Walking has many health benefits. Firstly, walking can improve your lung and heart fitness as well as reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. Walking can also strengthen your bones, improve balance and increase muscle strength and endurance. Walking can also improve management of conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness and diabetes.

CHIRP Community Health, with help from the Walking Group Volunteers, offers many different social walking groups for the Mount Alexander Shire Community. CHIRP Community Health has many weekly walking groups that run in Castlemaine, Maldon and Harcourt as well as monthly walking tours across the Shire. All groups are led by experienced volunteers and most walking groups run up to one hour. Some of the walking groups are followed by a cuppa and a chat.

What is the cost?

For some walking groups, a small donation is required to cover the cost the refreshments after the walk. See below for more information.

Who is eligible to join?

Everyone is welcome to join a walking group. People are living with chronic disease or high cardiovascular risk are especially encouraged to come along.

Where and When?

Castlemaine Walking Group: Tea Rooms at Castlemaine Botanical Gardens

Thursday during school term from 9:15am to 10:15am

Cost $1.00

Walk as far as you like, CHIRP Community Health Nurse attends and can give health advice and check blood pressure.

Maldon Walking Group: at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre (run in partnership with Maldon Hospital)

• Mondays from 9.30am to 10.30am
• Tuesdays from 7:30am to 8:30am
• Fridays from 9:30am to 10:30am

Cost $1.00 for cuppa (if Covid restrictions allow)

The Tuesday walks are brisker (some fitness required).

The Monday and Friday walks are followed by a cuppa and a chat at the Neighbourhood Centre (when Covid restrictions allow).

Harcourt Walking Group: Museum and ANA Hall

Monday from 9:30am to 10:30am

Thursday from 9:30am to 10:30am

Cost $1.00

Each walk is followed by a cuppa and a chat at the Museum and ANA Hall.

Newstead Walking Group: Meet at the Newstead Transactional Centre (45 Lyons Road, Newstead)

Great opportunity to meet new people in the community.

Bring own bottle of water and what you require for the weather (sun protection, rain jacket)

Every Wednesday (unless cancelled due to heavy rain or code red day)

9:30am to 10:30am (cuppa afterwards at local café, if covid-19 permits it)

No cost, no booking is required.

Monthly Walking Tours: New location each month.

Check the “NEWS” page on this website or social media accounts for up to date information.

Last Thursday each month, Starting at

• 10.30am (May – September) or
• 9.30am October – April

Rainbow Steps is CHIRP Community Health’s LGBTIQA+ friendly walking group

WHEN: Tuesday 9.30am (Starting Tuesday November 17)

WHERE: Botanical Gardens Tea Rooms (Downes Road, Castlemaine)

WHY: Meet like-minded people, increase social connections, promote wellbeing, enjoy a lovely stroll in beautiful surrounds and enjoy the health benefits of a walk.

How to make a Booking: Please contact: Sherene on 5479 1000 or SClow@cdch.com.au

Important Notes for all Walking Groups

Please be Covid-19 Smart by:

Occurrences of this group depends on current COVID restrictions.

For more information, please phone CHIRP Community Health  on (03) 5479 1000. Alternatively, please complete the enquiry form below.