Date and time: 9:00am, Saturday 13 Dec to 4:00pm Sunday 14 Dec
Trip Standard: Medium - a mix of easy and some steep, low-range hill climbs / rocky tracks!
Description: This 2-day trip will explore the historic huts, high country and rivers east of Mansfield. The route is a circuit, heading to the Howqua River via Sheepyard Flat, climbing over into the Jamieson River valley, up to Lovicks, Bluff and Bindaree Huts. Then heading to Howqua Gap, Mt Stirling and Craigs Hut, and finally wending our way west back to Mansfield taking in more high-point and huts along the way. The intention is to camp at Lovicks on Saturday night.
Weather permitting there should be some fine views and spectacular scenery as well as plenty of historic interest along the way.
Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
Weather: Alpine environment, hopefully sunny but also potentially cold and wet. 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 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: Camping gear food and drinking water for 2 days / 1 night in the bush. Clothing for wet and cold conditions. Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos).
No camper trailers, pets or firearms
Maps and Reference Material: Rooftop's Bush Huts around Mansfield
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.
Fuel: A full tank ex Mansfield
Distance: Mansfield is approximately 190 km from Melbourne. The trip distance from (and returning to) Mansfield is 210 km of mixed high-range and low range driving.
Duration: 2 days
Convoy limit: 8 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: We will meet at Mansfield visitor centre 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 by 4.00pm at Mansfield on Sunday.
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 Leaders: Mark Bown and Sherry Mayo, phone 0437251645, email Mark.Bown@csiro.au
