Vic/NSW High Country

Rosco,

I don't know the area very well at all but I think this will help.

Last January we were in Canberra when we decided to come back to "the Hill" via one of my shortcuts. My kids all cried "Nooooo Dad not another shortcut. We'll end up lost." They claim my past attempts at shortcuts have got us into trouble and cost us lots of time. I believe they have lead us to grreat adventures and learning experiences. Anyway.

The morning we left we went to a book shop in Canberra to see what we could get. The book I chose has turned out to be bery good. It is called 4WD Tracks of the High Country by Craig Lewis and Cathy Savage. The trek notes are easy to follow and at least on the ones we did accurate. The track grading system provides a good guide as to difficulty and is consistent.

We also had the HEMA HIgh Country Map had a great time didn't see too much sealed road and didn't get lost. Dad's shortcuts while still not saving us time are now looking a bit safer.

Hope this helps have a great trip
Duncs

Grab the high country huts map from the BP in Mansfield. The blokes there are fantastic wealth of info on track conditions too.... The huts can be done in a day, but 2 days is best.

What to see? that could set a record on this site for one thread in reality. There is so much to see, do, bush walks...

From Mansfield, head to Sheepyard Flat which is north of Mansfield, and camp there night 1, and start there.

I'm heading into the High Country from 26DE05 till sometime in the new year (flexible).

While I'm a fairly experienced 4WDer, I've not spent much time in the Vic High Country, and none in the past 10 years.

I'm planning to go into the Wonanagatta Valley via the Zeka Spur Track. However, I've read that it is pretty steep.

What's the general opinion of taking a 1.6t off-road camper with hydrolic brakes down the Zeka Spur?

Am I insane for contemplating it?

TIA, Bob.

G'Day Rosco,

Nice of you to come visit us mexicans.

Where ever you go in the high country you will not be dissapointed, just find places that interest you and go for it.

Regards

Rolande

Roscoe,

To give you some idea of what to expect I will tell you what we did with the Trak Shak following closely behind.

We left Canberra and headed south to Jindabyne, lunch overlooking the lake. We then headed south again along the Snowy River towards Suggan Buggan. About 7km after craoosing into Victoria we turned west onto Ingeegoodbee Track then MacFarlanes Flat Track and Cobberas Trail and the Benambra Rd. We camped that night at Native Dog Flat. God bless daylight saving. It was a big day but great scenery and interesting driving. There was one hill that caused a little grief on hte Cobberas Trail during a short but quite heavy shower, but after a couple of runs at it we got up OK. The next day we travelled by failry main roads to Myrtleford. From there we went to the Bennies and via Wild Horse Gap Trail to Pineapple Flat, then King Basin Rd past King Hut and up Speculation to Craigs Hut. We then travelled past Mt Stirling to the Mt Buffalo Rd and into Mansfield where we stayed at the CV Park. Again it was a little late making camp but the driving and scenery are truly amazing. We had no problems this day at all.

We were there in late January 2005

Now I don't know how these tracks compare to what you are planning but they were at a standard that kept me entertained and didn't worry Mum too much. The 17 year old daughter did threaten to walk at one stage but the rain dhanged her mind.

Hope this helps
Duncs

Hi rosco just wondering what this word is peregrinations.

All the best
Eric

Hi Rossco.

My favourite spots:
Wonnagatta Valley
Blue Rag Range
Talbotville/Grant & surrounding mining ruins/cemetery
Dargo Pub (darts/pool night is Wednesday night from memory)
Davies Plain
Just about any of the huts
The highplains out behind Falls Creek & Rocky Valley Dam (not really 4wd country but great views and some easily accessible huts.)

Omeo & Benambra are quite nice little towns and Myrtleford, Mount Beauty, Bright & Harietville all have a bit going on at that time of year being a bit larger.

Pack a rod and some light gear if fishings your thing. Small spinning reel and 2-4kg line, small hooks. Floating an unweighted worm down small streams/rivers can be very productive as can the small celta spinners.

Keep an ear on the local ABC broadcasts for Total Fire Bans. They are reasonably frequent and "I didn't know" is not accepted as an excuse. Keep your camp fires small or use gas.

Also if travelling solo take a chainsaw and a set of drag chains. Trees across tracks are common, as are the small localised storms or wide spread gales that drop them.

Drop your pressures a bit to increase ride comfort and traction. Remember that some of the tracks up there are a doddle in the dry and treacherous in the wet. If you really aren't sure take 10 minutes and have a good look. People get killed up there for incorrect gear selections or standing on the clutch at poorly chosen moments. If you haven't learnt it the stall stop, key on into reverse is a hand trick to have a working knowledge of.

Have a ball. It's a great spot. I'm up there as often as I can be. Having grown up in Mt Beauty I really miss the mountains living in flat central vic.

Dave

The Paj will be up there too from 27 Dec to 2 Jan. So if you see an old black Paj with SA plates, a whip aerial and white knuckles on the grab bars say hello!

Cheers

Pete

Rosco,

I'm half a chance to be going to Mansfield that weekend.

Shoot me a note to jimbest at internode dot on net. Chuck in your daytime phone no and I'll have a yarn tomorrow.

Cheers,

Jim.

G'day Rosco,

Not sure if this will get through to your email since you're not a member anymore I can't mm you either, could you send me an email on pezzamail@bigponddotcomdotau in regards to me giving you some beer!

Avagoodn
Pezza