Victorian High Country

We intend to spend a month or so touring thru the victorian highlands in Feb09. Will be towing a full size van that is suitable for fair to good dirt roads not 4WD.
Doing the usual research on the net but would be interested to hear from people who have done this area.
Places that musn't be missed, things must do etc. Also any free camps that you know of.
thanks in advance
Gary
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Reply By: Member - Alan H (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 09:47

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 09:47
Plenty of free camps in area and if you are going after school holidays it should not be a problem.

You will be able to get your van into Talbotville which then gives you a good base to explore surrounding roads. Most of the surrounding roads are real 4WD with steep ups and downs and not a place for van.

It is a great area with lots to see and do. Get the Hema High Country map and go for it.

Be aware of fires and if there is any sign of fires get out of there as some of the roads can be slow travelling.

Zeka Track, Wongangatta River etc make interesting drives. If you have some experience then Bulltown etc makes a good drive.

Talbotville, Bulltown etc are sites of towns in the past. Dargo is a real town where supplies etc are available.

Enjoy the trip.

Alan
AnswerID: 327366

Reply By: Des Lexic - Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 10:18

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 10:18
Just North of Dargo is an area called Italian flat which offers a reasonable camp area with a toilet and a nice river running past.

South of Mansfield is a camp area at Jamieson whach has toilets but a smalll camping fee

Wonangatta is a really nice area to explore as well
AnswerID: 327370

Follow Up By: Member - Paul W (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 22:41

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 22:41
when at wonangatta go up the hill and check out the cemetery, worth a look
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Reply By: A J - Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 10:51

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 10:51
Gary N Kerry - there are two books advertised on this site - Ghost towns of the High County and The High Country. These books may assist you with your trip. Has anyone an opinion on these two books?



A J

AnswerID: 327372

Follow Up By: Squizzy - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 07:38

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 07:38
AJ,

I have the book 'The High Country - 4WD and Camping Guide' by Craig Lewis and Cathy Savage.

An excellent guide to the High Country. It has all tracks rated for difficulty, and lists all camping grounds.

It will give you good knowledge on planning a trip into the High Country, with or without a caravan. A must read or purchase if going into that area.

Geoff.
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Follow Up By: Member - Alastair D (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 07:42

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 07:42
AJ,
I have both the books you mention. I would not consider them essential but it adds to the enjoyment when you can read about the history of the area as you travel through.

It is amazing to read about carting all the supplies by horse and cart to the old gold mines when you are actually there and can see the terrain. The oldtimers must have been tough not to mention the poor horses and bullocks.

alastair
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Reply By: On Patrol & TONI - Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 11:24

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 11:24
Gary n Kerry
The van can only be used as a base camp somewhere "like Talbotville" as mentioned. Hope you have good fly screens on the van.

As for maps I would highly recommend the Rooftop Map series as the definitive maps to use in the HC, these are available on this site from the map shop. They have just about everything on them and are highly detailed and up to date, Hema are not bad but I have found a few discrepancies to actual.
Enjoy that wonderful place, you will want to go back to time and again.

A trip up Billy Goat Bluff track to the & Mt Blue Rag track are IMHO must do tracks and the pilgrimage to Craig's Hut also.

Rooftop Maps list all points of interest in great detail.

Cheers Colin.
AnswerID: 327374

Follow Up By: On Patrol & TONI - Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 11:26

Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 at 11:26
That should read "A trip up Billy Goat Bluff track to the Pinnacle's"
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Reply By: Crackles - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 13:14

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 13:14
Gary the High Country takes about 3 months to see the "must do" sights. I've been going 25 years & have covered almost 75%. You have the option to either see a few of the highlights right accoss it or concentrate on an area.
What are you looking to see & do? Are you after challenging tracks, history, food & wine, great views, isolation, action sports or entertainment?
Unlike other states there are literally thousands of free camp sites many being marked on the Rooftops series of maps which are by far the best for vehicle based touring. The main limitation will be your van. Is it a 2wd or a high clearance offroad version?
As a starting list you may like to visit......
Wyhallah, Woods Point, Mt Terrible, Mitchell's flat, Bluff Hut, Craig's hut, Lake Cobbler, Mt Murray, Mt Pinabar, Snowy river, The Pinnacles, Caledonia River, Wonnangatta, Mt Howwit, Mt Feathertop, Talbotville, Mt Wellington, Dargo, Licola, Bryces Gorge, Big River, Blue Rag Range & Beechworh Bakery.

Have fun, Cheers Craig......................
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Follow Up By: Gary n Kerry - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 17:26

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 17:26
Hi Craig,
thank you for your response.
We are novices at both caravanning and 4Wding, this is our first caravan and 4WD.
Towing a 23' van behind a Hyundai Terracan, the terry was bought primarily as a economical tow vehicle but we would like to ease into some off road stuff.

I realize the van is going to limit where we can go but am happy just to use as a base somewhere and go off exploring. Actually have 5 months off work and thought it would be cooler in the high country during feb, from there we really don't have any plans, will take it as it comes and if we get no further than Vic so be it. We plan to retire in Nov09 and hit the road full time.
SWMBO is into walks and scenery, me, well the food and wine stuff sounds great.
cheers Gary
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 18:54

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 18:54
Certainly a great place to escape the heat some what being 5 to 15 degrees cooler in the hills over summer.
There are some nice free camps up the Buckland Valley that will give you access to the food & wine districts of Bright, Milawa & Beechworth. Some old mining history about with excellent day drives to Mt Buffalo, Blue Rag, Mt Murray, Mt Hotham & Wonnangatta. There are some steep hills in the area to be careful on but most places can be accessed by a more scenic route.
Bennies on the Rose river is probably the furtherest easily accessable camp which allows a great drive up to Lake Cobbler, Mt Speculation, Craig's Hut, Wybonga Plateau, Paradise falls, Lake William Hovell & Powers Lookout.
Sheepyard flat on the Howqua river is another base from which to head to Mt Stirling, Mt Buller, Mt #3, Bluff Hut, King Billy lookout, Bindaree falls & Mitchells flat along with a large number of old cattlemens huts.
Around near Jamieson there again are plenty of great camps along the River with plenty of mining relics up to Woods Point & lookouts from Mt Terrible & Mt Skene.
Over the Divide a stay at Erica or Rawson is in easy reach of the scenic railway into an excellent mine tour at Walhalla.
Camping around Licola on the Wellington river you can head up to the Pinnacals lookout (the easy way) with great walks to Lake Tali Karng, Mt Howwit & Bryces Gorge to name a few.
Italian Flat above Dargo is in reach of Harrisons cut, The dogs Grave & the extensive mining areas of Talbotville & Grant. The place comes alive over Easter with it's famous Walnut festival.
An area also well worth a vist is north of Buchan (caves ) up to McKillops Bridge on the Snowy river.
Heaps of other places up there of course just a matter of linking them all together.
Cheers Craig..............
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 at 11:41

Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 at 11:41
All very good advice/recommendations.

Leroy
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Reply By: Member - Old Girl (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 15:24

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 15:24
We are coming back from Adelaide towing too, to QLD via The Great ocean road and the Vic High country in Jan. All depends on fires. Got court in the Sydney Fires trying to do the same trip about 6 years ago, scary bleep . Wont have time to do much. Staying at Mansfield for two nights and having a look at Craigs hut. As a lover of man From Snowy River its a must see for me. Not seeing it all on one trip means we will have to go back some other time. If time is on our sides the Three Sisters will get a photo or two too. Weve sold the house the next on the list is upgrade our van to a family van and off to WA after this wet season. Cant wait
Sharon
AnswerID: 327505

Follow Up By: Gary n Kerry - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 17:30

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 17:30
Hi Sharon,
how scary was it selling the house?
I want to sell up but my wife wants to keep as a base. Still under review.
cheers
Gary
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Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl (QLD) - Monday, Sep 29, 2008 at 08:26

Monday, Sep 29, 2008 at 08:26
Gary,
You have got to be strong and invest WISLY the money you make from the house, so in the event should we need to come back its there to buy another one. We are storing our worldly possessions.
We have broken out of the bubble with the help of interest rates. We came off a 5 year fixed interest rate and the house repayments jumped 3% in one great big thud. We also were a subcontractor with a truck. It is well documented what that has become like. So we have a huge disrespect for the Gov and any official sitting in an office that gives the orders with out realy knowing what its like to do the job at hand. Put it blunt we became bleep off and have decided to go it alone for a while and do what makes us happy and that's get out in this wide wide land of ours and see it. Hubby has MC and dangerous goods licence with out back off road experience driving thos big suckers so we should be right in that dept. I have a blue card for working with children and Cert three business and Accounting so we have a resume to back us up.Sure we know there is going to be times of bugger i need more space and stuff like that but the alternative was worse. We are so happy to have broken out of the bubble.
We move this week, i look at my garden(I love gardening) and feel a bit sad but hey got to be tough.
Sharon
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Reply By: Gary n Kerry - Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 17:17

Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 17:17
Thank you to those people who responded to my query, will take it all onboard.
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