victorian high country

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 11:45

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Vic High Country

This is a great trek through the Victorian High Country where you'll experience some of our most spectacular mountain areas. See high country huts,

Vic High Country

Section: Treks

This is a great trek through the Victorian High Country where you'll experience some of our most spectacular mountain areas. See high country huts,

Gossy

hi folks,

In a couple of years we are planning on doing the Canning Stock Route. We plan on doing this with a couple of other vehicles with friends in Pth. Chatting to the wife last night about plan B incase they pull out.

If we did the Vic High Country (we live in Adelaide) it would give us more time doing stuff rather than travelling to get there (Canning). What I don't know is how much time we could spend in the high country; is it covered in a few days or is 4 weeks req'd?

Ta,

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Reply By: Redback - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:42

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:42

You could spend months in the High Country and still not see it all.

Baz.

AnswerID: 407232

Follow Up By: Gossy - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:47

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:47

good!

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Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:48

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:48

Some people went in years ago and have not been seen since! LOL

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Gossy - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:51

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:51

sounds like the perfect place to get away then.

May seem like a silly question to someone who has done it. Wasn't sure if there was a couple of tracks in and out and that's it.

doesn't look that way though which is good.

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Follow Up By: Redback - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:52

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 13:52

They are called Victorians!!!

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Reply By: George_M - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:21

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:21

The High Country is a great part of Oz to explore. Just keep an eye on the weather.

Have a look at either the Rooftop Maps or Hema Maps of the High Country.

As a relatively "new" Victorian, I've found the book "4WD Tracks of the High Country" - by Craig Lewis and Cathy Savage (Boiling Billy Publications) - very helpful. This book sets out about 16 possible treks through the High Country, and is a great starter-kit for those new to the area.

There are two similar books available through the ExplorOz shop.

Enjoy!

George_M

Come any closer and I'll rip your throat out!

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Follow Up By: Gossy - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:23

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:23

brilliant, thanks,

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Reply By: Dasher Des - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:35

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:35

G'day Gossy, One of the good things about the Vic. High country is that it is only a day from Adelaide. There are numerous places to see and I have been back there a number of times and I still enjoy it as much as I did the first time I went there about 12 years ago. It's one of my favourite destinations.
Ron Moon has a book called Tracks of the Vic High Country (Or something similar) and there are other books as well that give you detailed information about where you go.
One word of warning though, if you go there once, you will want to go back again and again. LOL

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Follow Up By: Gossy - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:54

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 14:54

sounds good :)

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Reply By: vk1dx - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:09

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:09

You will love it.

I hope that you don't mind a few scratches. Some of the lesser used tracks are almost overgrown with new growth from the fires and tend to be just a meter wide. At least we came home without any dust on the sides. But the car is for the bush. Watch the Shady Creek Track upper. It a ripper. Its steep, narrow and has a broken bridge on it. Don't tow anything on it though. You will need good approach and departure angles for it. I am not sure if its in the books mentioned above. Not one for doing on your won and a winch is almost a must on at least one vehicle. But a good one to link some of the peaks together.

Put you off yet?? I hope not.

Most of the tracks are excellent. Lots of steep stuff so take not of comments in the books noted above. Quite a few are well maintained and graded more than one would expect.

But as one poster above said WATCH THE WEATHER. A lot of clay is in the roads and if it gets wet they can be very difficult for the unprepared.

But its a ripper of a place.

Enjoy

AnswerID: 407251

Reply By: Gossy - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:18

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:18

our patrol is dedicated for the bush so don't mind the scratches.

We have a front diff lock with a 2" lift and Cooper ST-C tyres so no probs there. We don't have a winch though. Have to wait to win the lotto for that.

AnswerID: 407252

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:36

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:36

Excellent. FYI we had three LC 100 series, 2 prados (couldn't get over bridge - turned back), 2 patrols and a Hilux. My 100 (lift no lockers) and one LC with lockers (both) made it, One Patrol with lockers made it. The other got stuck for a short while and the Hilux got into heaps of "tilting over the edge" trouble and took about 3 hours it winch it back on the tarck and then upo the rset on the hill. All had at least 2" list and the hilux and ours were the only ones without lockers at all. Most cars had at least STTs. Even the patrol who had trouble. Just luck and too gung ho as well.

It not just the car. Skill is important but good old Lady Luck is evident. I just "drove" up in 2nd low at 1500 revs (Its a TD). But, mind you, we both have been on dirt in many forms (all right keep it clean) for more than 40 years. Rallying and professional included as well as fun times.

Phil

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:37

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:37

What spelling errors. Once I get to three I forget them.

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Reply By: Crackles - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:53

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 16:53

Depends on the time of year. Seasonal track closures from mid June to the end of Oct will restrict access to much of the High Country but for the rest of the year the maze of tracks to key destinations could keep you busy for around 12 weeks. If you want to play on the minor tracks & adjacent Parks it will take you years to see it all.
Bit like the Canning really. Some do it in 12 days & tick it off as done while those that do all the side tracks take a few months.

Cheers Craig......

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 19:43

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 19:43

Canning in 12 days.

That's just so that they can say they "did" it. That's not experiencing it. I hope they got what they paid for. Personally I would consider it a waste of time and effort to it in anything less that 20. We haven't driven on any part of it yet and would love to see the whole length of it. Note the verb change from "do" to "drive".

We used to "do" the old unrestricted Hume from Liverpool to Balcombe (near Frankston) in just under eight hours. But we never saw anything. Just a fast drive to see the girlfriends and future wives for the weekend.

As far as the Vic Alps are concerned, not one of the guides for the trips could say they had covered all the roads and tracks in "them thar hills". Another example of "Gods Own Country" right here in Australia.

Phil

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Follow Up By: Crackles - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 20:24

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 20:24

While 3 or more weeks is great to experience the Canning the reality is most simply don't have that time particually when coupled with a trip over from the East Coast. I suppose any time on the track is better than nothing & really many aren't there to experience the drive rather just the challenge of completing it is enough.
"...not one of the guides for the trips could say they had covered all the roads and tracks in "them thar hills"
Possibly not but in 28 years I must have over 2/3's of them crossed off. Victoria is truely blessed with a lifetime of tracks to explore :-)
Cheers Craig..............

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 20:47

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 at 20:47

Well we are giving it a go each second weekend.Well weather permitting. two triups cancelled due to wet roads. Don't want to destroy them.

Give us time but unfortunately we wont have as much time as 23 years.Well done Macduff.

This weekend has just been cancelled also. Predicted heavy storms. Oh well looks like its Abercrombie maybe.

How we build up the time for a long trip:
My wife still works full time and she saved up two and a bit years of leave for the 8 week trip to the Kimberley. So when we are ready she will either be retired or we will do the same again. she already has six weeks for our trip up to Cape York later this year. But you have to have a good employer and not have that "family" trip every year. Just an idea. Same for our slow six week Perth drive in 2005.

I also realise that not all can do this. So maybe why not wait until you can at retirement and just do those hillbilly trips in the meantime. Thats what our club calls them anyway.

Phil

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