The track is steep in parts, and scrabbly in others, but is in generally pretty good condition. Billy Goat Bluff is one of the most iconic Victorian High Country tracks and considered one of the best of the Victorian High Country 4WD tracks. 7.3 km from the winter gate at the end of the rough 2WD section of the road. The Talbotville camping area has pit toilets, fire rings and plenty of space to camp. These areas have pit toilets and large flat grassy areas to setup camp. In winter months many of the higher altitude and more fragile tracks will be closed to avoid damage so that we can continue to use them for years to come. African safaris. Such a trip is perfect for a long weekend and provides a real taste of what the High Country has to offer. Today Talbotville is a beautiful camping area bordered by the Crooked River with lush green grass even when the surrounding bush land is so dry and dusty. Piles of stones mark chimney sites where miners cottages, shops, banks and hotels once stood. . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Ok, so Ill fully admit this place not be for everyone, but we loved it. We chose to stay a little outside Beechworth, partly due to cost and partly because we wanted to be out in the country. From short day trips to extended four-wheel drive touring through desert, mountains, rainforest and snow, different routes cater for all levels of skill and expertise. Long rocky climbs seem to go on forever, only to end with spectacular views of mountains and the distant thin lines of other tracks crossing the ridges. Win a REDARC solar setup worth over $1700! One aspect of the Victorian High Country is that it has many spectacular places only known to a relative few, and hopefully, this article will encourage you to explore some of these hidden gems (or perhaps find your own piece of Victorian High Country paradise!). The Moroka road offers great views at times to the north across the Avon Wilderness area with the mountain ranges in the distance. You're at 1,750 metres above sea level, completely surrounded by stark mountains and valleys, which slowly disappear into . The Victorian High Country covers a large part of South-Eastern Victoria, with much of the area only accessible via a 4WD. Book your holidays, sit down with a Victorian High Country Map to plan your route, pack up the 4WD and come to the Victorian High Country for a trip of a lifetime! For a five day Victorian High Country Itinerary I would suggest one night in Beechworth, two in Bright and then two near Mansfield to finish off where you can visit Jamieson, Mount Buller or do as we did, relax on a farmstead. Then head back to Melbourne, stopping at Wangaratta for some lunch on the way home. Today a sense of this history can be found in the old ruins, mine workings and the old cemetery. Lets face it, Australia is pretty damn flat. Jawbone Marine Sanctuary: The Best Place to Visit in Williamstown? The walking track is a 31km round trip on foot and takes most hikers 2 days. The photographs in the store feature some great pictures of previous travelers dilemmas, as well as photographs of the dramatic weather conditions such as floods and fires. They offer lenses for most types of cameras (I use a Fuji X-T3) and are cheap enough to have a go without feeling like youre making another major investment. We cruised through Harrietville, a small town with a clear love of gardening ornate shrubs and vibrant blooms made the roadside more entertaining. From Dargo Melbourne is around a 4 hour drive. Hi Swaggie would you be able to share with me your knowledge of the area and perhaps give me a plan of how to spend the seven days camping in two to three different spots (bases) that have the following to keep every one happy. NSW & Victoria High Country DEPARTING Tuesday 4th February 2020 COST $2475.00pp (twin share) The finer details Tour Price: $2475.00 per person twin share Single Supplement:$475.00 Deposit:$300.00 per person within 7 days of booking. Its more simple than you think, all you need is a sturdy tripod and a lens with a fairly wide aperture. But then when you contrast this with the view from the Blue Rag Range, which boasts a more stunning and challenging track, its a tough choice indeed. and Kayes wonderful home-baked goodies (left for us in the fridge) were a lovely surprise. Some 4WDing experience is preferred as there are numerous steep hill climbs and descents and creek crossings. Lake Tali Karng is a hidden jewel nestled deep in the mountains of Gippsland, fed by snowmelt waters of the Wellington Plains. 4.1 km from the summer 4WD road head to the summit. One place wed been keen to see with the Victorian High Country and the Great Alpine Road, so on a late November morning we headed packed up the car and headed out early from Melbourne for five nights away. Lovicks Hut, King Hut, Craigs Hut the list goes on and on. Driver experience Prior experience not necessary as we will assist you as we go or you might consider attending our driver training course. Sitting by the warm glow of a campfire, laughing about the track you drove today that made your knuckles turn white and your heart rate go off the scale is part of the whole Victorian High Country experience. Keep following the Dargo High Plains Road to the Treasure Plain. Find your own secluded campsite by a fresh mountain stream. your itinerary sounds great, could you do day 3 with a camper trailer on? Turning left will take you through to Eaglevale and onto the iconic Wonnanngatta Station, but on this outing were turning right towards Dargo. Well start this adventure at Licola, which is a small town on the banks of the Macalister River. The track eventually comes to a large open grassy area called Talbotville, a very picturesque and terrific place to camp. From MacFarland Saddle Carpark, continue along Moroka Road for another 14kms and you will cross the Bridget that spans Moroka River. Peters knowledge of the local area (ask him to show you some of his finds from the river!) This is the BEST 4Wdrive adventure in the land. At the bottom of Billy Goat Bluff track is the Wonnangatta Road. And as already mentioned, the view from the top is mind-blowing. Compare tours, packages, and independent trips for South Africa in 7 days. - Do you require Driver Training? On the other side of the range is the Dargo Hotel, est 1898. Still free in an age of user pays, there are hundreds of places to roll out the swag, pitch a tent or set up the camper trailer. 4WD only with high clearance and low range capability. The High Country Rail Trail is a super popular 80km route that stretches from Albury Wodonga to Shelley in Victoria, offering cyclists a scenic journey through an iconic landscape. In the second half of the nineteenth century thousands of Europeans, Americans and Chinese headed into the High Country in search of gold. Image: Michael Page-Sharp. In the evening shed knock to see if we wanted to go down with her to sort the animals out for th night. Check with Parks Victoria to ensure the track is open before you leave home. It felt like walking onto a movie set an hour before the actors and crew arrived. Some of the tracks, rated double black diamond by Four Wheel Drive Victoria, are a test of tyres, suspension, engine torque and driver skill. Dargo is arguably the hub of the Victorian High Country. The rocky track surface is very slippery when wet so avoid any attempts in poor weather. Some of the tracks we will take on include the well known Billy Goat Track, Collingwood Track, Richie's Rd, Herne Spur Track, King Billy and Crooked Creek Track. Located just 3 hours drive from Melbourne, it's also extremely accessible, even for a quick weekend adventure. Beaches, Koalas, waterfalls and much more! More Info will be sent to you once you register with your deposit, No 4WD? Recommended by 94% of travelers. Head for the hills, because the High Country is the place to be! Being an Alpine region, winters in the Victorian High Country are undoubtly cold. Mount Buffalo is almost literally on the doorstep, the Great Alpine Road starts heading quickly upwards from here and even Beechworth is only 45 minutes away. Victoria's High Country is well known for it's breathtaking views, natural attractions, 4 wheel driving, gourmet food and skiing. It is suitable for those with and without off road trailers. This track is doable with a camper trailer but having a lightweight slide on like the Trayon makes the experience easier and safer without sacrificing any of the camping essentials we like to have in the bush nowadays. For this tour we recommend drivers have some 4WDing experience; as there are numerous steep hill climbs and descents and creek crossings. From the top here we could see down to Hotham Alpine Resort. Victoria's High Country Brewery Trail. From Dargo take the road north on the Dargo High Plains Road through picturesque farmland and past charming homesteads, until climbing out of the valley into a forested area. The only formed campsites on the Trail are a couple of grassed areas on New Country Creek, at the base of the infamous 'Staircase' climb that can accommodate at most four vehicles. For a cheap lens that is perfect for astrophotography, I recommended the Samyang range. The Wellington River Camping area offers a dozen campgrounds, spread out along a 10km stretch of the river bank. Ive already written a bit about this place in the Where to Stay in the Victorian High Country section, but I wanted to push home the point here. We did find one small cafe by the main hotel open which, judging by how many words the owner fitted into her welcome, didnt see a lot of customer at this time of year. This is a popular walk across the high plains with a steep descent to the picturesque Lake Tali Karng, one of Victorias deepest natural lakes. With pristine camping, spectacular views, and great 4WDriving you just have to get out and explore this area for yourself. It would involve a fair but of driving (around 1,000km) and our first big adventure with our 11-month-old little girl. Now its time to select low range to save the brakes and tackle the several switch-backs which are a common feature of steep tracks in the victorian high country. From the King Spur Track turn right onto the Dargo High Plains Road and drive 6km to the Blue Rag Track which commences on the left beside a small dam. Like a highlight reel, this 3 night 4WD and camping trip through the high Country will lead you to a number of iconic, must visit places. The end point go our Alpine Road adventure was the town of Dinner Plain. A wood, white and grey, modern home looking like its been copied straight from an Ikea showroom, it had everything we needed including toys provided, a BBQ and play area outside. To support the community, stores, churches, banks, hotels and even a police station was present. During the gold rush era, the township boasted a population of 2,000. I enjoyed many a beer sitting on the porch watching the sun go down. From Dargo, Melbourne is about a 4 hour drive. Your 4WD should have recovery points located at the front and rear. Its recommended that this trip is embarked on by intermediate to advanced drivers and navigators in two or more capable 4WDs with low range and appropriate recovery gear. Coming off the back of a year that included a 112-day lockdown in Victoria, this slice of calm on a hill in the High Country was what we needed. there is a couple of good books on 4wd tracks in the high country with heaps of info to fit your itinarary this might be some ideas to work with camp at sheepyard flat out of mansfield day 1 craigs hut and mt stirling, back to sheepyard flat day 2 bindaree falls and lake cobbler loop via the staircase, back to sheepyard You will see Lake Cobbler, King River, the Man From Snowy River Hut, Lovick's Hut, Howitt High plains, Wonnangatta Valley, Historic Grant, the incredible Pinnacle Lookout and the most fabulous 4WD track in Australia (our secret destination). With our girl propped on our hip we helped brush the goat, collect eggs and put the ducks away from the foxes. After a night around the campfire, head out east along Tamboritha Road until you reach Bennison Lookout, which is worth a stop as it offers fantastic views towards Lake Tali Karng, Mount Wellington and the Razorback. Hello every one i just signed up last night (this is a great web site and forum. Your 4WD should have recovery points located at the front and rear. . On the second day drive up to the top of Mount Buffalo and take in the views from The Horn. On a clear day, you can see as far as Gippsland Lakes, Mt Hotham to the north and the settled areas of the Wonnangatta Valley far below. Survival Gear. Rule 1: don't try to cram an entire . This gave us a good mix of experiences in different parts of the High Country. Explore the Victorian High Country and Australia's Great . 2-In-1 Tripod/Monopod Featuring a detachable leg and a removable center column, Neewer Carbon Fiber Tripod allows transformation from a tripod to a monopod (Height can reach 68.9 (175cm)) for Adjustable Tripod Legs The 4-section legs with twist locks can extend from 22.6 to 66.1 (57.5cm to 168cm) in seconds and provide reliable stability. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The Victorian High Country in is without question one of the best Four-Wheel Drive locations in Australia. Honestly, you dont need a list from me, just get out of your car and wander around until you see something you like. So when youre forced to drive kilometre after kilometre down into steep valleys, your brakes will really start to feel the heat. El Dorado is a quirky little gold-rush town, with not a busting lot going on in it. With a baby in the car, we didnt quite make the whole loop to Omeo but managed to do an out-and-back journey to Dinner Plain that was more than sufficient as an Alpine fix. Our daughter was fascinated by her daily visits down to the chicken coop with Elly and we loved the home-produced produce that she left for us. WAYPOINT EXPEDITIONS. Alpine National Park. If I want to impress someone, the Blue Rag Range track is short, exhilarating and not too far up the road from Mt Hotham. Itinerary is as follows Day before tour kicks off - meet up in Jamieson for welcome dinner Day 1 - Jamieson in to the High Country Day 2 - Travel high country tracks and trails Day 3 - Travel high country tracks and trails Day 4 - Travel high country tracks and trails Day 5 - Travel high country tracks and trails with farewell dinner Four-day 4WD trip in Victoria's high country With stunning valleys, mountains, rivers and lakes, the Victorian High Country is ideal for a family 4WD adventure. Food This is a self catered tour, bring your own food and drink requirements, we supply a gas BBQ for your use in camp. Its quite impressive, but I wouldnt go too far out of your way to see it if you werent passing by El Dorado already. The shady park nearby is an excellent place for a cuppa or lunch before tackling the tracks. Sample the exotic flavours of Africa's 'Spice Island', relax on Kande Beach at Lake Malawi, scale the sand dunes in Sossusvlei, glide through the . This is one of my favorite views in all ofthe Victorian High Country. Located near Lake Cobbler and down a few hundred metres of bush track, Dandongadale Falls is quite impressive. To get to the North Razorback, turn off the Great Alpine Road (B 500) just south of Bright at Germantown on the Mt Beauty Road (C 536). This is the BEST 4Wdrive adventure in the land. Walk the highlights of the Victorian High Country including Bright, Mount Buffalo, Bogong high plains and Mt Feathertop returning each evening to our cosy accommodation in the beautiful town of Bright. Call Vic for an itinerary. We loved the magical little toy shop Beechworth Toys and Collectables, Beechworth Sweet Co, the shop that looks like it could have come from a Harry Potter movie and having some wonderful eggs Benedict at the Rustique Soul Cafe, sitting beside a life-sized replica of Ned Kellys armour. There are a few pieces of must-have kit Id recommended for some time away in the Victorian High Country in summer. About 6km from Dargo take the Upper Dargo Road which heads off on the right. If you are a photographer then the High Country is a great chance to have a dabble in astrophotography. The zoo aspect of it wasnt so impressive. The full tour fee is payable 2 weeks prior to the tour and is not refundable after this time. This is not a road for the travel sick! Powers Lookout is named after Harry Power, a bushranger from the mid-1800s, who was a mentor to the most famous bushranger of them all, Ned Kelly. Definitely! We also popped into the Burke Museum which documents the failed journey of Burke and Wills to cross Australia, but also has other curiosities such as a stuffed Thylacine (a Tasmanian tiger, extinct since 1936) and a recreation 19th Century Australian street which was unusual. Camping in the Victorian High Country is fantastic. If youre coming to the High Country Ive no doubt youve heard of Beechworth or had recommendations to visit here. I had a full itinerary at the May Club meeting, will bring copies to future meetings, and can send a PDF copy to anyone that PMs me with their email address. But then theres Zeka Spur, Billy Goat Bluff, and the list goes on. At the bottom of Billy Goat Bluff is where the track meets Wonnangatta Road. If you're coming from Woomargama National Park, you can join the trail from either end - or opt for a cruisier section by starting at Sandy Creek Bridge, which . Explore the local scene in charming seaside towns and make time for some unusual stops along the way. Vehicles require low range, high clearance and sufficient recovery gear, while drivers will need grit and experience for some challenging sections. Victoria's High Country - The Official Website - plan and book your next getaway WALKS WITH ENDLESS VIEWS Step outside the everyday. Fuel Fuel requirements for this trip are:-Diesel = 120 litres 4 and V6 petrol = 125 litres Straight 6 and V8 . You have arrived at the historical Talbotville Camping Area. We also found this oversized chair at the top, which I imagine looks very different in winter surrounded by snow. The Offroad Tradies will guide you through this 6 day/5 night thrill seeking, ultimate 4WD Tag-Along Adventure Tour. Stop in and explore famous High country huts like Craig's Hut, Bluff . Dandongadale Falls isnt the sort of place that most people talk about around the campfire and thats possibly because they drive straight past. When we pulled over at Dannys Lookout, the bikes were all lined up here, each taking their turn to go back around one of the bends with a photographer waiting to take the action shot. Continue to follow the road along the river for another 6km then take a left onto Crooked River Track. temptations bowls with lids,