Victorian High Coubntry Trip

Hi Keith,

What sort of CT do you have as this might influence the places you can travel? If it's something like a TVan (short and good departure angles) then the tracks nominated by bigden are doable. If you have something longer like a KK or some of the other larger CT's then I would be recommending you don't travel some of the tracks mentioned by bigden (my personal view).

Base camping and day trips would be a much better plan for getting into places like Blue Rag. As bigden suggests, Sheepyard and Talbotville are relatively easy places to get into and you could look at Howitt Hut as well. Zeka Spur, Wombat Range, Tea Tree Trk are fun tracks to do but not ideal with a CT (agree with Rosco for these tracks).

I know other members have done these areas with the small CT + 200 LC without any issues. Hopefully they might have some thoughts as well.

Enjoy the area, its great country.

Cheers

Rob K

Hullo Keith
With respect to towing a C/T, it is worth noting that many of the tracks in this area are narrow with rocky sides and meeting on coming vehicles often requires vehicles to reverse, at times some distance, until a suitable place can be found to pass - eg, the Jeep Tk. This can be more than tricky if towing.
IMHO, it is better to base camp and do day trips - less hassle and stress on you as you can explore more freely knowing you can more easily back out, turn around and/or get unstuck.
Cheers
Andrew

Keith,

With the CT you have I would be looking at base camping at Talbotville and doing all the touring in the surrounding area as day trips. From Talbotville you can easily do Blue Rag and Wonnangatta Valley as day trips. If you're up for a challenge you could do Billy Goat as well. Plenty of tracks to investigate around the Dargo area. You could also go and visit Dogs Grave. I assume you are planning on travelling alone?

Not knowing your level of 4WDing experience, if after having done Wonnangatta from Talbotville you think it feasible to drag the CT across the Cynthia Range and down Wombat Trk then you should be able to get up Zeka Spur Track and head towards Howitt Hut and then base camp there. From Howitt you have two choices:
1. You can head towards the Mansfield area via King Billy Trk and investigate the High Country huts like Bluff Hut, Lovicks Hut etc. mentioned by "bigden" as another day trip. Craig's Hut might be a bit too far for a return trip? King Billy to Lovicks Hut is rough in places and can be challenging even for a reasonably well set up 4WD with some decent rock steps to negotiate; or
2. Stay around the Howitt Hut area and do some of the interesting tracks north of Licola and visit the Caledonia River for instance. No shortage of challenging tracks around Licola as well, Butcher Country is a prime example.

The tracks around the high country are generally narrow and single vehicle width in many places so coming across other vehicles with a CT attached will not be fun for anyone. Quite a few can also be overgrown and not necessarily "duco friendly".

Hope this helps? I'm sure I'll generate some further "discussion" with the above comments so keep in mind it's only my perspective of what you're planning.

Cheers

Rob K

That would be my reco also Rob

Relatively easy run to Dargo and out to Talbotville to basecamp.
You won't explore all the day drive tracks from there in a week.

Reasons for this recomendation are that you can get to Dargo via even the coast highway.

Even the short dirt 2wd track down to Talbotville will get you excited.

Within a few km of Talbotville are some 50 river crossings and at that time of year some will be over 1m and you can asess these without danger by camping first at Talbotville.

Agree Jacko: Was up there in Feb/March this year, and even managed Mt Pinnobar track (quite cut up at the time - worse than Billygoat's bluff!) towing my hard-floor behind my 3.0litre CRD Patrol: {the only problem was dragging my jockey-wheel (swung up but still protruding below the drawbar) over rocks and it chewed out some rubber - still quite use-able tho'.}. Passing oncoming vehicles could be a pain but they should be able to give you room. Dr Hook

Probably 40 ??
But more important is to scan continuously. That way you'll pick up any groups in your vicinity.