4WD Treks Close to Melbourne: Validation of Trek 3 – Beyond Yarra Glen

Date and time:  9:00am to 4:00pm, Saturday 9^th September

Description:  The purpose of this trip is to validate Trek 3 Beyond Yarra Glen (a scenic trek) from the book ‘4WD Treks Close to Melbourne’.  This means that the trip may run slower than normal whilst time is taken to check each part of the route and note updates needed on track comments.  It would be great if you have a passenger with you to help record validation notes (must be a member or a registered temporary member). Good photos would also be helpful so feel free to take photos that maybe used in the book.

This is a scenic trek and one of the easiest drives in the book.  We will be starting from Whittlesea going through Arthur’s Creek, Strathewen and Kinglake National Park.  The trip then passes through St. Andrews on mostly easy dirt roads finishing in Yarra Glen.  We will be visiting listed picnic sites and campsites in the book where we will have our morning tea and lunch.

Meals:  Please carry all food and water for the day.  Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos).

Equipment:  A well-maintained vehicle with low range (or equivalent) / AWD.  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.

Weather:  The weather will be monitored leading up to and during the trip.  The route should be drivable in most weather conditions.

Trip Standard:  Easy – little or no four-wheel driving experience required.  Road tyres are acceptable.  Expected track classification to be encountered – Green.

Fuel:  A full tank ex Melbourne.  Fuel and supplies available Yarra Glen and Whittlesea.

Distance:  Whittlesea is approximately 50 Km from the Melbourne CBD.  Approx. distance from Whittlesea to Yarra Glen is 60 Km of mainly high range driving.

Duration:  1 day, expecting we will finish early afternoon

Convoy limit:  8 vehicles

Meeting arrangements:  We plan to meet at the Lemon Tree Park Carpark in Whittlesea at 9.00am for our trip briefing. Google maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/eYjXUE6HwJ9tSU4SA.  If you plan to get coffee before hand then you will need to arrive a little earlier.  We will aim to finish about 4.00pm in Yarra Glen

Trip Leader: (trainee, in charge of navigation):  Ledri Argonza, 0404 72 23 72, Ledzargonza@hotmail.com

Trek Manager: (in charge of trek validation): Nick Everingham, 0400 628 779, nickeveringham@mac.com