What's the most remote Victorian place you've been?

[davey_boi]

I'm curious about what you consider to be the most remote part of Victoria? Have you been to an area where it just seemed the nearest person was so far away?

Not sure about others but I really find a sense of tranquillity in being in the "middle of nowhere" and you feel as though you're the first person to explore the area in a long time. The most remote place for me has been Mitchell River National Park which is absolutely majestic (although not the most remote place I'm sure). Although I've come across a few people there in my walks there, I've wondered how it is possible that there are 2 million odd people huddled in Melbourne and there seems to be no one enjoying the real beauty out there in Mitchell River and it certainly does feel untouched.

I'd really appreciate if people would like to share their "middle of nowhere" stories from hiking around Victoria.

[Tortoise]

Not the most remote - too accessible for that, but for me it probably was the Viking. For over a week of a 2 week section of the AAWT, we saw nobody. Looking back was the Crosscut Saw etc, etc (we started in the Howqua Valley). Looking forward was Bogong and all the mtns in between (the original plan was to get to Kosci, but heat / lack of water etc slowed us too much). Mountains, mountains everywhere, no sign of a person

[blacksheep]

Carlton football club during finals season
so desolate, so lonely...

[Kinsayder]

I feel a little inadequate here but probably the Sentinels near Lake Tali Karng. It's probably not remote at all but I didn't see a soul. A couple of birds, a deer and a dead horse next to my tent when I woke up that I swear was not there when I pitched at night.

Very funny, Black Sheep. (long may it continue...)

[north-north-west]

Little Desert, maybe.

(You were expecting something in the mountains, weren't you?)

[Kinsayder]

Yeah, I would have put money on it, NNW!

[andrewbish]

Location is one factor of remoteness, but I would also add track condition and visibility.

When the terrain is rough, the trail is non-existent and there are no signs of human activity, it can feel very remote indeed. Doubly so, if you're navigating in the dark by torchlight.

[highercountry]

The most remote and inaccessible place I've been in Victoria is by far a days walk into the Little River Gorge, a tributary of the Snowy. It takes 2-3 days to walk and climb the full 14km's from the junction of the Snowy River up to the Mckillops Bridge Rd at the top. Pass by the Wulgulmerang Falls on the way up and most of the time you are in the bottom of the 300-400 metre deep almost sheer gorge. One section, "The Sheepdip" can only be crossed by swimming and there is a fair amount of non-technical climbing and clambering up waterfall edges and over huge boulders. Only about twenty people do the walk each year. It is not for the faint hearted, extremely hard walking. The gorge has an incredibly ancient feel to it, a dinosaur wouldn't look out of place there. Unfortunately the blackberries have grown quite thick on the lower reaches so walking in the water is the best option, hard going. A walk I will never forget. It's also one of the last refuges for the Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby, probably because it is so inaccessible to most people, though it can be viewed from the road up above. Amazing country.

[JamesMc]

North eastern tip of Wilsons Prom

JamesMc

[Hallu]

It depends if you mean remote as "really far from anything" or remote as "nobody ever goes here". Murray-Sunset NP, Wyperfeld NP, or some parts of Croajingolong fit the first definition. Out of reach hard walks in the mountains would probably fit the second one. The Northern part of Wilsons Prom is definitely wild, I'm not sure about remote though.

If you want true remote in Australia, Victoria is probably not the best state though.

[Gippsmick]

Reedy Creek Chasm for sure. Very rugged, remote and a difficult walk, but well worth it. Sheer walls and using the creek as the track for 1.5 km.

[tonka]

A few years back now, a group of us from Bendigo College Outdoor Ed. walked for 5 - 6 days down the Genoa River starting just over the NSW border at Hopping Joe Ck and finishing west of Wangarabell. Beautiful gorges, forests and lots of Red Bellied Black snakes sitting on the quiet pools in the river. A great summer walk.

[Nuts]

Last few days I came through Murray-sunset park and down into grampinas etc. not really walking country but pretty remote map wise. Endless mallee.. Good to see the bush busy with all the rain. Gramps are stunning, been before but had a chance to explore this time. Remind ME a bit of Sheffield/Roland country but I guess they will dry out over summer more.

[davey_boi]

The most remote and inaccessible place I've been in Victoria is by far a days walk into the Little River Gorge, a tributary of the Snowy. It takes 2-3 days to walk and climb the full 14km's from the junction of the Snowy River up to the Mckillops Bridge Rd at the top. Pass by the Wulgulmerang Falls on the way up and most of the time you are in the bottom of the 300-400 metre deep almost sheer gorge. One section, "The Sheepdip" can only be crossed by swimming and there is a fair amount of non-technical climbing and clambering up waterfall edges and over huge boulders. Only about twenty people do the walk each year. It is not for the faint hearted, extremely hard walking. The gorge has an incredibly ancient feel to it, a dinosaur wouldn't look out of place there. Unfortunately the blackberries have grown quite thick on the lower reaches so walking in the water is the best option, hard going. A walk I will never forget. It's also one of the last refuges for the Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby, probably because it is so inaccessible to most people, though it can be viewed from the road up above. Amazing country.

I did a search on Little River Gorge and it does look amazing - this is definitely added to my list of places to explore. I guess being so far from Melbourne also probably means less people visit and hence this would add to the feeling of remoteness.

[highercountry]

Did a search myself. Didn't realise it is Victoria's deepest gorge, 600m. Well worth a look at. There is actually a route down to the river from near the lookout opposite Wulgulmerang Falls. It is very steep but you don't need ropes. Takes a couple of hours to get down and a few more to get back up. Parks probably don't approve though.
I wouldn't recommend this walk/climb to any but the fittest and most experienced of walkers. It is definitely the toughest 2-3 day walk I've ever done. Probably up there with the hardest few days of my life. Something I will never forget.
Once again it is only for accomplished walkers or climbers. If something goes wrong there is no phone cover and being so deep, sheer and narrow quite likely no radio or GPS cover to get a message out. Rescue would be extremely difficult.
Even if you can't walk it the area itself is very interesting. Snowy River, McKillops Bridge, Buchan (caves), Vic. Alps nearby, great country.

[north-north-west]

Did a search myself. Didn't realise it is Victoria's deepest gorge, 600m. Well worth a look at. There is actually a route down to the river from near the lookout opposite Wulgulmerang Falls. It is very steep but you don't need ropes. Takes a couple of hours to get down and a few more to get back up.

Yes, I did that some years back. A long hard day, but worth the effort. Been thinking ever since about doing the full gorge walk, but the blackberries put me off. Maybe it's time we had another fire . . .

[tsangpo]

A few years back now, a group of us from Bendigo College Outdoor Ed. walked for 5 - 6 days down the Genoa River starting just over the NSW border at Hopping Joe Ck and finishing west of Wangarabell. Beautiful gorges, forests and lots of Red Bellied Black snakes sitting on the quiet pools in the river. A great summer walk.

Paddled this section over Easter and I agree, a day or so in and so remote. Such an amazing geological change over the course of the river too.

[north-north-west]

Little Desert, maybe.

(You were expecting something in the mountains, weren't you?)

Actually, after considerable thought, I'd have to say diving the Bayonet. (I'm pretty sure it's in Victorian waters.)

[stepbystep]

Corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets....

[north-north-west]

Which corner? The north western one is pretty wild country, you know.

[dplanet]

Location is one factor of remoteness, but I would also add track condition and visibility.

When the terrain is rough, the trail is non-existent and there are no signs of human activity, it can feel very remote indeed. Doubly so, if you're navigating in the dark by torchlight.

+1

[Hallu]

After going to Little Desert this week end, it still felt more remote in Murray Sunset (even in the pink lakes which are 2WD accessible) mainly because Little Desert is surrounded by little towns, and there are dirt bikes roaring around, 4WDs exploring, drunken Aussies and kids in the campgrounds and small planes flying above the park. At Murray Sunset, only the 4WDs (maybe one per day, that's it). I still have to try Wyperfeld.

[stepbystep]

Which corner? The north western one is pretty wild country, you know.

I don't know I'd lost my car and sat down for a little cry... Can't express just how much I dislike big cities nowadays...

[dplanet]

Last few days I came through Murray-sunset park and down into grampinas etc. not really walking country but pretty remote map wise. Endless mallee.. .

Been to Murray Sunset and liked it. Heres the link to slides shows of walks (day & extended) in the area http://dzungn.jalbum.net/PinkLakes/ Hope you can view the slides.

[Nuts]

hmm, doesn't want to load for me. We came down from the north and didn't get across to the Pink Lakes area (where i gather the recognised walks center). Traveling on foot through much of what we saw would definitely be a 'remote' experience. Only had a few spare days (after lingering in the Flinders and heading for the Grampians) so not enough but seeing all this country after good rains is amazing. The abundance of wildlife made some campsites feel like a Skippy set

This site is handy for accessing remote places (4wd wize): http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/WestV ... Lakes.aspx

[Hallu]

Nice trek dplanet, where did you find the info on the 3 day sunset walk ? I can't find anything online. Is the water in the tanks drinkable or do you have to treat it ? Any map advice ?

[dplanet]

Rather useful website indeed and i sometimes visit the site for driving info (and campsites).

The info about the 3 day sunset walk (also known as Sunset Remote Walking Track) can be found in the walking guidebook "Take a Walk in Victoria NP".

I used a couple of maps for this walk. SVmap including the track with the campsites and the water tanks was provided by Parks Ranger I was lucky to meet at the campground the day before the walk. Other maps i had are those from memory-map topo Vic, and also, recently found a nice looking one from Mudsite (see attached).

Regarding water? Just drank it. It’s grateful that there were the water tanks on the extended walking track.

Hope this helps.

[Hallu]

Thanks for all this info ! I really love this region, I hope I'll be able to do some multi-day walks there in the future.

[dplanet]

It's quite far from Melbourne; but next door to Hattah or Wyperfeld. Try two if time permitting. It will be worth the drive.

[Lophophaps]

Dropping into the Snowy River below McKillops Bridge and walking/floating downstream is a day or so from anywhere. Coming off Snowy Bluff and into the Moroka River and then going up is also a fair walk out. The upper Murray is a bit remote. This is winter, but a blizzard on Howitt in winter seems remote: nine days of skiing, 30 minutes of sunshine. Getting off Hells Window was fun, as was losing about 10 kilometre of snow on the road near Tamboritha Saddle. I once got lost in Paddy Pallin trying to buy a compass. Not good.