Date and time: 9.00am Thursday 21stApril to Saturday 30th April (There is some flexibility in these dates),
Description: All roads re-opened last week after the rains. All visits are suggestions only. Gold coins will be needed for Balranald Visitor Centre showers and entry permits and parking in the National Parks. There will be some unsealed Outback roads but much of the trip will be on sealed roads. We will stay in caravan parks where possible. This will be a leisurely road trip!
The route we will take will be north along the Cobb Hwy (aka “The Long Paddock”) with visits to sights in Deniliquin and onto Hay staying at the Hay Caravan Park for 2 nights. Sunset over the Hay Plains, Australian Shearers Hall of Fame, Bidgee Riverside Trail, Dunera Museum.
From Hay onto Balranald. Free camping on the Murrumbidgee River. Visits to Yanga Station Homestead & restored gardens on Lake Yanga, historic shearing sheds and wool sheds. Then onto Lake Mungo National Park staying at the Main Campground. Visits to Lake Mungo historic shearing shed and walks, visit Zanci Station . Guided Sunset Tour to The Walls of China.
Lake Mungo to Menindee across Lakes Leaghur and Gampung to the Ivanhoe - Menindee Road. Camping at either Pamamaroo Lake or Cawndilla in the Kinchega National Park. Day 8 here can be a rest day or sightseeing. We will need to pre-book caravan parks and the Lake Mungo Main Camp ground which has only 34 sites.
From Menindee we will travel along the Darling River to Wentworth via Pooncarie. Staying at, hopefully if re-opened, Willow Bend Caravan Park at the confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers. Visits to the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, Old Wentworth Gaol and Lock 10. Final day lunch at the Trentham Estate Winery at Trentham Cliffs on the Murray River.
Weather: Mild days and cool nights.
Equipment: A well-maintained vehicle with normal road tyres are OK for this trip (All Terrain tyres would be preferred), UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club). Recovery gear is not mandatory, but if you have it, bring your standard recovery gear including, rated snatch strap, shackles and a shovel in case we have wet weather in the Lake Mungo National Park
Camper trailers or off-road caravans can be taken.
Trip Standard: Easy – Mainly sealed roads and some outback gravel roads.
Fuel: a full tank ex Echuca
Duration: 10 days
Convoy limit: 6 vehicles. We will need to pre-book caravan parks and the Lake Mungo Main Camp ground which has only 34 sites.
Meeting arrangements: we will meet at 9:00 am at the campground at Lake Moira, Barmah State Forest (north east of Echuca) .
Trip Leader: Peter Nissen. 0418 562 549 or pnissen@bigpond.net.au
