new to victoria and wanting some bush walks

[nick25016677]

hi i am new to victoria and are looking for some overnight bush walks i am in the yarra valley but am looking for anywhere in victoria to go and walk any suggestions would be greatly appreciated ta nick

[north-north-west]

What level of walking & what sort of country do you prefer?

[pete0762]

Hi,
There are many walks you can do all around the state and particularly in the High country. I suggest you either join a local walking club or if that is not your thing best buy some bushwalking books describing tracks - e.g. Bushwalks in the Victorian Alps by Glenn van der Kniff or 150 Walks in Victoria by Tyrone Thomas and Andrew Close or Walks, Tracks and Trails of Victoria by Derrick Stone. You should find plenty in these one's. Search the web for Melbourne Map Centre (they are in Mt Waverley bu they also sell online), which stocks many of the books and has all required maps available, particularly for multi-day walks you should get good maps and probably take a GPS with you. Another source of maps and books is ABC Maps on http://www.abcmaps.com.au/

Regards
Peter

[oyster_07]

Have a look at one of the following books:

"Walks, Tracks & Trails of Victoria"
By Derrick Stone, published by CSIRO.

"180 Walks in Victoria" (earlier editions are 150 walks)
By Tyrone Thomas.

"Take a Walk in Victoria's National Parks"
By John & Lyn Daly (http://www.takeawalk.com.au).

"Australian Alps Walking Track"
By Chapman & Siseman.

These books will have overlaps, but are each worthwhile.

[sim1oz]

+1 to "Walks, Tracks & Trails of Victoria" by Derrick Stone (CSIRO)
> I love browsing through this book. It provides lots of ideas with 160+ walks but not really detailed notes or maps. Also, some of the trails are for bike or car travel

Some other books:

"Bushwalking in Australia"
by John Chapman et al
> has detailed walk notes for 6 classic 2-14 days Vic walks: Mt Feathertop & Bon Accrod Spur, Viking Circuit, Wilson's Prom Southern Circuit, Beeripmo Walk, The Fortress (Grampians), Great South West Walk

"Weekend Walks Around Melbourne"
by Glenn Tempest
> walks are within 2 hrs of Melbourne

"Discovering the Prom"
by Philip Ingamells (VNPA)
> when the overnight tracks reopen

"Discovering Grampians-Gariwerd"
by Alistair Paton & Bruce Paton (VNPA)

[neil_fahey]

I've just been in at Paddy Pallin in Little Bourke Street and a heap of the aforementioned books are being sold there. You might prefer to go in and have a look at them to find the most suitable, rather than order online.

[Bushman Ben]

Neil is being modest! You should check out his site! (see his associated organisations) There are plenty of good walks on there!

[neil_fahey]

Haha thanks Ben! Your blog isn't too shabby either!

[therhino]

Lerdederg is very clsoe to Melbounre and offers up some great walks.

[Explorer_Sam]

Lerdederg is very clsoe to Melbounre and offers up some great walks.

I second that. Lerderderg has some great country. Very rough. Offers a lot for walkers and 4WDrivers.

[whatevermortal]

Hello,

I ventured to Pyrite state forest next tom Lerderderg 2 weeks ago and had a wonderful time meandering about. Thinking about heading back to Lerderderg itself this weekend, seeing as I've not been there before I was hoping someone could offer up a nice 5-6hr moderate level walk in the area, preferably a circuit?

[Snowzone]

Hi Whatevermortal,

there are several circuit walks that can be done from O'Briens crossing. I will actually be there this weekend as well doing one using East track, Spanish Onion track which is a very pretty meander up a spur to lerderderg track then onto O'briens road using short cut track to return to O'briens Crossing. You can also use Cowans track for a similar but slightly shorter loop. Hope you enjoy it whatever you do.

[whatevermortal]

Thanks for the reply Snowzone.

I purchased the map of the area today and am browsing the circuit you described, looks like a great outing, I might attack a similar route time permitting. Coming in from Melbourne, what is the best route to access Obriens crossing? Is it via Gisborne or Bacchus Marsh or much of a muchness?

[Snowzone]

Thanks for the reply Snowzone.

I purchased the map of the area today and am browsing the circuit you described, looks like a great outing, I might attack a similar route time permitting. Coming in from Melbourne, what is the best route to access Obriens crossing? Is it via Gisborne or Bacchus Marsh or much of a muchness?

take the Myrniong exit off the freeway, then go through Greendale before heading toward Blackwood. O'Briens Road into the crossing is about 7km past Greendale, then its about another 5km down to the crossing.
We may see you down there then, I'll be in a group of 5 with full packs.
cheers.

[whatevermortal]

Thanks so much for the directions. Night shift has rendered a later awakening than I'd hoped for so I think I might do something in the southern end of the park near the fire tower. Have a great outing.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I run walks with the VNPA, Vic Nat. Parks assoc.
See their website. I usually run overnight pack hikes for small groups in the Vic alps or at the Prom.

[Hallu]

Where do you see this new edition of 150 walks in Victoria ? I bought it late last year, and it wasn't the "180 walks" version, and there's no mention of this version anywhere, are you sure you're not mistaken sim1oz ? Because now it's 150 and the previous editions are 120 walks. This book isn't perfect by the way, it lacks general and professionally made maps : it's impossible to find precisely where one walk is sometimes unless you read the full text... In the index, about 40 walks are pinpointed to a random location somewhere in a zone, so if the walk is at the border between two zones, it's hell to find it. It's strange, because they fixed the problem in their book about walks in Tasmania, but still not for Victoria. And there aren't any photos, that's a serious drawback.

If I believe this review : http://pissweakly.blogspot.com.au/2011/ ... rrick.html , this one has the same problem. I was actually considering buying it until I saw the review =/.

I'm waiting on my John Chapman book, hope it's better.

[sim1oz]

"180 Walks in Victoria" (earlier editions are 150 walks)
By Tyrone Thomas.

.

Hi Hallu,
I don't have any Tyrone Thomas books, so I can't really answer your question. I tend towards Chapman and Tempest books because I find their walk notes provide more information, and I particularly like the layout and detail of Chapman's maps.

Someone suggested earlier to browse the books in a store to see what you like before buying. I started out by borrowing quite a few books from my local library and bought a couple that had lots of walks which interested me. Also, don't ignore looking at books with day walks because often day walks can be connected up into overnight walks. For instance, Chapman's "Day Walks Melbourne" describes Cathedral Southern Circuit and Cathedral Northern Circuit as two separate walks, but Tempest's "Weekend Walks Around Mebourne" combines them into an overnight walk.

I'm still working my way through my bucket list of described walks but now that my walking confidence is growing, I also use the books (and this forum) for ideas and then use maps to concoct my own adventure.

[BillV]

Grab the roof tops Yarra Ranges map........There are plenty of places near you i'e Kirth kiln, Bunyip State park, You have the Walk into history that starts or ends at Big Pats creek......You also have The Cathederals near by as well as The Baw Baws, Donna Buang ETC ETC........Plenty of great over night or 2 to 3 day hikes in the general area.........