest
~530m elevation so around 3-4 degrees cooler than Diggers Rest and perhaps 1 deg warmer than Gisborne
dogs allowed on a lead
fire in firepits only
no potable water
tall eucalypts provide lots of shade - minimal sunlight except some larger sunlit areas in mid-summer at around noon
no internet and no mobile phone reception (although may be possible at the highest camp area)
this new campground replaces O'Brien's Crossing camp area which is now only a day visitors area

best for small groups of 4WD or solo campers who just want to chill out around a camp fire assuming no fire restrictions in force
may be an option to escape the summer heat without going to the over-crowded beaches - bring lots of drinking water!
not great for kids as not much for them to do other than get lost in the bush or catch snakes
not for caravans
BYO water and firewood

large loop gravel road with 5 main defined areas for camping, each able to accommodate a small group and each quite separate from the other areas
- most are sloping but there are some flattish sites
several potential unofficial tent sites near the slow shallow stream (Sardine Creek) - which is not really conducive to swimming in unless it was really hot
several unofficial vehicle/tent sites adjacent the 2km Diggers Track
good drop toilets near bottom end - no adjacent camp sites although one of the camp areas is only 200m away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWRYIgxkmA

not much to do near the camp ground - looks like Parks Vic do not want you walking - most of the camp areas are fenced
nice quiet ambience though listening to the many birds
bring a book or cards
there are 4WD tracks throughout this forest
no walking tracks that I could see apart from perhaps Possum Track ~1km back up Diggers Track which comes out on O'Briens Rd some 4.7km from campground so you would end up doing almost 10km walk and probably not see much
- for walking, go to nearby:
  - Hobbs Road Reserve near Gisborne - nice BMX tracks for walking on through late winter / early spring wattles
  - O'Brien's Crossing (see below)
  - Mackenzies Flat
  - Blackwood

via Gisborne:
- 49min from NW suburbs;
- 1hr 15min from CBD via Gisborne;
- including 22min 12km on gravel 2WD dry weather road - the last 2km on Diggers Track is NOT suitable for caravans;
via O'Briens Crossing
- 15min, 6.5km on gravel road from O'Briens Crossing - depending upon conditions, may need 4WD to get there from the campground
- 37min 35km from Bacchus Marsh
- 74min 74km from NW suburbs

Amblers Lane Crossing bush camp
- 20min, 1.6km hike in from O'Briens Rd via the steep Ambler Track
- 31min, 2.1km hike in from O'Briens Crossing
- nearby man made “The Tunnel” to divert river for gold mining
- basic bush camp (may be possible to access via 4WD in good, dry conditions)
- no solid fuel fires allowed!
- 17km, 41min 4WD via O'Brien's Crossing
Firth Park campground
- free camp, 720m elevation thus very cold
- 23min, 14.4km via Firth Rd
Blackwood Mineral Springs Caravan Park
- 31min, 17km via O'Brien's Crossing
- commercial camp
Cameron's Rd campground ?bush camp, Lerderderg State Park, near Bacchus Marsh
- 38min, 20km via Bluegum Track ?4WD / 2WD dry weather; 300m elevation;
Glenlyon Recreation Reserve
- 66min, 70km via Gisborne and Woodend; overnight camp
Warburton's Bridge campground
- nice free camp alongside a stream;
- 71min 87km via Gisborne and Malmsbury
Leanganook camp ground Mount Alexander
- lovely free camp, 600m elevation
- 71min 92km via Gisborne and Calder Fway

Hobbs Road Reserve near Gisborne - nice BMX tracks for walking on through late winter / early spring wattles
O'Brien's Crossing
- nice spot on Lerderderg River but now no camping allowed, nearby walk tracks,
Mackenzies Flat
- nice day picnic area near Bacchus Marsh
- 36min 36km via Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd
Gisborne
- 29min, 24km
Blackwood
- via O'Brien's Crossing
Trentham Falls
- via O'Brien's Crossing 45min
- via Firth Park, 51min
Daylesford
- 1hr via O'Brien's Crossing