In September 2024 Bendigo Orienteers launched ‘Take a Forest Walk’, a collection of 35 self-guided bushwalks around Bendigo and Heathcote. This has been a joint project between Bendigo Orienteers and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Central Victoria group with its development being led by Bendigo Orienteers Julie Flynn, Neil Barr and Daryl Fleay.
This is the first bushwalking guide for walks in the forests and historic mining areas around Bendigo and Heathcote and is designed to encourage residents to venture into the surrounding forests. The walks are illustrated with orienteering maps. With well over 500 copies already being sold by the Bendigo Information Centre and tourist sites, it will introduce many more people to orienteering maps.
It is planned to prepare a similar book of forest walks in Loddon Shire based on orienteering maps of forests to the west of Bendigo including the maps that have been prepared for this carnival and the Victorian Championships.
If you are staying on in the area for the ANZAC weekend events, doing some of these walks/runs is a great way to spend the time between the events.
‘Take a Forest Walk’ will be on sale at the Australian 3-Days Carnival for $25 from the Information Centre.
