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Detailed Visual and Written Directions

We suggest wearing a hat, carrying some water (especially in the summer), and wearing comfortable walking shoes (the walk does not require climbing boots and in parts follows light-use four wheel drive tracks). Getting a jogging pram up there would be possible but a lot of effort; and it is not wheelchair accessible except by driving. Picnicing at the top is a great idea.

In the winter we strongly advise that you wear a couple of layers of warm clothing as the 360 degree view at the top means you're exposed to the wind much more than down in the shelter of the valley.

Please leave any gates as you found them - the walk doesn't require climbing over fences so if you find yourself doing so please check this map, which we advise you to print from this website and take with you if you're going to do this walk. If you're lost continue walking around the fence line in a clockwise direction and you'll always find a gate and usually a track, and in bad weather we recommend you let us know when you're going.

The walk begins right outside the Stone House where you walk 400 metres over to the c18th shearing shed. Feel free to wander around the shed and feel the texture of the super fine greasy wool cuttings you can normally find in the bins there. We are strong fans of natural greasy wool sweaters, wool that is much warmer than washed wool with a distinctive scent, but unfortunately greasy wool is difficult to find in department stores.

We suggest that for fun you take the swing bridge over the creek at the base of the shearing shed either on the way up, or the way back from the Indian Rocks. The swing bridge is on the far left of this photo.

On leaving the shearing shed you go through a gate outside the yards at the top right of the shed and head towards the side of the hill.

This section of the walk is about 500 metres to a small dam in the low point of this paddock (the paddock usually has only a small amount of grass as it is often used to hold sheep before they are shorn - Markdale has about 15,000 sheep and you can read about what is happening on the farm depending on the season you're walking in the Ecology Diary).

As you come up from the dam in another 500 metres you should hit another sign to 'Hangmans Gate' on the side of the hill.

After the sign (or if you miss it) bear left as you hit the four wheel drive track and continue straight for another 400 metres along the flat section at the top of the hill until you hit the gates (there are two) on the fenceline at the top of this paddock.

You will go through the right hand gate, 'Hangmans Gate' where just through the gate you should see a sign for 'Tall Man Stump'.

Continue 400 metres up the hill, as shown, towards 'Tall Man Stump'. Follow the 4WD track and keep the fence about 30 metres to your left. You may start to see wildlife like kangaroos over on the ridge to your right. As you come over the first crest before the hill starts to climb again you should come to 'Tall Man Stump' (which perhaps isn't that well named as it's not very tall!).

Continuing to keep the fenceline about 30-40 metres to your left, walk 400 metres up the steeper part of the hill to Wolfe's Gate (you should be walking over some fairly rough S-bends of the 4WD track which have been responsible for chassis dents on various Markdale vehicles!). You will find the gate (Wolfe's Gate) at the crest of the hill where the fenceline you've been following turns right.

At Wolfe's Gate you are now through the last gate before you get to the Indian Rocks themselves. The track peters out a bit here so continue on up the hill for 400 metres keeping the fence about 60 metres to your right. As you near the crest of the hill the fenceline does a right angle turn. Turn right where it does and you should come to Blair's Spring, a place where water seeps out of granite rock (the water forms a small shallow pool and you will be able to see tracks to it from where stock have come to drink).

That's it! Another 100 metres up the hill in the direction shown (just up the hill to the right) and you will be at the Indian Rocks (the rocks themselves form about 3 clumps along this ridge). From right at the top you will be able to see the Stone House in the distance (if you have broadband you can click here for a short movie of the 'Indian Rocks' showing the view of the Stone House at the bottom right of the valley). Congratulations if you've made it this far!

On the way back as you go past the 'Side of Hill' sign you may want to bear straight on towards the Markdale garden down the faint 4WD track rather than turning right towards the dam and the shearing shed and go for a swim (especially on a hot summer day). You've earned it.

| Accommodation | The garden | Ecology diary | Contact us/Availability | Activities | Press/Guest reviews

| The property | The history | 1930's Polo | Directions | Tariffs | Special events | Food |