Overnight walk in Victoria

[Penguin]

Hi all

I am looking at doing my first overnighter in Victoria around November 10/11 - may well be a solo effort. Recently I moved over to Victoria with work.

I have done a number of the traditional walks in Tasmania, the last being the Western Arthurs earlier in the year. And a few off track excursions also.

Does anybody have any suggestions of a good simple starting walk that is not an horrendous distance from Melbourne. I am certainly not looking for the headline "Tasmanian bushwalker lost in the Victorian scrub".

Any suggestions welcome.

P

[JamesMc]

I'd start at Wilsons Prom. Perhaps Major Mitchell Plateau in the Grampians, or The Bluff


JamesMc

[dplanet]

Cathedral Range Circuit starts and finishes at Cooks Mill.

[bmak]

Beeripmo walk or any of the other tracks in Mt Cole/Buangor state park.
Good variety of terrain and heaps of free camping

[andrewbish]

Agree with all the above, plus:

- Baw Baw Plateau (near Walhalla)
- Mt Howitt - various (via Mansfield or Licola)
- Mt Buller/Mt Strling

There's some great Vic walking guide books available. You can get most of them at Paddy Ps in Lt Bourke St

[Penguin]

Thanks for all the suggestions - should have no trouble finding a good diversional walk.

One question - how easy would it be to get a overnight walking permit in Wilson's prom the weekend after next? How quickly do these walking permits go?

Cheers

P

[ryantmalone]

Howitt Circut - Hellicopter Spur, Mt Magdala, Mt Howitt, Howitt Spur.

Feathertop Circut - Loch CarPark, Mt Loch, Machinery Spur, Blairs Hut, Diamantina Spur (VERY steep!), Feathertop, Razorback

Mt Speculation Circut - Cobbler Lake to Mt Spec, Kings Spur to Mt Konica, scrub bash to vehicle track, vehicle track to Mt Cobbler turnoff, Mt Cobbler, Cobbler Lake.

These are the three that sit most highly regarded in my books. That said, a trip to Feathertop never fails to please.

[Kinsayder]

Howitt Circut - Hellicopter Spur, Mt Magdala, Mt Howitt, Howitt Spur.

Feathertop Circut - Loch CarPark, Mt Loch, Machinery Spur, Blairs Hut, Diamantina Spur (VERY steep!), Feathertop, Razorback

Mt Speculation Circut - Cobbler Lake to Mt Spec, Kings Spur to Mt Konica, scrub bash to vehicle track, vehicle track to Mt Cobbler turnoff, Mt Cobbler, Cobbler Lake.

These are the three that sit most highly regarded in my books. That said, a trip to Feathertop never fails to please.

I second anything involving Feathertop. I hope the Howitt Circuit isn't prohibitive as a single day as I'm having a crack at it on Friday...

[ryantmalone]

Howitt Circut - Hellicopter Spur, Mt Magdala, Mt Howitt, Howitt Spur.

Feathertop Circut - Loch CarPark, Mt Loch, Machinery Spur, Blairs Hut, Diamantina Spur (VERY steep!), Feathertop, Razorback

Mt Speculation Circut - Cobbler Lake to Mt Spec, Kings Spur to Mt Konica, scrub bash to vehicle track, vehicle track to Mt Cobbler turnoff, Mt Cobbler, Cobbler Lake.

These are the three that sit most highly regarded in my books. That said, a trip to Feathertop never fails to please.

I second anything involving Feathertop. I hope the Howitt Circuit isn't prohibitive as a single day as I'm having a crack at it on Friday...

hmm, would be a pretty long day, but doable if you get an early start. Expect to have some pretty damn sore toes at the end of the day though, Howitt Spur is a killer both up and down. I'd break it into two days though, and take advantage of the nice little camp site before the summit of Howitt, but that's just how I roll. Like to dawdle and enjoy the sites as much as possible.

[Kinsayder]

hmm, would be a pretty long day, but doable if you get an early start. Expect to have some pretty damn sore toes at the end of the day though, Howitt Spur is a killer both up and down. I'd break it into two days though, and take advantage of the nice little camp site before the summit of Howitt, but that's just how I roll. Like to dawdle and enjoy the sites as much as possible.

I'll be camping just near Upper Howqua on Thursday, Ryan, so I'm hoping for a 6am start. Quick breakfast, light pack, scull a Red Bull and off! Generally I am with you on the dawdling though, it's just that we just had a baby 5 weeks back, so my leave pass is limited. Which is fair enough but gives cause for a speedy trip.

[ryantmalone]

hmm, would be a pretty long day, but doable if you get an early start. Expect to have some pretty damn sore toes at the end of the day though, Howitt Spur is a killer both up and down. I'd break it into two days though, and take advantage of the nice little camp site before the summit of Howitt, but that's just how I roll. Like to dawdle and enjoy the sites as much as possible.

I'll be camping just near Upper Howqua on Thursday, Ryan, so I'm hoping for a 6am start. Quick breakfast, light pack, scull a Red Bull and off! Generally I am with you on the dawdling though, it's just that we just had a baby 5 weeks back, so my leave pass is limited. Which is fair enough but gives cause for a speedy trip.

Good luck! If you haven't done Helicopter Spur before, you're in for a treat!

[Kinsayder]

Good luck! If you haven't done Helicopter Spur before, you're in for a treat!

Thanks, Ryan. I haven't tackled it before. I've wanted to for years but I'm usually drawn more toward Feathertop or Bogong, so I'm really looking forward to heading off.

[Penguin]

Well I am off to the Prom

I would like to do the Howitt Circuit, but with a little over four hour drive to get there I thought that two nights up there would give me better travel to hiking ratio and I will aim for some company on the drive.

I am aiming for Refuge Cove. I have been told that the water needs to be treated there. I would appreciate any comments on the quantity and quality of the water along the route, particularly at Refuge Cove.

P

[Skender]

Hey Penguin - I see you've already decided on your walk and it sounds great. A friend of mine did the lighthouse walk a couple of weeks back and he enjoyed lots of wildflowers, Whales, Wallabies and other spectacular sights. I'm not sure about water availablity/quality.

I can't let this question go though without putting Lerderderg Gorge in the mix. At about an hour from Melbourne it's the best "quick fix" when you're strapped for time. Not to mention also a beautiful place!!

I did an overnight walk there a couple of weeks back and had a great time. I've walked a fair bit through this area as it's a favorite of mine but for some reason I've encountered very little wildlife in my walks here.... not sure why as I have walked some reasonably remote parts of the gorge. We drank the water untreated for the entire walk without a problem. The river and surrounding creeks are flowing beautifuly at the moment.

The walk I recently did is hightlited in the map below (starting from O'Brien's Crossing) for your future reference (I'll post up couple of pics from the walk a little later if you're interested). Enjoy the Prom!

[Penguin]

I can't let this question go though without putting Lerderderg Gorge in the mix. At about an hour from Melbourne it's the best "quick fix" when you're strapped for time. Not to mention also a beautiful place!!

I did an overnight walk there a couple of weeks back and had a great time. I've walked a fair bit through this area as it's a favorite of mine but for some reason I've encountered very little wildlife in my walks here.... not sure why as I have walked some reasonably remote parts of the gorge. We drank the water untreated for the entire walk without a problem. The river and surrounding creeks are flowing beautifuly at the moment.

The walk I recently did is hightlited in the map below (starting from O'Brien's Crossing) for your future reference (I'll post up couple of pics from the walk a little later if you're interested).

How long did the walk in the Gorge take? It seems like a straight forward and interesting walk.

I seem to remember that a few day trippers have got themselves lost in the area and needed rescue. Are there a lot of inexperienced people that just venture forth in this area?

P

[Skender]

Hey - yeah plenty of people still get lost there but I think you're right - it's mainly the underprepared or inexperienced folk. Having said that you do need to be careful in certain parts.

The walk was 18kms in total. From O'Brien's Crossing to minecamp (the long way) was 12 kms and took us about 5 hours with a fair bit of dawdling and a LOT of steep climbing in some areas (mainly Ambler Lane and Trout Track - Cowans Track which I expected to be reasonably flat was undulating and challenging in its own way with a very steep decent into the Gorge - I would definitely consider Ambler Lane and Trout Track as "difficult" (others might not).

From mine camp back to O'Briens was an easy, undulating and very picturesque walk along the river. Really enjoyed this after the slog the previous day. This only took us about 3 hours (again with some dawdling in between).

A couple of pics....(sorry about quality - these were taken with an iPhone 3)




The view from Cowans Bluff

[Explorer_Sam]

G'day Skender,

I've done that very same walk in Lerderderg Gorge. Beautiful place. We didn't see much wildlife either, but I saw a Wild Pig! Nice photos by the way.

Sam.

[ryantmalone]

Well I am off to the Prom

I would like to do the Howitt Circuit, but with a little over four hour drive to get there I thought that two nights up there would give me better travel to hiking ratio and I will aim for some company on the drive.

I am aiming for Refuge Cove. I have been told that the water needs to be treated there. I would appreciate any comments on the quantity and quality of the water along the route, particularly at Refuge Cove.

P

The prom is lovely. Haven't been there in at least 10 - 12 years though, but planning on returning in 2013.

As far as I am aware, the track to Sealers from Telegraph Saddle is currently closed, so you'd be looking at walking in to Refuge via the Lighthouse track, or more interestingly, via Oberon Bay from Tidal River.

As for water, I'm not that trusting of water in high traffic tracks, and the Prom is mighty busy. I've never gotten sick from any water sources at either Sealers, Refuge, Little Waterloo, Roaring Meg, or Oberon, that said, if you have a micro filter, I'd bring it just to be safe. There'd be absolutely nothing worse than getting a bout of gastro mid hike.

[Natalie Witt]

Hi all

I am looking at doing my first overnighter in Victoria around November 10/11 - may well be a solo effort. Recently I moved over to Victoria with work.

I have done a number of the traditional walks in Tasmania, the last being the Western Arthurs earlier in the year. And a few off track excursions also.

Does anybody have any suggestions of a good simple starting walk that is not an horrendous distance from Melbourne. I am certainly not looking for the headline "Tasmanian bushwalker lost in the Victorian scrub".

Any suggestions welcome.

P

it's going to be tomorrow.. give us some pictures.. enjoy the adventure..

[therhino]

Is leaving your car at OBriens safe?

[therhino]

From O'Brien's Crossing to minecamp

Roughly were is minecamp, up the river towards Blackwood, or is this the Upper Chadwick Camping spot?

[ryantmalone]

Is leaving your car at OBriens safe?

Leaving your car anywhere is going to leave it open to vandalism or theft really. I've never experienced it myself, that said, I'd be more happy leaving my car at O'Briens Crossing than I would at Broadmeadows to grab some milk from Coles.

Just get a club lock, and leave no valuables in the car, and you will be fine.

[Kinsayder]

Lerderderg and Wilsons Prom are pretty good suggestions, I always discount places where no snow falls.

[Skender]

From O'Brien's Crossing to minecamp

Roughly were is minecamp, up the river towards Blackwood, or is this the Upper Chadwick Camping spot?

mine camp is roughly 5-6 kms down stream (south) from O'Briens Crossing.

I've left my car at OB crossing many times without any problems or incicent (famous last words).

[quicky]

Just get a club lock, and leave no valuables in the car, and you will be fine.

Are you saying you can still buy those things? Takes me back to the late 80's when they were all the craze.

[Kinsayder]

Feathertop Circut - Loch CarPark, Mt Loch, Machinery Spur, Blairs Hut, Diamantina Spur (VERY steep!), Feathertop, Razorback

These are the three that sit most highly regarded in my books. That said, a trip to Feathertop never fails to please.

I'm planning on showshoeing this over three days from the 7th of September. Has anybody got any thoughts on this?

[wilray]

HI all, just wondering if anyone has done the walk to spargo's hut , i did it last year but not as an overnight stay, and i was wondering if anyone knows where the water can be found, i should have checked it out when i did the day walk there???
thanks

[wilray]

its ok I found good water about 200 metres south west of hut it is a good clean water source running towards creek in between spargo's hut
and mt hotham