VIC High Country: Staircase & Wonnangatta Valley

Virtually everything is still shut.
Tracks don't open until November, pending clearance due to high number of fallen trees.

Just received some info from 4wd Vic that said DSE and Parks have said that quite a number probably won't be open until after Xmas, due the carnage wrecked by the heavy snow and high winds experienced this winter.

Start here for further info http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1process_content.cfm?main=9&page=8

Cheers

I don't think you will have any probs with either leg. Like any track, pick your line up the staircase and you should have a prob. There was an article in this weeks local paper about tracks not being cleared in time for opening weekend due to the trees down as a result of the recent storms and the urgency to get them cleared due to the upcoming fire season.

Leroy

Andrew,
This is one of Victoria's bet kept secret, so don't tell anyone else.

It will depend on what direction that you will be going.
If starting at Mansfield, you could go along the Circuit Road down to King Hut.This road has been up graded to allow 4WD towing horse floats to get to King Hut. From there go along Little Cobbler Track, this will take you past the bottom from of the Stair Case, have a look with out the camper hitched up and give it a go. The hair pin bend just before the climb could be a little tight with the camper. If after driving the Staircase with out the camper and you fell it is possible give it a go , if not stay on the Little Cobbler Track and turn right on the Cobbler Lake Road up to Lake Cobbler.
From there there would be two ways to get to Wonnangatta Valley. One would be to go down the Staircase, which would be a lot easier than going up, then on the Circuit Road again to Bindaree Hut ( this is a beautiful camp site ) from there it is a long climb to Bluff Track, from there to Howitt Road and down the Zeka Track. The Zeka Track has a few hair pin bend on it.
The other way is to go from Lake Cobbler to Abbeyards Road, West Buffalo Divide Track, Riley Creek Track, which will bring you on to the Wonnangatta Valley.
To get to Dargo from Wonnangatta I would go up Wombat Spur as Hern Spur is very steep. Wombat Range Track to Eaglevale,Wonnangatta Road, Crooked River Road to Dargo.
All of these tracks can be found on the Hema map, The High Country - Victoria.

Have a good trip, and I might see you down that way.

Wayne

Talking about thr high country has anyone heard any news on the Grimme and blue plains spur track were graded just after we travelled on them back in april and were really tuff are they likely to be opened .
Were prop the hardest tracks in the area at the time hopefully not to much work has been done on them. If anyone has any other tracks that would provide a real challenge in the area please let me know..

Hi Andrew,

We took 3 campers down Zeka spur last year and I did it with a camper the 3 previous years. The track has been realigned in places and it is now much easier than before. Yes there are a few places where its a bit tight and steep but in the dry we have not had proiblems.

The only track you have mentioned that I would use caution with a camper is Herne spur, it is very steep and although not impossible, I would not suggest it unless you are very well prepared, ( read support vehicles) and the tow vehicles are highly capable.

Bear in mind the tracks are very weather dependant, especially so with a camper i tow.
Darren tells me you are in Adelaide on Sunday, I suggested to him we might hook up to discuss the trip and a possible joint New Years Eve party.

Regards,

Peter

Andrew, the staircase has 3 rough sections which with carefull wheel placement you can tow a CT if it has similar clearance to your Pootrol. It's not really that steep anyway as they used to drive fully loaded log trucks out that way from the top of the Wonnangatta Valley many moons ago.
The first part of the Abbeyard track is a little steep & you could scramble a bit if wet. There is an alternate route via Williams logging road. The tracks into Wonnangatta from there are all OK but heading out the bottom to Dargo they get a bit steep to be towing. If dry I'd recomend Wombat spur. Put another car in front in case you stall for some reason as in places I doubt you could get going again & backing up is out of the question. The last time we had someone in our group tow up there they nearly ran out of power in their petrol & turbo diesel Cruisers. The rest of the drive along the Cynthia range has a few climbs but not too bad.
Harts Spur isn't a very good option as after the fires they put in huge erosion ditches which can hang up on your draw bar & on Hearne spur I've seen 3 cars go over the edge without trailers so leave that one alone too ;-)
If raining the best way accross to Dargo from Wonnangatta (with a trailer) would be back out via the East Buffalo rd, Selwyn track, Great Divide track, Twins Jeep track & the Dargo high plains road.
In general camper trailers can make it very difficult if not dangerous to negtiate many high country tracks. Drivers should be very experienced at towing before taking low range routes. The problem for many interstate drivers is if the route is blocked by a road closure, it's unlikely you will know which of the many alternate tracks is safe to take. Exploring with a CT is not a good idea. For that reason I recomend to most to base camp & do day loops.
Cheers Craig.............

Andrew, I was at Camp Creek below Mt.Speculation last January, two S.A. Subys drove in, I said 'you did well to get in here, did you come via Lake Cobbler'. Answer, 'no via the Staircase'! I kid you not.
When we drove out the following day you could see where they had done a bit of roadbuilding