Dargo Base Camp
Date and time: 9:00am, Saturday 9th March to 1:00pm Monday 11 March
Trip Standard: Medium to Hard - some steep, low-range hill climbs and some rocky tracks!
Description: For many years RRCV has held a base camp at Dargo on the Labour Day weekend in March. Again, this year we will stay at the Dargo River Inn campground. The Labour Day weekend is always popular, so if you are thinking about going to Dargo and want to book a cabin, or even a powered site, my advice is that you do this ASAP.
For those new to this event, the Dargo area has a lot of history, as well as very spectacular scenery and great 4WD tracks. ALL MEMBERS are welcome. New Members who have not completed driver training will be catered for and are most welcome.
This is a basecamp for 3 nights: Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Bring your own tent, camper or caravan. We will cater for all 4WDriving skill levels, from novice to experienced drivers, so there will be trips with varying degrees of difficulty. Trips will be decided closer to the weekend when weather and track conditions are known but there will be several different trips occurring each day, returning to base camp each afternoon.
Before the Saturday night dinner, we would like to have people coming to a common area for some pre-dinner drinks and nibbles (byo drinks and a small plate to share). We will also make a booking for the Sunday night at the River Inn for a pub meal.
Dargo is approached via Princes Highway through Sale and Stratford. Approx. 23 km past Stratford turn towards Fernbank, follow signs to Dargo (take care on the Dargo road especially if towing). The Dargo River Inn situated on the Lower Dargo Road and is well signposted. Turn right just past the 80 Kph restriction sign as you enter the Dargo township. Please try to arrive at the Caravan Park anytime on Friday or before 8:30 am on Saturday. In the park, follow the RRCV signs – the Trip Leaders will be there to meet you.
Caravan Park Bookings: This year you will need to book your accommodation with the Dargo River Inn directly, book through their web site at www.dargoriverinn.com.au or ph +613 5140 1330. We have made arrangements for our group to occupy an area with both powered and unpowered sites, so make sure you mention that you are with the Range Rover 4WD club so you are allocated a site with our group. If you want to book a cabin or a powered site, you will need to book fairly early, since this is a popular weekend in Dargo. There is a large area for unpowered sites, so if you don’t require power there is less urgency. If you wish to come early or stay longer you can arrange this as part of your booking, although there should be no problems with these requests.
Weather: Alpine environment, potentially cold and wet. Bring appropriate clothing and footwear. We have had wet weather in the past, so please review the weather forecast for the Alpine area prior to the event and bring clothing, footwear and camping gear suitable for the conditions.
Equipment: Well-maintained vehicle with low range (or equivalent), good clearance (200mm recommended as a minimum), good off-road tyres (All Terrain, 60 profile recommended as a minimum), recovery points, standard recovery gear including dampener, rated snatch strap and shackles, shovel and UHF radio (or let me know if you need one borrowed from the club).
Dargo is quite remote and the tracks we will be driving are steep, rocky and challenging, so vehicle failures / repairs / recovery can be difficult and expensive. Please do a thorough vehicle check beforehand and if in doubt, have your vehicle serviced and thoroughly checked by a mechanic familiar with 4WDriving.
We have had vehicle breakdowns and breakages in the past and RACV Total Care has been excellent in transporting vehicles for repair or back to Melbourne. It is recommended you take out this cover as insurance prior to the trip
Hat, torch, good footwear, warm clothes (cold nights), NAME TAGS, kids bikes.
Simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos), food for 3 days, drinking water and port.
DO NOT bring: Pets, firearms, or motorbikes.
Fuel: Fuel on the way and available at Dargo (no LPG).
Distance: Dargo is approximately 320 km (4 to 5 hours) from Melbourne. Trips each day are from 50Km to 90 Km of mainly low range driving.
Convoy limit: None. This trip will cater for large numbers.
Meeting Arrangements: Base Camp at the Dargo River Inn, Lower Dargo Road, Dargo. Dargo is approximately 4 to 5 hours from Melbourne. There will be a driver briefing at 8:30 am on Saturday morning, ready for a 9:00 am departure. If you plan to arrive on Saturday morning, please allow time to air down and be ready for the 9:00 am departure.
Trip Leader: Graeme Carter Ph 0400 195 932
Club Guest Registration policy: It is club policy in regard to insurance cover that if a member brings any non-members on the trip they must be registered and have paid the required fee as Temporary Members BEFORE the event.
i.e. non- members can no longer register on the day with the trip leader.
Temporary Membership information and ways to register can be found at:
Temporary (Guest) Membership
Also if a non-member wishes to bring their own vehicle, the member inviting the non-member must contact the trip leader for approval to bring the vehicle. Such approval will take into account skills of the driver, suitability of the vehicle and whether or not a place within the convoy limit is available for a non-member's vehicle.
