Wonnangatta & High Country Anzac Weekend Wander
Date and time: 9:00 am Saturday 22 April to 4:00 pm Tuesday 25 April 2023
Description: Families Welcome
With the iconic Wonnangatta Valley as our destination for the trip, we will travel via Sheepyard Flat, up to Bluff Hut and then to Lovicks Hut for our 1st night’s camp amongst the snow gums. Then slowly making our way via King Billy, down to cross the Macalister River and up to the Howitt High Plains before descending via Zeka Spur Track into the Wonnangatta Valley for our camp for the next 2 nights.
For our camp we will meet up with the Land Rover Owners Club of Victoria for our camp who will have a number of convoys coming into Wonnangatta for the weekend. Monday will be a free day to explore the valley including the well-kept cemetery (Friends of Wonnangatta) and homestead site with a swim in the Wonnangatta River for those so inclined, plus the obligatory sharing of stories and vehicle inspections. There may be an Anzac Dawn Service organised for Anzac morning with a possible Gunfire Breakfast afterwards.
For our trip home on the Tuesday, we will travel up Zeka Spur, visit Howitt Hut and walk into Guys Hut, stop in at Dimmocks Lookout and then a detour via McMichaels Hut and Kellys Hut before heading down to Licola (fuel available) and home.
As this is a Medium trip with possible hard sections (weather and track condition dependent) we require participants to have completed Proficiency driver training.
Please bring all your camping and cooking gear, food and water for the 4 days plus emergency supplies. We will have morning and afternoon teas and picnic lunches in the bush each day so please bring your food and water supplies with you ready for easy preparation. We will be travelling and camping in alpine areas so please be prepared with suitable camping gear and clothing.
We highly recommend RACV Total Care or similar plus full Ambulance Cover.
The trip may be changed at the discretion of the trip leaders for many reasons including weather and the safety of participants.
No pets please.
Weather: Alpine environment, potentially cold and wet. We have had wet weather and snow in the past, so please bring clothing, footwear and camping gear suitable for the conditions and keep an eye on the weather forecast for the Alpine area.
Equipment: Low range, Snatch strap and 2 rated shackles, Rated recovery points, air compressor and tyre gauge, 5 watt UHF radio, clothing and boots suitable for walking in the bush and wet and cold conditions, Maxtrax if you have them, First aid kit, satellite phone of you have one. Some wood if you wish to have a camp fire. Please note that camp fires are to be extinguished by water. If you are a certified chainsaw operator please bring your chainsaw and personal protection gear. Drones are only able to be used where legally allowed and away from people and vehicles.
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 – byo thermos, etc.
Trip Standard: Medium with possible hard sections – some steep, low-range hill climbs and some rocky tracks!. Possibly hard if wet and slippery.
Fuel: A full tank ex Mansfield.
Distance: Melbourne to Mansfield 188 kms. Mansfield to Wonnangatta 123kms. Wonnangatta to Licola 114kms. Licola to Melbourne 250kms.
Duration: 4 days
Convoy limit: 10 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: We will meet at BP Mansfield, 145 Mansfield Rd, Mansfield and depart at 9.00am. If you plan to get coffee beforehand then you will need to arrive a little earlier. We will aim to finish about 4.00pm at Licola on Sunday.
Trip Leaders: John and Prue Hasler, phone 0439 890 688, email p.thwait@bigpond.net.au
