Big Desert Basecamp Trip

Description:   This trip will be run as a base camp trip based at Big Billy Bore camping area and is designed for members who wish to experience sand and desert driving and is excellent practice for those intending to participate in some of the longer remote trips run by the Club later in the year. The trip will give you the opportunity to refine your vehicle setups and establish such important factors as ease of setting up camps, and your fuel consumption.

The Big Desert is located in the north east of the state on the border with South Australia some 450km north west of Melbourne. The drive to Big Billy Bore camping area in Big Desert State Forest Park takes approximately 6 hours from Melbourne.

The camping grounds have drop toilets with no washing facilities, or showers – bring adequate water for drinking a cooking and plan to cook on a fuel stove – although we do plan to have a fire.

Please note there is limited mobile phone reception once we have entered the park sections and that a fresh fruit and veg  quarantine is in operation at Vic-SA border (in the past I have left fruit and veg at the border whilst I go into Pinnaroo to get fuel).

Camping:

Big Billy Bore Camping Area (Big Desert State Forest Park) FREE, water and toilet  

http://www.campingvictoria.com/listing/big-billy-bore-camping-area/

Weather:  Mallee environment, potentially cold cold at night

Equipment:  Bring recovery gear, snatch strap, shackles and a shovel [if you have MaxTrax (or the like) you can throw them in if you like]. Cars should be in good condition and tyres should ideally be Light Truck (LT) construction. The desert can be hard on tyres* so we strongly recommend bringing a second spare.

*Especially Disco low profile tyres!

UHF Channel 15.

Don’t forget to bring your morning tea and lunch.

Please leave pets at home.  

Additional Equipment required:  Camping gear, food and water for the weekend.  Clothing for wet and cold conditions.  Morning tea will be in the bush each day.

Trip Standard: Medium - Most of the main tracks will be easy-medium but there may be track sections that are more difficult depending upon weather and sand conditions. A chance to develop some skills!

Fuel: A full tank from as close to Big Billy Bore as possible. We will have opportunity to refuel in Pinnaroo, on day 1 or 2) and Houptoun on day 3) and range of ca. 500km required – you may consider taking a Jerry can of fuel (depending on your tanks capacity and fuel consumption)

Distance:Approximately 1400 km

Duration:3 days

Convoy limit: 12 vehicles.

Meeting Arrangements:  We plan to meet in the Big Billy Bore Campground in the Big Desert State Forest Park South East of Pinnaroo and aim to set off at 9.00am on Saturday. We will aim to finish about 3.00pm in Hopetoun on Monday