BASE CAMP - KING RIVER HUT
STRINGYBARK CREEK HISTORIC AREA
WALK TO MOUNT COBBLER
Date and time:
9:00am, Friday 26 January 2024 to 3:00pm Sunday 28 January 2024
Trip Standard:
Medium with some hard sections.
Description:
Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
We will meet at the Stringybark Creek camping area at 9.00am on the Friday morning for our trip briefing. The camping area is adjacent to the Stringybark Creek historic area being the site of the 1878 Ned Kelly shoot out with police, leading to them being declared outlaws under an act pass by the Victorian parliament. After visiting the historic area and its well signed explanatory history of the area, we will the make our way along various 4WD tracks to our base camp on the King River at the King River Hut camping area which has long drop toilets. We will celebrate Australia Day that evening with prawns (byo) on the barbie.
On the Saturday, we will drive up to and park at Lake Cobbler and then hike out to Mount Cobbler. Whilst not a long distance at 8km return, the hike will take about 2 hours each way plus lunch on the summit, walking along at times a rocky and rough track but the effort will be rewarded with 360 degree spectacular views over the high country with a feeling of being on top of the world at 1,628m. We will then return to the camp beneath the Mount Cobbler ramparts along the Little Cobbler Track viewing the spectacular Dandongodale Falls coming off the Mount Cobbler Plateau along the way.
On the Sunday, we will return to Mansfield via various 4WD tracks and over the summit of Mount Stirling, visiting Craigs Hut along the way. At Mount Stirling we will be able to look back at the rugged peak of Mount Cobbler standing sentinel over the King Valley. At Mansfield, we will visit the Mansfield Cemetary and see the graves of the three policeman shot at Stringybark Creek ,before a farewell coffee and return to Melbourne
Weather: Alpine environment, potentially cold and wet, 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: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if your vehicle is suitable for this trip, please have a chat with the trip leader.
Good off-road tyres (All Terrain, 60 profile recommended as a minimum), UHF radio, 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 3 days / 2 nights in the bush. Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos).
The walk to Mount Cobbler will require the wearing of solid boots as the track can be rocky and rough at times. The summit is very exposed so ensure you have sunscreen and hat.
Camping gear, food and water for the weekend. Clothing for wet and cold conditions and sun protection for hot weather. Potentially a mixed bag !!
Whilst the trip is a base camp, the tracks to and from the camp are not suitable for towing camper trailers. No pets or firearms.
Maps and Reference Material: The Bright - Mansfield Adventure Rooftops map covers the area of the trip
Fuel: A full tank ex Mansfield.
Directions: The Stringybark Creek camping area is 250km from Melbourne just out of Tolmie. Take the Mansfield-Whitfield Road from Mansfield towards Tolmie, then take the Tiatong-Tolmie Road to the left just before Tolmie to the campground 12km from the turnoff. There are long drop toilets at the campground.
Duration: 3 days
Convoy limit: 10 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: We will meet at Stringybark Creek camping area for a 9.00am trip briefing after which we will depart on our trip.
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.
Trip Leader: Graeme Allen on 0477488434
