McKinnon Point to Sportman Creek Junction.
| Track 96 Goldfields McKinnon Point to Sportman Creek Junction. | |
| These track notes describe the section of Track 96 north of the Blue Pool
Walking Track as far as the junction of Sportsman and Freestone Creeks.. You
can pick the start up on the Freestone Creek Road at the turn-off to McKinnons
Point. Note: there is no barking here; you can leave your vehicle at the McKinnon Point picnic area but you will face a short steep climb back to the Freestone Creek Road if you do. The original Track 96 started just outside Briagolong and lead into the Gladstone Creek goldfields. On leaving the town of Gladstone it crossed what is now private land known as "Paddy Melon Gully". To pick up Track 96 you will have to walk around the Boundary Track or take the shorter route via the Freestone Creek Road. If you do the latter. watch out for vehicles as the road is narrow. Track 96 heads north from the Boundary Track approximately 300m off the Freestone Creek Road. There are track markers here. There is a second link to Track 96 further along the Freestone Creek Road near Carneys Creek (refer to inset map). From Paddy Melon Gully Track 96 takes you along approx 4kms of well benched* track to the Ten Mile Track (4WD). You cross this and follow down the marked spur for approx 0.5km. Another benched track then takes you to Bullock Head Creek Road. After crossing this road the track goes through flat open bush. There is a house site 50m from the road. 200m of benched track take you across Bullock Head Creek. The next few kilometres of benched track take you through light bush parallel with the Freestone Creek Road (50100m distant). The final approximately 5kms of the walk are on the Freestone Creek Road. The junction of the Freestone and Sportsman Creeks is clearly marked. Again, watch out for vehicles. Alternatives The link from Freestone Creek Road at Carney's Creek will give you an easy 1.5 hours walk returning via Boundary Track and the Freestone Road. This link track also means that you can do a loop of about 5-6kms via Ten Mile Track. * "benched" means a track cut into the side of a hill. |
