Mansfield to Omeo

Excellent oldsalt

Will do just that. Would you know how long we would need to give ourselves to comfortably get from Omeo via Limestone Creek to Tom Groggin?

Dave

I easily drove Tom Groggin to Omeo via Limestone in a day, even stopping to rescue a biker on the track and then waiting for a helicopter. It's better to take longer even though we were only ambling along.

Thanks Mikehzz.
was is a good drive.

It was an excellent drive. You could return from Tom Groggin back to Omeo via Mt Pinnibar. There are lots of steep sections and creek crossings on both tracks. If it rains, things can get very slippery and it's easy to get stuck with no traction trying to go up a steep hill. Don't get caught at Tom Groggin, the river crossing is crescent shaped. If you drive straight across it's too deep. Walk it first.

Here is a good map -

http://www.fwdvictoria.org.au/iconic4wd/downloads/info/info_davies.pdf

Great stuff .
just the kind of info I am after.
Thanks mikehzz

Phil,

The last time I was down there Billy Goat Bluff track would have been the worst I have seen it.(Nov 2013)
Unless David has been up it before or has lots of experience I would not recommend that track.
Going up to the trig on Mt Blue Rag would be a better trip.

I will be down there middle of April and will check it out again.


Wayne

Fair comment Wayne. Those photos were taken in March 2013. There was quite a mixture of cars in the group and no one had any problem. No great rock climbers or Tuff Truck type of cars.

Ours (see photo) is basically standard. Bilstein shocks. No lift and no lockers. No mods to the suspension apart from the shocks. Just touring stuff inside and body protection.

There was some loose rock and stones and a few small rock ledges to get over. Nothing more than a standard reasonably largish 4WD wouldn't handle.

A bloke in a standard looking forestry ute went through before us. We didn't see him again so he either made it or . . . .

Maybe that will still Davids heart and have a go.

I haven' been on Blue Rag. One day maybe but the desert is next. Canning this year.

Phil

PS David I would not recommend any towing on it.

Phil,

Billy Goat Bluff Tk is one of those tracks that can change in a weekend depending on use.
I went up the a few days after a big convey of rock hoping vehicles, sorry no other way to describe them, went through and turned just about every rock on the top end of the track. This made it hard to find a good line.
It is also very hard to find a place to turn around that is big enough or is not on a side slope.

The Vic High Country in a couple of weeks then the CSR in July followed by the Kimberley and the Flinders to finish the winter trips for this year.

Wayne

PM me to vk1dx@bigpond.net.au re CSR.

Too true. I don't mind changes because of nature and "normal" use but it annoys me when people can't drive properly and just destroy things.

As said. No lifts or big suspension changes. Only shocks and we have not been stopped yet.

Catchya

Phil

Phil and Wayne.

Thanks for the info, We actually did Billy Goat last year and you are right it is and excellent track. We where looking at going a little further north east to explore hence Omeo. There is so much to explore in the high country we will be coming back for years.

Dave.

I am in the middle of getting dinner ready. Look up Haunted Creek Track. East of Omeo I think.

It runs along Haunter Stream (or creek etc) and is a good drive. A few crossings which were easy for all of us but one "interesting" climb out at the western most crossing. We drove east to west.

back later

Phil

Cheers , will do.

Dave

Haunted Stream Track is south of Omeo. The eastern end is at 37.442161S, 147.745643E and the west end at 37.388828S, 147.623734E. There is one marked camping spot half way along it at some ruins. I got this info from the Hema High Country Victoria – East sheet.

Some of the "smaller" vehicles had problems with one or two being winched up. Our car had a little issue as well. We didn't have lockers however the others in the video did.

I have a very short video of the exit on youtube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbd9vDM9X2A

Cheers Phil'
Great vid, I will follow that one up too.

Great work fellas just the kind of stuff I was after.

Dave

Agree - Last year the track over Mt Stirling did not open until the end of November and AFAIK it will be Sat Nov 29 this year. Best to check with rangers re track openings before planning in great detail.
cheers
ljme

Andrew

Thanks for tip.

Dave.