Victorian High Country 2012 Part 1

By Andrew

Victorian High Country
December 2012 & January 2013

This is going to be a long one so fill your drink, get comfortable and chillax. Nearly one hundred photos, some video and liberal doses of my verbal diarrhea to follow.

The five of us left Whyalla on Sunday 23rd December 2012 with the Windsor Rapid caravan hooked up behind the Patrol. First up, a short trip to Adelaide for a couple of days at the Marion Holiday Park. Highly recommend this place especially for families. Plenty of shade, pools, big jumping pillow, indoor tennis and general activities. A bit pricey but location and facilities make it worthwhile.

With Christmas behind us we left early(ish) on the 26th heading over the Victorian border for somewhere close to Mansfield. We stopped at Tailem Bend for the first fuel up since leaving home. In the Shell station we found Fons & Julie, the first of our Whyalla 4WD Club mates going on this trip. Instead of their ‘criuiser traytop (aka The Farm Truck) towing the Jayco they were in their Kluger. Last minute gearbox problems hadn’t been fixed in time so they would be hitching a ride with others when we hit the rough stuff. Getting on the phone we also caught up with Andrew and Adele in the Patrol and Lauren and Carl in the Cruiser. They were in Murray Bridge so we waited for them. This was a “just get there” highway run via Lameroo, Pinnaroo, across the border into Victoria, Ouyen, Charleton and finally we stopped in Bendigo for the night.

In the morning, after wandering around the centre of Bendigo, we drove to Heathcote for lunch (at the highly recommended award winning bakery). From there it was on to Mansfield via Seymour, Yea and the serenity of Bonnie Doon. It was here, at the Mansfield Holiday Park, that we met up with the rest of our group. Eleven vehicles in total.

Friday 28th was our first offroad day on this trip. A short run West out of Mansfield to the town of Merrijig.

Just out of town we turned right onto the Howqua Track. This is a well maintained road out to the Sheepyard Flat campground. Trevor, on his first trip to the High Country and itching for some offroading, was disillusioned number of road cars coming the other way. He was upset when I called out on the radio that a Statesman was coming towards us and was going home when I told him about the Corolla with L plates. After Sheepyard the scenery got better along the Brocks Road.

We turned off the main track descended down to the Upper Jamieson Hut. A quick splash through a shallow creek crossing and we were at the hut. A morning tea stop and then a steep drive back to the main track. Nothing too strenuous for vehicles or passengers.

Leaving Upper Jamieson Hut we continued onto the Cairn Creek Track. Reaching the end of track we turned East without taking the short detour to Lovicks Hut as I believed it was no longer there. Bluff Hut was our lunch stop and the stockyard was filled with horses. A horse riding guided tour group was there but about to leave. Talking to the tour boss I found out that Lovicks had been recently rebuilt. Oh well, there’s always next time.

From here took the 16 Mile Jeep Track to Pikes Flat and on to Bindaree Hut for an afternoon break.

After the hut we took the road to Bindaree Falls. A fifteen minute (steep) return walk was worthwhile to see the waterfall and stand in the cavern behind the falls.

Continuing North and upwards we joined the fast and smooth Circuit Road for a short while before turning onto the rough and rocky Corn Hill Track into Mt Buller. From here it’s bitumen back to Mansfield.

go to Victorian High Country 2012 Part 2

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  1. andrew says:

    Good articles only 5 weeks to go and we will be there

  2. Neil says:

    Excellent pics and a great trip