"Bush-wind-up-camping" in Benalla-Mansfield-Whitfield region?

oops, forgot to add, will be coming from Wang.

Hi Hg

Check out the James camping area , south of Benalla on Mansfield road before Lake Nilacoote.

(swanpool -> Lima east -> about 4 more kms )

You should really get Benalla Mansfield rooftop map, as its easter and there are many places around there in the northern strathbogies , but many will get occupied early.

Robin Miller

Powered site on a River..........Gentle Annie caravan park at Whitfield.
Bush camp...........Jones Camping area on the Holland creek (just off the Tatong/Tolmie rd). Buttercup Creek (East of Merrijig). Edi cutting on the King river. (May be busy). Lima East rd camp. (small creek)
Most other spots with running water are probably still a little black at the moment.
As suggested get a copy of the Rooftops "Bright-Mansfield Adventure map". Has all the camps marked on it. Being Easter & with so many campsites burnt out it would pay to get in early & expect a bit of crowding. Cheers Craig............
Benalla.

Thanks! I do have the "Bright-Mansfield" Rooftop map, looks like I need the "Benalla-Mansfield" one too.

Since we will only be getting there mid-afternoon Friday (Melb->Wang to pick kids up from grandparents ->campsite) we'll probably be last in so might have a problem finding something.

Any idea what the Mt Samaria campsites are like? Also Blue Range, too busy?

Cheers, Nige

Bit further, consider Walnuts camping area approx 15 km SE of Mitta Mitta on Omeo Highway, 3 km dirt rest bitumen, bitumen strip on road past the camp area so no dust, lookout for logging trucks, approach from North as Omeo Road can be very corrugated, caravan friendly, no power, drop toilet, running stream on 2 sides, marked on Hema maps just below Granite Flat.

Great little spot at EDI just before Whitfield on the King River. Heaps of room with long drops being the only facilities. Close to Brown Bros winery :)).

Just a little follow up to ths thread.

We went to James camping ground and got a spot on the edge of the camp ground with some shade and next to the creek. Was several other groups positioned around. Chatted to a couple of people from the main group and it seems if a quiet relax is desired, Easter is not the time to go there, as they are regulars and played LOUD music most of the day and into the night. 1st night they turned it down about 9:30 and a bit later the 2nd night. Thankfully it was similar to our own tastes, and our boys, and us, fell asleep dispite it. They also had numerous motorbikes and groups would take off or arrive back from a ride. Not a big issue as they mostly just parked them strait-away (to get at the beers I guess!)

The camp ground itself was quite good, running stream, room to kick the footy and just up the road, an abundance of firewood. We actually bought some (raided the in-laws woodheap) but gathered some more just for the fun of it. Long drop dunnies like usual.. smelly which was an experience for my boys. They did offer a good view of the campgrounds by peering thru the boards on the walls :) Went for a drive around a few of the other campsites around, including Mt Samaria and it was the pick of them.

Our camper had a problem in the 1st 5mins after setting up when the 12v pump decided to go on the fritz. Couldn't find any fuses or reset switches so I used the drain plug on the water tank to get a bucket of water. Whilst walking behind camper it dawned on me it would have been easier to use the two 20L 'jerry' cans I'd also brought along! Ended up using both over the two nights was stayed but could have been a bit more frugel washing dishes. Tried it again when we got home today and it did the exact same thing... ran for 5 secs spitting water and air then cutout. Maybe has an airlock or leak, but does mean it's still getting power which is what I thought might have been the problem.

Overall though, we had a good couple of days and proved to ourselves we can 'bush' camp successfully!

Cheers, Nige