Date and time: 9:00am, Tuesday 27 December to 1:00pm Saturday 31 December 2022
Description: Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
The Foresters are feeling operatic so they are conducting a family friendly Grand Tour of Far East Gippsland in two Acts. This is Act 1 and will be the last RRCV trip of the year. (Act 2 will be 10-14 January 2023)
Starting in Cann River we will explore areas of the Coopracambra and Errinundra National Parks. Some of the highlights we aim to visit include Nevilles Falls, Beehive Falls, Frosty Hollow, Three Sisters Lookout, Queensborough River, Goonmirk Rocks, Ada River, Errinundra Old Growth Forest Walk, Bendoc, and Wilson’s Hut. Our final itinerary depends on current weather and track conditions. We will finish by lunchtime on 31 December in Orbost in time for participants to drive home before the New Year.
Please carry all food and water for 41/2 days plus cooking and camping equipment. Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas. Clothing and closed toe footwear for warm and possibly wet conditions (depending on forecast).
No camper trailers, pets or firearms.
References: Rooftops ‘Cann River – Orbost – Delegate’ and Mallacoota – Merimbula’ Adventure Maps. Far East Gippsland Back Road Tours Guide
Accommodation: We will bush camp in designated National Parks campsites with drop toilets available.
Weather: This area has Victoria’s second highest rainfall, so expect rain most days. Otherwise these areas will be warm, but not overly hot. There are snakes in the areas so closed toes footwear is recommended.
Review the Combienbar and Bendoc weather forecasts leading up to the trip and bring appropriate clothing, footwear and camping gear.
The fire warning levels will be monitored leading up to and during the trip. The trip will be modified or cancelled if the fire danger is too high.
Equipment: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if you 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: Sunscreen, camping gear suitable for summer alpine environments, some cold and wet weather clothing as alpine weather can change suddenly, optional swimming gear, air compressor and tyre gauge, MaxTrax or similar recovery equipment. A chainsaw and PPE are useful for the odd fallen tree. A winch may be handy if you have one. Each vehicle ought to bring half a bag of firewood for our nightly group campfire (depending on weather).
Trip Standard: Medium – Many tracks are easy, but there are some which would become medium if wet. One or two short optional sections are classified as hard.
Fuel: Enough fuel from Cann River for 500km. There are no planned fuel stops so please carry extra fuel as needed. It would be a good idea to carry an extra full jerrycan or two of fuel.
Distance: Melbourne to Cann River 450kms. Cann River to Orbost 500km. Orbost to Melbourne 370km.
Duration: 5 days
Convoy limit: 10 vehicles
Passengers & non-member participation: If you wish to bring a passenger that is not a partner or your child 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 plan to meet at the back of the United Petroleum Cann River fuel station near the Princes Highway roundabout of Cann River at 9.00am for our trip briefing. (What3Words reference https://w3w.co/express.sprees.packers). We aim to finish about 1:00pm in Orbost on the Saturday.
Trip Leaders: James Lawson, Phone - 0429 265 550, Email – lawsonj71au@gmail.com
