Werribee Gorge State Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bushland at Werribee Gorge
Bushland at Werribee Gorge

Werribee Gorge State Park is a state park in Victoria, Australia. It is located near Bacchus Marsh and is popular with bushwalkers and rock climbers, all attracted to its spectacular views and significant geological features.

Contents

[edit] Werribee Gorge

The main and striking feature of this wonderful park, Werribee Gorge, in which the Werribee River meanders through, is certainly acquired world-wide fame throughout the last century for its geological value.

Werribee Gorge has attracted the attention of geologists last century as one of the earliest known ancient glacial deposits, parts of which can be seen by the observant visitor. The 200m deep gorge was formed about a million years ago when movements along a fault in the earth's crust steepened the river's gradient. Since then the stream has continued to deepen the gorge through underlying rock to ancient sediments deposited in a sea more than 400 million years ago. Other geological events that have since occurred include the advance and retreat of an ice sheet and the inflow of volcanic lava.

There is a spectacular walking track which winds itself through the breathtaking gorge, which popular with bushwalkers and locals alike. It is certainly one of the greatest 'treasures' near Melbourne.

[edit] Getting there

Information sign
Information sign

Werribee Gorge State Park is about 8 km west of Bacchus Marsh and can be approached by two routes. The first is via the Western Freeway and the Pentland Hills Road to Myers Road, a gravel road steep in places. This provides access to the Gorge itself. The second is via Ironbark Road (the Ballan-Infliston Road) which is approached from the Bacchus Marsh-Anakie Road.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 37.66° S 144.35° E