Date and time: 7:30pm, (Friday night) 27th October to 4:00pm Tuesday 1 November
Description: The highlights of this trip will include Lake Cobbler, camping on the Buckland River at Beveridges station, views from the Blue Rag trig point, camping at Wonnangatta station, climbing Billy Goat Bluff and views from the Pinnacles. Given the wet weather this winter, this route may be subject to alteration if river levels are too high to be safely crossed.
The trip will commence at Mansfield on Friday night and we will travel via the Buller road to Corn Hill (close to the Mt Buller ski village) before a fairly easy 4WD track to the Stirling Ring Road and to Bindarree Flat for our first night camp. This will involve some fairly easy night 4WDriving.
Our route on Saturday will climb up the Staircase to Lake Cobbler, then over into the East Buckland River Valley with some steep climbs and good views looking back toward the high country to the south. Tonights camp will be in the Buckland valley around Beveridge Station area.
Day 2 will travel south visiting the Blue Rag trig point for more spectacular high country views. We will then follow tracks south to the Wonnangatta Valley which we will enter at the head of the valley, before following along the valley to camp in the area around the Wonnangatta Station site to join up with Graeme Allen’s RRCV trip. The Wonnangatta valley has an interesting history and is a remote valley landscape, dotted with English trees from a by-gone era.
On Monday morning we will visit the homestead site and nearby cemetery and read about of the history of the valley and of the Bryce family that farmed the valley and made it their home from the mid 1800's. We will then travel further down the valley before heading up a steep Herne Spur Track onto the Wombat Range Track before again dropping down to Eaglevale and cross the Wonnangatta River. We then travel up the iconic Billy Goat Track to the Pinnacles lookout, which has a superb view of the high country from the fire tower. On the Monday night we camp on the snow plain at the junction of the Moroka Road and Doolans Plain Track.
On the Tuesday we travel along the Tamboritha Road before dropping down into low range down along the B1 and Chromite Mine tracks, crossing the Wellington River before climbing again up to the Burgoyne Track, then on to the Cheynes Bridge campground (about 20 Km south of Licola and 32 Km from Heyfield) where our trip will finish.
Given the wet weather this winter, this route may be subject to alteration if river levels are too high to safely cross. There are alternate detours that can be used that may take some extra time. You should allow plenty of margin in your fuel calculations in case this is required.
The best maps are the Rooftop's Bright – Mansfield Adventure Map, Jamieson - Licola Adventure Map and the Dargo-Wonnangatta Adventure Map.
Weather: Alpine environment, potentially cold and wet. Review the Alpine weather forecast leading up to the trip and bring appropriate clothing, footwear and camping gear.
Equipment: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if your vehicle is suitable for a trip, please have a chat with the trip leader.
Good off-road tyres (All Terrain, 60 profile recommended as a minimum), UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club), a well-maintained vehicle with low range (or equivalent), good ground clearance (200mm recommended as a minimum), recovery points, standard recovery gear including dampener, rated snatch strap and shackles, shovel. Drivers must have completed the RRCV club training or equivalent.
Additional Equipment required: Camping gear food and drinking water for 4 days / 4 night in the bush. Clothing for wet and cold conditions. Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos).
No camper trailers, pets or firearms
Trip Standard: Hard - Some tracks are rated medium and some hard. Expect steep climbs and descents, challenging sections, water crossings, ruts and bog holes after rain.
Fuel: a full tank ex Mansfield. Given the wet weather this winter, this route may be subject to alteration if river levels are too high to safely cross. There are alternate detours that can be used that may take some extra time. You should allow plenty of margin in your fuel calculations in case this is required.
Distance: Mansfield is approximately 200 Km from Melbourne. Mansfield to Heyfield is approximately 500 Km total, with 100 Km of high range highway driving and approximately 375Km of low range driving. Fuel is available at Mansfield and Heyfield, but not along the route we will be taking.
Duration: 4 days
Convoy limit: 8 vehicles
Passengers & non-member participation: If you wish to bring a passenger that is not a partner or your child visit they must register as Temporary Members to join in. See our website for details.
Temporary (Guest) Membership
Temporary Members are NOT allowed to drive with out speaking to the Trip Leader first. This is to ensure that the driver and vehicle are sufficiently prepared for the trip.
Meeting arrangements: We will plan to meet at the BP service station, just as you leave Mansfield on the Mt Buller Road. This is the last fuel for the trip and you MUST have full fuel tanks at this point.
We will meet at 7:30 pm for the drive to Bindaree Flat. Please let me know if you cannot make this time or are confident to make your own way to Bindaree, which is about 10 Km off the Mt Stirling Road. We will leave Bindaree at about 8:30 am on Saturday morning and there will be an option to meet at the corner of the Stirling Circuit Rd and Bindaree Rd at about 9:00 am (again if you are confident to make your way there independently).
Trip Leader: Graeme Carter, Phone - 04 00 195 932, Email - graeme.carter23@bigpond.com
