A 16 ft Bushtracker in the Vic High Country - where can I go ?
Submitted: Friday, Jan 31, 2014 at 21:43
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Member - Michael W14
Hi Guys,
I always wanted to do the ridgeline tracks, but that is not going to be possible, even with a Bushtracker.
Has anybody any knowledge on which tracks I could get through with the van. I am towing with a lifted 200 Series diesel and I will be there mid March.
Thanks a lot,
Willie.
Reply By: Member - DW Lennox Head(NSW) - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 05:04
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 05:04
Hi Willie
Beyond Hotham is on in March. Gavin Moody is worth talking to as he is the organiser and has lived and worked there for the last 35 years.
My accommodation is a
Kimberley Karavan which may go into some
places the BT cannot due to height. Gavin told me there are numerous track that both the KK and BT would be capable of.
I want to go on this but family matters take priority. Last year it was the fires. Maybe next year.
Hope that helps.
DW
AnswerID:
525549
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 08:44
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 08:44
Hi DW,
Thanks a lot for that info. I am off to the site now to have a look around.
Willie.
FollowupID:
807460
Reply By: Member - Alastair D (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 08:15
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 08:15
Willie,
Is it worth the hassle and damage to tracks & van? Go to a nice camping park/spot and then do day trips without the van. Much easier.
cheers
AnswerID:
525553
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 08:42
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 08:42
There must be some tracks which are suitable for a small van.
It is that information I am seeking. Your answer reminds me of those who answer the question 'what is a good generator' with 'get a solar panel'.
Thank you,
Willie
FollowupID:
807459
Reply By: Robin Miller - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 09:06
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 09:06
Theres a few Willie - and a lot more if you wish to unhitch for just an hour.
Recently even Blue Rag was graded and you can drive to
lookout and its a big enough area on top to do a circle - so
check it out - in a year or so it will deteriorate.
AnswerID:
525556
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 10:31
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 10:31
Thanks Robin. I will mark that on Oziexplorer and investigate.
Cheers,
Willie.
FollowupID:
807465
Reply By: Rob K (VIC) - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 09:10
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 09:10
Hi Willie,
A little more info about what areas you'd like to see might help get more accurate
feedback. Letting people know if you're prepared to base
camp in an area or want to keep moving with the van attached would also be useful. Most of the "tracks" in the
Vic High Country would not suit a 16' van but some roads can get you into a base
camp site and you can do day trips from there. For example, lots of people base
camp at
Talbotville with C/T's and if you take the main track in from
Dargo via McMillans Rd you're in the high country with plenty of tracks to do in the surrounding area. The road gets narrow in
places and has some long steep grades to navigate (braking with a van in tow?). Meeting vehicles heading in the opposite direction could cause issues as passing each other may be difficult. Will there be others travelling with you to clear the way ahead?
I'd also suggest you get a copy of the Rooftop Map series for the high country and see what areas you can get into with the van using the road network. Sheepyard Flats is another good base
camp site with easy access from
Mansfield. Plenty of tracks around here as
well.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Rob K
AnswerID:
525557
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:38
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:38
Thanks a lot for the info Rob. Although I use Oziexplorer all the time, the maps are often wanting and your advice to buy the Rooftop Map Series makes good sense.
We are travelling alone so we will not have a sweeper ahead. I will take it slowly as you suggest.
Cheers,
Willie
FollowupID:
807554
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:41
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:41
Rooftop maps out of stock in the
forum shop
FollowupID:
807555
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 12:08
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 12:08
There is a big list of maps and map books dealing with the High Country in the
Forum shop, but I think they are all biased towards 4WD
treks and would not give me the info I need.
If anybody can suggest one that might give me the info I need, please let me know.
Thanks,
Willie.
FollowupID:
807559
Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 12:16
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 12:16
Be careful with no sweeper, there are a lot of switchbacks & pinches which could be virtually impossible with a 16' van.
FollowupID:
807562
Reply By: Member - Lisa & Peter (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 10:24
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 10:24
Hi Willie
I'll be watching this thread with interest. We are heading down that way end of April, meeting up with a group where we will base ourselves in caravan parks and do day trips (some of the group have on road vans). However we would like to
bush camp before and after the group trip, so we're interested in areas we can safely tow our camper in to that have minimal or no facilites but give a
bush camping experience. Eg can we tow our camper to any of the huts and base ourselves there for a day or two. What are your picks of bush camps that can be accessed while towing? We have a diesel hilux, with lift and lockers,
snorkel. We are towing an echo 4x4 kavango, same wheel track, height and width as the vehicle. It has a great departure angle and can handle deep water crossings (we did the
frenchmans track towing it up on
Cape York, fording the pascoe and Wenlock rivers).. The main limiting factor is the weight (approx 2t loaded), and we're not into destroying the tracks or creating a roadblock for others. I'll be interested to hear what camps people can recommend. We have good maps, plus a GPs, UHF and sat phone.
Cheers
Lisa
AnswerID:
525566
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:20
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:20
Hi Lisa,
What you have described, is what I seek too -
bush camping in spots accessible with the van. I do not like staying in caravan parks.
I also want to know if I can link any towns like
Omeo,
Dargo,
Bright,
Mansfield,
Bright,
Woods Point,
Licola etc by using suitable tracks.
After speaking with people on the Bushtracker (BOG) site, I know I can go from
Buchan north to the turn-off to Suggan Buggan where I hang a left and continue through Benambra to
Omeo.
Also one brave fellow went north from
Dargo to Mt Hotham in his BT, but said it was pretty steep. Should be OK for your Echo though.
Another fellow took his BT north from
Licola to Howitts Plains hut without a problem and said there was nice camping spots along the way.
I would like to know if I can do the following roads / tracks -
Jamieson south to
Woods PointWoods Point south to Rawson
Woods Point west to Marysville via Montys Hut and Gamberville
Falls Creek south to
Omeo
Thanks a lot,
Willie.
FollowupID:
807552
Follow Up By: MUZBRY- Life member(Vic) - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 13:49
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 13:49
Gday Willie
The road from Jameson to
Woods Point to Rawson is a main road, the only thing missing is the bitumen and white line .
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 16:56
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 16:56
OK Muzbry, I will mark that as part of the trip.
Thanks,
Willie.
FollowupID:
807588
Reply By: Maggsie - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 20:47
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 20:47
Agree with Rob, we did Blue Rag and a couple of others in December 2012.
Talbotville was base
camp for the vans( Track Topaz and an Ultimate), it is a great place to
camp, plenty of room and grass(it was still green in late December), no shortage of rocks for a fireplace and running water to drink and swim in.
Regards
Maggsie
AnswerID:
525604
Follow Up By: mikehzz - Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 21:11
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014 at 21:11
I agree as
well,
Talbotville is a good place to base the van with plenty of good tracks in every direction. The thought of pulling anything up or down South Basalt Knob on the way to Blue Rag has me twitching. Ok if you are training to be a
Gall Boy though :-)
FollowupID:
807508
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:33
Sunday, Feb 02, 2014 at 11:33
Maggsie and Mike,
Good info thanks. Maggsie, did you tow your van in on the McMillans track from Wongungarra, or did you come in from the north ?
Willie
FollowupID:
807553
Reply By: Maggsie - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2014 at 09:49
Tuesday, Feb 04, 2014 at 09:49
Hello Michael, I haven't been near a computer for a few days, hence the late reply. We turned off about 10klms short of Hotham onto the
Dargo High Plains road, lowered the tyre pressures and off we went. The gravel road was in great condition so it was a relatively easy drive to where the descent to
Talbotville started.
Regards
Maggsie
AnswerID:
525734
Follow Up By: Member - Michael W14 - Tuesday, Feb 04, 2014 at 18:33
Tuesday, Feb 04, 2014 at 18:33
Great, thanks a lot.
Willie.
FollowupID:
807756