Source of the Murray River?
Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 13:22
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ChrisK
Planning a trip next year along the Murray. We would like to be able to start at it's source. I have tried to get some info on where this might be. I would have thought there would be some spot in the
Snowy mountains that is marked as the "official source of the Murray". Can anybody out there help with this.
We have a 4x4 and will be towing a 15' off-road van on the trip (obviously not up into the mountains). We thought that we might spend a couple of days around Tumut as it had such a pivotal part to play in the
snowy mountains scheme to start our trip then wander down towards
Khancoban etc. to see ithat part of the world then off down to Corryong etc.. to start the trip on the flat country. If anyone has any details on a similar trip with
camping advice etc. that would be appreciate. I should mention that we'll have a small dog with us so that excludes us from
camping in national parks. Look forward to any reply's & advice.
Reply By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 13:50
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 13:50
You can't drive to the source of the Murray (actually the Indi river). The Murray River actually starts at
the junction of the Indi and Swampy Plains rivers.
Any how, if you enter 'Murray source' in the search area you will get a number of links to information including
camping suggestions.
You can take your van to
Tom Groggin. This is about as close to the headwaters as you can comfortable drive.
We just did a tagalong caravan tour from Colac Colac, including a day trip to
Tom Groggin, to the Mouth of the Murray. We did some '
camping' along the river and also stayed at caravan parks. It took about 21 days.
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Follow Up By: ChrisK - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 13:58
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 13:58
Rod,
Thanks for the quick reply. I'll follow your suggestions for the search for the source. The tag-a-log trip was it an organised trip or just a casual one with some friends?
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Follow Up By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:08
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:08
The tag-a-long was an organised one. See here
Murray River Ramble Apart from entry onto
Tom Groggin Station all the
places we went to are public areas but without the knowledge of the tour leader we would have probably missed out on seeing some of the
places.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike (SA) - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 17:49
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 17:49
Hi,
Cowombat Flat is the place! You can stand there with a foot in each state.
regards
Mike
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Reply By: Member - Rodney B- Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:40
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:40
Hi Chris
Did the trip a couple of years ago but started at the Mouth and worked our way back to
Tom Groggin. Some of our party (the fit ones) did the walk into
Cowombat flat to the source. It was a huge walk for them over 24Kms in the day.
The trip is a great one and not to be missed with
camping all along the river in some awesome spots. We only stayed at 1 caravan
park on the trip and that was down near the mouth in SA all the rest was
free camping. Also a fee at
Tom Groggin the but you can cross the river into Vic and
camp for free. The
camping is not as good as
Tom Groggin.
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Reply By: Gossy - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:51
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 14:51
the official point has been surveyed many years ago and a stake placed in the ground. Basically starts at an underground spring with a very small trickle coming out of the ground. 4wd track to get to it and then a walk off the track for a few km's.
Found out about this after watching a DVD on kayaking the whole length of the Murray. The host was with a
Ranger so I'm not sure if it's accessible to the general public.
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Reply By: Time - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 15:02
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 15:02
36 47 22.4736 S
148 11 53.8980 E
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Reply By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 15:30
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 15:30
We had a guy on here a few years ago, Dave Cornthwaite, who travelled from the source to the sea by kayak. We sponsored his trip and he wrote some awesome
blogs, with tons of video etc. Now the trip is over, his
membership has lapsed so you can't access his
blogs, however he is still paddling all over the world on more expeditions. His website has a section for each of his major journeys, I've just found the link to the
Murray River one - which you might find worth reading
here
Oh, I've just realised your driving, not paddling. Still, you might find something useful there.
Michelle
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Reply By: Member - wicket - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 16:04
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 16:04
I think the closest you can
camp to the source is The Poplars
Campsite at the end of
Limestone Creek Track. As mentined you can head to Cowombat Tk but you will have to walk it.
Rooftop maps probably are the most detailed and informative of this area.
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 18:07
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 18:07
A few photos of the source of the Murray and the cairn built to re establish the start of the Black - Allen Line which is the straight bit of the Vic/NSW border.
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 18:12
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 18:12
Sorry forgot to add, the photos are not
mine but are taken by a friend who was part of the survey team to locate and re establish the respective markers are in the correct place by the Victorian Surveyor Generals Department some years ago now.
Just thought they were worth sharing with you all as its a place not many get to see without a great deal of effort.
Have more of them building the cairn and the location of the original Black Allen survey point.
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Follow Up By: Harry - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 21:57
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 21:57
G'day Big John,
You should have mentioned his name Black as
well.
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 23:16
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 23:16
Oh!! and the bloke who took the photos, his name is also "Black" no relation to the original surveyor Black :))
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Follow Up By: Harry - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 20:17
Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 20:17
Now some pics of the cairn building would be interesting as I haven't been shown them yet.
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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 19:11
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 19:11
We travelled to within a couple of kilometres of the cairn a few years ago.
We headed south out of
Jindabyne turned right after crossing the border near Suggan Buggan and turned west.
The details are a bit foggy now, lots of
water under the bridge since then. We were towing a Trak Shak along a very narrow track. We stopped at a rising
creek in heavy rain. Didn't want to get stuck on the wrong side especially as it was late in the day. According to the GPS we were less than 3km (beeline) from the way point I had been given.
We camped less than half an hours drive from the point we turned around.
I will try to find the book I got the directions from. If I can I will post the Title and author along with some directions. Unfortunately I can't verify that the details for this location were accurate but everything else in the book has proven spot on so far.
Duncs
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Reply By: Crackles - Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 21:34
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 at 21:34
With
well over half your route inside the Alpine National
Park on narrow steep roads it may
well pay to leave the dog & van elsewhere for this section of your trip particually as there are few caravan options any where near the Source. Closest walk in is from the Cobbera's track on the Victorian side and is around 7km uphill.
Cheers Craig..............
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Reply By: ChrisK - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 08:59
Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 08:59
Great info everybody, thank you to all that have posted replies etc. This now gives me lots of info to start researching this part of the trip. We understand that the van & dog will have to be left outside the Nat
park some where. I feel confident we can find some wher that'll suit.
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Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 21:50
Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 21:50
HI ChrisK, click on these links: Native Dog Flat and
Forest Hill Cairn. We have twice attempted to reach the source from Native dog
campsite along the Cobberas track. Firstly in Jan '08 and again this year. On the Rooftop map the cartographer has marked a "steep section" which in the 3 years has become gouged out by 2 inch lifted rockhoppers and big tyres. One would get down but as for getting back up....... The alternative is to come in west off the Barry Way along the McFarlane Tk. One group we met had driven in and camped, then walked in and not found the cairn. The map shows that it's 4 km as the crow flies from the
gate on the track to the river source. So it's a bushbash with a GPS needed. Its on the backburner for us although all this typing about it has got me thinking......W
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