We won’t be having an April Meeting (due to Easter) so we have decided to have a social night out at the Bridge Inn Hotel in Mernda. Everyone is invited to come along, partners, kids, just book online so we have numbers (for non members just put under temp member, remember this is just for numbers).
Location: Bridge Inn Hotel Mernda
Date/Time: 7PM (onwards) Saturday 12th April 2014
Trip Leader: Kim
Haunted Stream & Crooked River Tracks
Location: Haunted Stream & Crooked River
Trip Leader: Rory
Trip Rating: Medium/Difficult
Trip Dates: 18th to 21st April 2014
Itinerary: Haunted Stream Track, then down to Crooked River Track. We will take in other tracks as they present themselves.
Track for Day 1:
Not a good start to the day, as we lost our original trip leader (Bruce) to a broken axle the day before the trip. Rory took over and once we had all gathered at the meeting point we left for Haunted Stream.
Haunted Stream Track starts from the turnoff near Tambo Crossing and runs North-East all the way into Dawson City. It rained in the afternoon which made the trip more interesting nothing like driving down a river track in the rain). Kyle got bogged in a rutted mud hole and after a quick recovery the rest of the group took the track around it and continued on. The rain continued all afternoon and we spent a wet night camped at Dawson City with no fire.
Track for Day 2:
We left Dawson City and took the Dawson City Track north to Strobridge Hut. From there we traveled east to Mt Delusion Road and and stopped at Mt Delusion Hut for a short break. We left Mt Delusion Hut and traveled east (past McDonalds Hut) to Maize Paddock. Leaving Maize Paddock we went down Rudolf Gap Road and down onto Jones-Gidley Track past The Farm and onto the Upper Dargo Road. After a short stop at Black Flat campground we continued north to the turnoff with Downey Road taking this east then south past Treasures-Mt Ewan Hut to Grant Junction. We then took the Grant Road past the old Grant township northwest to Bulltown Spur Track, following this north into the Naarun (old town site). Here we camped for the night.
Track for Day 3:
Today was a lot of driving but lots of fun. We had camped near Naarun (old town site) the night before and left there traveling East down Crooked River Track to Talbotville. From there we followed Racecourse Track and onto Tea Tree Range Track. There are some nice views of the surrounding landscape from on top of some of these hills. Towards the North end of Tea Tree Range Track we turned into Mount Hart Track and then down Harts Spur Track. Harts Spur Track took us down (22 minutes driving) into the South-East end of the Wonnangatta Valley. We had lunch at the bottom of Harts Spur Track.
After lunch we drove to the bottom of Herne Spur Track and started the climb to the summit. The track is in exceptionally good condition (even the steep section at the top) and we made quick work of it stopping at the top to wait for all the cars to arrive. From the top of Herne Spur Track we followed Cynthia Range Track and back down into Crooked River. Cynthia Range Track contains a lot of hills and you spend your time climbing up then and then back down into the small valleys. Once again there are stunning views of the mountains around from on top of Cynthia Range. We camped the night down in the valley next to Crooked River.
Track for Day 4:
We packed up in the morning and took Randalls Track (Randalls Track is not too steep but a little rocky, an interesting little track to end the trip with) to Hibernia Road and then onto the Dargo High Plains Road and down into Dargo.
We spent a little time in Dargo before heading back up Melbourne.
Huge thank-you to the Bellarine 4×4 Club for showing us around their playground in the Otways. We’re certainly looking forward to the return trip to Toolangi in May.
Location: Otways
Trip Leader: Kim Hall
Trip Rating: Medium/Difficult
Trip Planning: This is an exploratory trip based on some local knowledge and/or online research of track conditions.
Sunday Track Log:
Saturday Track Log:
Location: Craigs Hut and Lake William Hovell
Trip Leader: Jacko
Trip Rating: Medium/Difficult
Trip Dates: 21st Feb 2014 to 23rd Feb 2014
Itinerary:
Day 1:
We left Friday 3pm from South Morang and traveled to Telephone Box Junction via Mansfield. From Telephone Box Junction we followed The Circuit Road to Howqua Gap Hut, then across Clear Hills Track (over Mt Stirling) to Craigs Hut. Camp for the first night was near Craigs Hut, we arrived around 8pm.
Day 2:
A quick trip up to Craigs Hut to see it in the morning light. the rest of the days driving is summarised as follows:
– Craigs Hut down Clear Hills Track to the Circuit Rd
– Circuit Rd to Black Landing Rd, onto King Basin Road and into Pineapple Flat campground.
– From Pineapple Flat campground we went back along King Basin Rd (checking a few camp sites along the way) and onto King Hut.
– King Hut to Speculation Rd then turned left towards The Staircase.
– We Followed The Staircase to Lake Cobbler Track and into Lake Cobbler.
– From Lake Cobbler we followed Lake Cobbler Rd to Abbeyard Track and onto Williams Landing Rd (some parts of this were steep) and back onto Lake Cobbler Rd.
– Then it was onto Wild Horse Gap Track for lunch at Rose Creek. Leaving Rose Creek we followed Burnt Top Track and turned left into the Basin Track.
– Long Spur Track was next and down into Sandy Flat campground. We followed Top Crossing Track to Top Crossing Hut.
– Then backtracking along Top Crossing Track we arrived at Lave William Hovell.
– From Lake William Hovell it was onto Evans Creek Track to Tomahawk Gap Track and onto Carters Rd campground via Carters Rd.
– Next it was onto Sawmill Settlement (via the bitumen) where we set up camp for the night.
Day 3:
– We drove along the Highway to Gough’s Bay and along Walshes Rd to check out a few of the camp sites (for future camping trips).
– Then turned into Plantation Rd and found a short steep rocky track that took us to the top of the hill and Highett Track.
– There were great views of the lake and surrounds from Highett Track.
– We followed Highett Track to the end and followed a few tracks back down to Lake Eildon to have lunch by the lake.
– After lunch we turned and headed for home.
Location: Howqua River
Trip Leader: Mick and Michelle
Trip Rating: Difficult
Trip Dates: 18th to 19th Jan 2014
Itinerary: Howqua River, Old Slate Mine and the Underground Waterfall
Awesome trip led by Rob through the Victorian High Country.
Location: Victorian High Country
Trip Leader: Rob
Trip Rating: Difficult
Trip Dates: 2nd Jan to 6th Jan 2014
Itinerary:
Day 1: Mansfield to Pikes Flat via The Circuit Road and then Bindaree Road
Day 2: Pikes Flat to Wonnangatta Valley via Lovicks Hut, King Billy 1 Track, Zeka Spur Track
Day 3: Wonnangatta Valley to Lake Cobbler via Humffray Track, Penny Track, Abbeyard Lake Cobbler Track
Day 4: Turned off Cobbler Road into Wild Horse Gap Track, Burnt Top Track, Stockyard Track and then Long Spur Track. From there into Long Spur Track into Sandy Flat Track. We stopped at the bottom for lunch then went back up did a loop around Lake William Hovell then made for camp at Top Crossing Hut.
Day 5: In the morning we went up Buckland Spur Track turned right into Buttercup Jeep Track and into Buttercup road then to Mansfield to the Pub for lunch
The track for days 1-3 is shown on the following map.
To book for a Club 4×4 trip click http://club4x4.org.au/trips/trip-bookings/
Ladies Drive Day through the Toolangi State Forest.
Location: Howqua River
Trip Leader: Michelle + Mick and Ange + Sam
Trip Rating: Difficult
Trip Dates: 18th to 19th Jan 2014
Itinerary: Ladies chance to have a drive through the Toolangi State Forest. This trip involved all types of terrain, especially mud. We will get to see some waterfalls time permitting.
Club 4×4 has turned One…
This was a great day to celebrate a fantastic first year as Club 4×4 and to catch up with all the members before the festive season madness.
Location: No. 1 Camp Mt Disappointment State Forest
Trip Leader: Club 4×4 Committee
Trip Rating: Easy
Trip Dates: 1st Dec 2013
The Plan:
Festive Fourby:
Get out the tinsel, reindeer antlers, flashing lights and elf ears to make your 4wd the most festive fourby, with the winner to be chosen by Santa Claus himself!
4WD Treasure Hunt (10:00-12:00):
Teams of 1 vehicle each must answer a multiple choice question; getting the right answer will bring you to the location of the next question, getting the wrong answer will lead you in the wrong direction! The challenge is 1) it to get each question right 2) to figure out where the location of the next question is on the map and 3) to figure out the easiest/most direct route to the next question. The winner will be the first team back at base camp with the correct answer to each of the questions. The route will be suitable for all 4wd vehicles and all drivers. Forest maps will be supplied to each team.
Family Games (13:00-14:00):
We have heaps of games planned for members of all ages, including:
o Egg & Spoon Race
– No superglue or blue tack allowed!
o Four Legged Race
– No it’s not a typo, groups of three compete in a four legged race
o Wheelbarrow Race
– Don’t be rushing to Bunnings, there are no wheelbarrows involved in this race!
o Running Race
– The classic, yet always fun field race
o Egg Throwing
– No hard boiled eggs allowed so throw gently!
Visit from Santa (14:00-14:15):
Yes its Santa, all the way from Lapland, making a special appearance from his busy schedule just for Club 4×4. Santa will also judge the Festive Fourby competition.
Blind 4WD Slalom Course (14:15-15:30):
A blindfolded driver must be directed by their nominated and well trusted navigator through a slalom course and finally reverse into a marked spot. Must be completed within a set time. Fastest to complete the course wins, but be careful, time is deducted for hitting bollards.
Night run through Mt Disappointment, looking for wildlife.
Location:Mt Disappointment State Forest
Trip Leader: Rob
Trip Rating: Medium
Trip Dates: 30th Nov 2013
Itinerary: Night run through Mt Disappointment, we’ll see if we can find some mud and wildlife. We’ll stay overnight for the Club Christmas Bash on Sunday.