Charming Creek
Name |
Charming Creek |
Location |
Seddonville |
Co-ordinates |
1512932 5395614 |
Alternative co-ordinates |
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Configuration |
Linear |
Distance |
4.5 km |
Status |
Off-leash |
Grade |
Easy-Moderate |
Access |
Take Mokihinui-Seddonville Road, ca. 1.5 km after Mokihinui junction, then fork right onto Gladstone Street in Seddonville and continue to the end of Charming Creek Road. Note: saccess to the walk from the southern end is currently closed. |
Description |
A lovely walk that runs through a mix of vegetation types and scenery, passes lots of old mining relics and offers long stretches of easy walking. Sadly, the southern stretch of this walk was closed due to a major landslp in 2021 and seems unliklely to open in the foreseeable future. Take note of the warning signs! |
Connecting tracks |
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Further information |
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Charming Creek walkway lives up to its name. It is also interesting, a little bit (but not too much) challenging, and very rewarding. The track is of a good standard - well-formed but not over-emgineered. The scenery is varied, with a long gradually rising section through the lower gorge, and an ambling level track beside the water race. There's fascinating history to explore, including the water race itself, old mining equipment, spoil tips, railway lines, tunnels, sawmills and a small suspension bridge. There's also a waterfall and, if you're lucky, in the steepest sections of the gorge, you might catch sight of the rare and protected Celmisia morganii - a daisy-like plant that flowers in December and January and is known only from this locality.
The walk is currently accessible only from the northern end, near Seddonville. Here, you walk through the remains of the old mine workings, where you can briefly divert to look at the sealed-off entrances to the mine. Downslope from there, you passd an assortment of moning gear, includding a large fan that was originally used to aerate the mine, remains of a bathhouse and old coal bins, not to mention areas of spoil stained by the various minerals that are leaching from the waste. The track then heads downlope, and veers off to the left (watch out for the green post which is all that indicates the junction). After that, there's an up-and-down section past some more mining gear, before the track finds the river and follows a bench through native bush. For the rest of the allowable way, it's an easy and flat walk for an hour or so along the old railway track until you reach Watson’s Mill. Here, there are old steam boilers rusting in the undergrowth and a shed which contains some photographic displays about the mining. Soon after that - and alerted by the sound of the water - you reach the waterfall and the gorge. There's more interest in the form of the old railway track and the overhanging rocks, and then a short tunnel, before the track reaches a suspension bridge over the stream, which offers more views of the waterfall and gorge. Hereabouts, the track is closed, which is a shame, because the next section down the valley is (or was) a lovely stretch of walking. But the landslides that have caused the closure are serious stuff, and the risk of further failures is real. So heed the signs, take one last look down the valley and head back home. 
Heading home
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