When you stay at Shillings & Pence, you can explore our three walking tracks on the 17pounds Country Estate. order a charcuterie platter, pack a cheeky bottle of wine or sparkling water in our picnic backpack & head out to Paradise Picnic Point. The walks are quite short so you could do all three on the one day or if you're staying a while, do one a day. You might be lucky enough to see some kangaroos, wombats or koalas.
Order a charcuterie platter, pack a cheeky bottle of wine or sparkling water & head out to Paradise Picnic Point or simply relax by The Lake in the Pavilion. Or if you dare, take The Love Boat out for a pedal.
For something more adventurous head out on one of our suggested walks thru the Wombat State Forest.
For a more substantial walk, this walk at 1.22km, covering steep inclines and creek bed crossing, is a good choice. Start at the Cubby House, and keep an eye open for birds, and listen out for frogs on the little dam.
Follow the signs for the Forest Walk, and you’ll discover beautiful old gum trees, which, on a warm day, give off a calming, yet invigorating scent. These trees are home to koalas, which are very well adept at hiding in the canopy, and different species of cheeky possums. Shy echidnas and brush-tailed phascogales spend time on the ground, but tend to disappear at the sound of footsteps. If you’re hearing rustling, it may be kangaroos or wallabies disturbed while having a nap, or tiny antechinus hunting for their supper.
Enjoy the sound of running water in the river, and the fresh and vibrant ferns that blanket the floor of the forest.
Stop off at the View Point to drink in the views, and enjoy a private picnic while watching out for birds at the Paradise Picnic Point. In addition to the somewhat common, but charming magpie, local birdlife includes crimson rosellas, superb fairy wrens, spotted quail-thrush, and scarlet thrush. In the evenings the unique call of the boobook owl can be heard, and at dusk, the very noisy laughing kookaburras.
The resident wombat, Wally, has his den along the walking track, but please let him sleep. Wombats are nocturnal, and spend their nights working hard digging up roots, and extending their complicated dens.
The walk finishes at the Pavilion, which looks out over the larger of the two dams. The Pavilion faces west, and is a great stage for watching a romantic sunset.
Green Gully Walk
At 1.03km, this is a good walk to take a picnic on for a fun forest break. Begin your stroll from The Cubby on the deck beside the Little Dam and follow the Gully Walk signs. Keep an eye open for the local birdlife, and enjoy a sense of peace and calm.
As you cross the river, twice, listen carefully for the frogs, and birds. In the evenings you may hear boobook owl, and the very noisy kookaburras. Other birds to look out for include crimson rosellas, superb fairy wrens, and scarlet robins. Drop by Wally Wombat’s den, but please let him sleep after a busy night digging and foraging. From the View Point you can look across ferns, one of the earliest remaining plant life on the planet.
Stop off at the Paradise Picnic Point for lunch, close your eyes, inhale deeply, and understand why this is called ‘paradise’. If you look very carefully, and are very quiet, you may spot a koala above your heads, a shy brush tailed phascogale scurrying along the ground, or a cheeky possum having its lunch.
Take your time along this walk, as, in the warmer months, there are tiny wildflowers poking their heads through the undergrowth, and beautiful mosses, fungi, and native plants to enjoy, depending on the season. Nature is unpredictable, and you never know what you might find.
Finish at the Pavilion and enjoy the waterfront views.
Tall Tree Walk
This short walk is a perfect introduction to the hidden gems of 17 Pounds Country Estate. At a short 750m, this is a great way to whet your appetite for the longer walks, or just stretch your legs before dinner.
Starting at the Cubby, you can enjoy views across the Little Dam, and, especially in the mornings or late afternoon, spot some of the local ducks, or other more exotic local birdlife.
Follow the Forest Walk signs, and stop off to enjoy the view from the Paradise Picnic Point. Drink in the fresh forest air, and listen for the sounds of birds. If you are lucky, you may spot a wallaby, a skittish and shy visitor, or a koala hiding in the canopy.
Other sites of note are the deliciously cool fernery, a refreshing spot to slow down through on a warm afternoon or morning. Watch out for the river, which helps keep the forest watered and green.
A little further on is the Wombat Den, an authentic example of these large, solid, but surprisingly fast marsupials. Wombats have several dens, and are nocturnal, so please let this fellow sleep if he’s home.
As you return to the Cubby, keep an eye out for the ‘naughty children’, and try to imagine what mischief they’ve been up to!
Walking Around The Area
With over 3km of cleared forest walking tracks on the property, take in the peace & quiet that the Wombat Forest has to offer. Surrounded by established old forest, an abundant of fauna & flora. Explore at your leisure, grab a picnic basket, book or just sit, relax unwind in absolute tranquillity. Other walking options we enjoy: Coopers Track Walk - Start from 17pounds - Download info here. Download map here. Wombat Trail - Domino trail - Start from Trentham Biolink Trail - Start from Glenlyon Sailors Falls Long walk – Short walk - Starting at Sailors Falls Or A self – drive day tour Daylesford – Bullarto tourist train