recommended bush camping at Grampians Melbourne cup weekend?

[gearu]

I know this is possibly madness - but we want to go camping in the Grampians this weekend (Melbourne cup weekend) for about 4 days.

We want somewhere accessible by car, but would prefer to try and avoid the spots that are more attractive to school trips and bogans, and head for a more remote/rustic spot.

Campsites we are considering:
- Plantation
- Smiths Mill
- Boreang
- Borough Huts
- Jimmy Creek

We don't really care about having facilities, but if there are facilities; a toilet and fire pits are the things we'd be interested in.

We haven't been to the Grampians before, and wondered if anyone could recommend a spot that is perhaps a little more out of the way and quieter - and also perhaps a little more "bush" (where you can setup camp in among the trees or along side a river, rather than just in a paddock with lots of campervans side by side.

I do realise that a drive in spot is a contradictory with a 'remote' camping area - but if you have any recommendations on where to go given it is a busy weekend I would be very grateful.

Also, what is the general approach to camping fees - do these have to be paid before heading out to the camping spots?

[vicpres]

Hi

The quieter options are on the western side of the Grampians, however due to flood and fire damage Stapylton and is still closed so Troopers Creek would be the only option. I haven't been to either since the last fires and floods though. The PV web site says Buandik is still closed though Bushwalking Victoria has been advised it has been reopened, so perhaps check with the park. Borough Huts and Jimmy Creek are both very close to the main road and quite near Halls Gap so will be busier. Plantation is a very large and open area which could be a bit exposed if it is windy. The road from Halls Gap to Plantation and on to Mt Zero can become VERY slippery after rain.

[bmak]

All of those spots will be reasonably busy over a long weekend. Troopers creek may be the best option for a drive in site.

Plenty if more remote options if you're willing to walk in. Maybe worth looking at the PV map to find an allowed remote camp away from one with facilities.

Fees must be paid before camping

[Snowzone]

The Grampians is a fairly large Park and takes a lot of time driving around to get from one side to another so maybe decide which part of the Park you want to explore and that may narrow down your choice of camp spots. For example if you wish to spend time around Halls Gap, Borough Huts or Jimmy Creek would be your choice. If you were just more interested in being in the bush then head north to Troopers.
The Victoria Valley areas were badly burnt in the most recent fires last summer so even though Buandik may be open to camp not much of the area around there will be open.
Camping requires a permit that you need to prepay.

[gearu]

thanks for the info guys.

Any recommendations between Boreang or Smiths Mill?

[Isis]

There a quite spot at the top end of Golten Gorge. An old copper mine.

[bernieq]

due to flood and fire damage Stapylton and is still closed

Actually, Chris, I believe Stapylton campground is closed because of asbestos – old sheeting found discarded in the area and a clean-up is required.

at the top end of Golten Gorge

You can't expect to car-camp in the Grampians without company on the Cup weekend. However, Isis has suggested the best option, I think. You can get to the campground (no facilities) on Coppermine Tk from Roses Gap (5.8km) or from Mt Zero carpark (7.1km) – co-ordinates are : GDA94 UTM 54 626694 5912210

[icefest]

I don't think the top of Golton Gorge will be empty. If the Cup weekend is anything like Easter the year before last, there'll be at least 3 cars there.

It's as good as any other site though, unless you park by the road and walk 200m in to the bush.

[neilmny]

Hmmm...we've been going to the Grampians on Cup weekend for 20 years. One thing that there won't be is a shortage of people anywhere!

[gearu]

assuming that there will be people and we go to one of the following sites, and recommendations on one that might be a nicer campground that is less of a big paddock - maybe some more tress or spread out camp spots?
- Plantation
- Smiths Mill
- Boreang
- Borough Huts
- Jimmy Creek

[bmak]

Out of those I would choose plantation or borough huts.

But being cup weekend I would assume both of those would be packed

[gearu]

....Isis has suggested the best option, I think. You can get to the campground (no facilities) on Coppermine Tk from Roses Gap (5.8km) or from Mt Zero carpark (7.1km) – co-ordinates are : GDA94 UTM 54 626694 5912210

I'm not sure how to use these coordinates? how do a translate these into a Lat/Long?

[neilmny]

They are UTM co ordinates gearu. This will help I think http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/
There is a converter here http://home.hiwaay.net/~taylorc/toolbox ... eoutm.html

[gearu]

We ended up staying in Jimmy Creek campground. We checked out all of the other ones except plantation, and Jimmy creek was certainly the nicest of the ones we looked at.

[bmak]

Very busy?

I chose mt cole over the weekend to avoid the crowds

[dplanet]

Mine was neither Grampians nor Mt Cole. Here it is

Attachments

xyz.jpg (259.4 KiB) Viewed 24989 times

[neilmny]

That is bewdifool Dplanet, where is it?

[Tortoise]

Hi gearu,

Guess you didn't get my pm before you went - it's still waiting for you for another time maybe.

[dplanet]

That is bewdifool Dplanet, where is it?

It is located just below a peak on a range. Have to get there on foot (off track) and climb with water for drinking and cooking. I was nearly stuck on the top and thought of backtrack. However, a gpx file (by Glenn Tempest@OpenSpaces) helped me find the right spot/s to go down onto another ridge. It is not easy if alone with a heavy pack.

[trickos]

That branch above the tent looks a bit dodgy

[nlt82]

That branch above the tent looks a bit dodgy

Or is it the photo and our 2D screens? Looks like it might be heading behind the rocks and tangled with the rest of the tree.
dplanet?

[dplanet]

I did an assessment about the branch before pitching the tent. It was the least exposed site.

[north-north-west]

That is bewdifool Dplanet, where is it?

Reminds me a lot of the Cobberas. There are some lovely campsites along those ridge.

[wildlight]

Good call north-north-west. It so does have that Cobberas flavour- up on the ridge after walking up from the Playgrounds. Nice shot dplanet- you've really captured some atmosphere there- the photo says a lot! Well done!

Cheers

WildLight

[juz]

Hi All,
With Easter approaching I was wanting to head camping in the grampians. I knew of a couple of bush camping sites in the northern grampians, but believe that is currently not allowed.
My partner, 1 yo child and myself were wanting to head up Wednesday night, and stay till Tuesday. Could anyone suggest anywhere that might have some room and be in a nice area of the gramps, maybe vic ranges? PM or reply here.
As an alternative, does anyone have anywhere else they would recommend (that won't be bogan central over Easter)?
Thanks in advance for the input.

[Eremophila]

It'll be insanely busy up there over Easter, with hordes flocking to the Grampians, Rocklands Reservoir and Mt Arapiles. You could try Black Range State Park (away from the reservoir), not sure whether bush camping is permitted.

If you are bush camping, please be extremely careful with fires - it's still very dry in this area.