Camping near Dargo
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 00:58
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Crystal Lodge
Hi Everybody,
Hope someone out there can help me.
I want to go camping around
Dargo around Christmas (I know, I know!). I'm looking for recommendations for camping sites and directions if possible for a site that's not too crowded.
There are about 6 of us going ( incl 2 infants), mostly normal
sedan vehicles (not 4WD) and we'd like to
camp by a river(fishing, swimming). Shower and
toilet facilities are not required and we don't want to stay at a caravan park.
We are very new to camping (been about 6 times over the last 10 years) but have tents etc.
Does anyone know what Mayford is like? The Macalister?
Looking forward to a flood of replies!
Thanks
Reply By: Boobook2 - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 07:55
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 07:55
Firstly, there is no way you can get into Mayford in a 2wd. The only way in these days is King Spur track and it is pretty steep and rough down the bottom. It is difficult to get up in any vehicle after a little rain.
There are about 12-15 good spots on the
Wellington River, just out of
Licola. They are
well off the road and DSE / Parks has done a lot of work on them after the fires / floods in 2006. Turn right on the Tamboritha Rd just before the
bridge over the McCallister river as you enter
Licola. The spots are 10 - 20km from there.
There are also a few
camp sites on the
Dargo, about 10km out of
Dargo on the North
Dargo Rd. They would be pretty dusy then though.
AnswerID:
386971
Reply By: Boobook2 - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 07:57
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 07:57
Firstly, there is no way you can get into Mayford in a 2wd. The only way in these days is King Spur track and it is pretty steep and rough down the bottom. It is difficult to get up in ANY vehicle after a little rain.
There are about 12-15 good spots on the
Wellington River, just out of
Licola. They are
well off the road and DSE / Parks has done a lot of work on them after the fires / floods in 2006. Turn right on the Tamboritha Rd just before the
bridge over the McCallister river as you enter
Licola. The spots are 10 - 20km from there.
There are also a few
camp sites on the
Dargo, about 10km out of
Dargo on the North
Dargo Rd. They would be pretty busy then though.
Get the rooftop maps for the areas, they show camping spots and are pretty reliable.
AnswerID:
386972
Follow Up By: Boobook2 - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 14:40
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 14:40
Hmm Upper
Dargo Rd, not North
Dargo rd. Sorry.
FollowupID:
654597
Reply By: Mr Pointyhead - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 08:09
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 08:09
Mitchell river is a nice spot, with good dirt road access. The good road was built for access to the site for the now canceled
dam project. Hence 2wd should find the access easy.
The
camping area is a very large open grassy area on the side of the river. It is here:
Mitchell river camp
Access is via the
Mitchell River Access Road (Strangely enough !) which is 2wd access. Note, The Augusvale Trk is closed and does not cross the
Mitchell River.
River is popular with canoeists etc.
I suspect it could get busy over Christmas though.
Another option is there are a number of campsites along the
Upper Dargo Road. The road is 2wd with care. It is not as good a road as the
Mitchell River access road. Again, I think these campsites could get busy, and it is first in best dressed for them.
AnswerID:
386973
Follow Up By: River Swaggie - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 20:55
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 20:55
***Note, The Augusvale Trk is closed and does not cross the
Mitchell River. ****
Hiya Pointyhead
Not Correct...Hortons Crossing is now open (
check river level prior to crossing). Note Hortons crossing can no longer be accessed from the north end of Angusvale because of new
gate (
well been there about 18 months plus now ) so you can access from
Mitchell Rd about 6.2kms from the
Dargo rd on your right,then another 1.4kms on your left,Then Angusvale track down to
Mitchell River near the Slalom rapids (access from
Rock Creek).Turn left till you get to
Rock creek track on your right (very short) to Hortons Crossing (over the
Mitchell).Beware this crossing is dangerous at times,depending on water level.
I would travel in a 2wd this way but i know it,I would not in the wet though..If your experienced ok,If not just use the
Mitchell Rd into Angusvale...
Oh dont go further than the Angusvale Track on your left there are easier routes to get to the Amphitheater...(wich is a must see)
Goodluck
FollowupID:
654644
Follow Up By: Mr Pointyhead - Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 07:41
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 07:41
I am aware the Hortons crossing is open. However, Augusvale track does NOT cross the
Mitchell at Hortons crossing. The map shows it crossing at the the other end of the
camping area, which is definitely closed.
(Even though last time I was there in April some twits had camped across the Augustvale track where the
Mitchell River walking track departs from it, so I had to weave through their tents to get through !)
You are absolutely correct suggesting that they visit they Amphitheater !.
Also, Augusvale track is closed between the
Camping area and where Hortons track joins it (Except for idiots on trail bikes I noticed last time I was there).
IMHO, I do not think that I would recommend 2wd access via Hortons track though .
FollowupID:
654687
Follow Up By: River Swaggie - Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 14:59
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 14:59
**I am aware the Hortons crossing is open. However, Augusvale track does NOT cross the
Mitchell at Hortons crossing. The map shows it crossing at the the other end of the
camping area, which is definitely closed. ***
Ok i gather you are talking the North end of Angusvale,closer to
Dargo..As you come into Angusvale
Camp Area and the Pit
Toilets the crossing is to the left of you..That crossing hasn't been available for about 20 odd years...Unless they cleared it in last 12 months.A lot of work has been done @ the Slalom Rapids end of the Angusvale track.There is also a pit
toilet there..But very small
camp area..
***IMHO, I do not think that I would recommend 2wd access via Hortons track though .**
Wheres your sense of adventure,you have the river to stop at the bottom lol
FollowupID:
654729
Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 16:44
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 16:44
Hi Bruce
Its almost all freeway for you to beyond Morwell these days and a pretty easy
run past that till you turn off the highway 30km east of Stratford (signposted
Dargo, think says 80km),
soon after you turn off you go across railway line at little place called Ferndale
and road becomes narrower but bitumen all the way to
Dargo.
Good 1/2 way stops at Macca's on left thru Taralgon ,Sale and also
at Stratford(not Macca's).
Dargo and its 1
general store is a good last stop about 50mins from
Talbotville.
Following on from Marks reply , the river is currently to high to cross past the main 2wd access
campground.
If its the cup day weekend your going it will be busy, and odds are river will be at around a meter but its so dependant on weather.
The other sites are acessible but only by 4wd down tracks that are at the limit if wet and not reccomended with trailer e.g. Collingwood spur.
If you found you really needed a more out of the way place and could not cross the river then it would be worth tracking back to 10km south of
Dargo and going up the Wonnagatta road, where there are 60-70km of possible sites, some very remote towards the northern end, and 2wd access.
AnswerID:
387048