Butcher Country Track

[Willowna]

Trip 27th Nov 2009.
2 GU Patrols - 1 Deisel, 1 Petrol/Gas
Licola - Dargo via Butcher Country Track, Wonnnangatta, Talbotville
Tracks reasonably dry after previous days of rain.
Track from Black Spur down uneventful - 1st low range and took in the scenery.
Camped at the 'Sisters' - Macalister & Caladonia junction. Haven't been in this location for about 10 years & was dissappointed that the 'pool' has gone & therefore no possible crossing to go up the Caladonia.
The Macalister at Licola was black. At the junction, upstream it was clear. The Caladonia was running black and would have loved to do the crossing to see the cause.
River crossings up to the start of Butcher Country were all low & haven't changed.
Butcher Country was as normal - a mongrel in places but otherwise 2nd low.
Missed seeing the turn off to the Caladonia (& Dingo Hill) Have heard that it has been closed. Maybe someone can verify.
No major issues to Howitt or down Zeka to Wonnangatta.
Managed to get the 'Horse Paddock' to ourselves which is unusual ( & there was firewood stacked up).
Took the 'lower track' out to Wombat Spur. This hasn't changed much - it's still a mother of a climb. Probably a mother in law climb in the wet.
Dropped down Station Track to Talbotville from the Mt Cynthia Track. 1st low range.
Crooked River crossing was just up the doors.
Ended up at the Dargo pub and then home.

 

[Willowna]

Yes allanmac, one of my favorite areas.
Very changeable though. A mate went up Butcher Country in a pajero the week before and fought all the way to Howitt - says he must have smoothed it out, but i'd like to think it was the patrols prowess
Didn't see the cross over track from Butcher down onto the Caladonia at the bottom of Dingo - is it still sign posted.
How long ago did the pool at "Honeymoon Hotel' - junction of the Macalister & Caladonia - get washed out. Last time I was there you could cross over & travel up the Caladonia for a ways. Would have liked to find out what was making the water coming down the Caladonia so dirty. The difference in colour between the 2 was incredible.
Wonnangatta Station still holds appeal (with its history) but has definitely lost its challenge from the early 80's when the Devils Staircase was the route in from the Howitt plains.

 

[Justin_S]

Hi Willowna,
Did a trip down Dingo Hill (with MTZ's running at 30psi) and along Caledonia River track up to Howitt Rd and down Zeka last Queens Birthday. The MTZ's didn't suffer at all. The bottom of Caledonia was quite overgrown.

 

[Willowna]

Does anyone have photos of 'Honeymoon Hotel' - the shack that used to be at the junction of the macalister & caladonia ? Would like to get hold of one if possible.

 

[Willowna]

Hi Willowna,
Did a trip down Dingo Hill (with MTZ's running at 30psi) and along Caledonia River track up to Howitt Rd and down Zeka last Queens Birthday. The MTZ's didn't suffer at all. The bottom of Caledonia was quite overgrown.

Yes noticed the same through the macalister. a lot of wattle coming up after the fires.
Base of Butcher Country at the Macalister used to be very open with a good area for at least 10 vehicles to stay overnight but is now very closed in.
Probably not bad though if less stay there - there's a good trout pool close by that used to get hammered.

 

[Nickj]

Willowna

We will be camping just near Arbunkle Junction New Years day and will be doing both Butcher Country and Caledonia River Tracks as day trips. Will post photos and experiences as usual.
Thanks for the heads up.

Nick

 

[uzz32soarer]

Can anyone confirm that Dingo Hill and Caledonia Tracks have been opened by the DSE. Planning a run in there between Christmas - New Year, but need to confirm it's open. I hate it when you drive for hours to find a locked gate and then have to face further hours of travel to either an alternate destination or to the other side of the gate.

 

[Willowna]

All tracks will be open.

 

[Nickj]

Willowna

Does that include Dingo Hill Tk from Tamboritha Rd to Caledonia River Tk? My Rooftops map says it is blocked by mounds of dirt. Can you please confirm??

Nick

 

[uzz32soarer]

I called DSE in Heyfield yesterday. Track is open. DIngo, Caledonia, link to Butcher, all open.

BUT...........the floods of 2007 that took the Licola bridge did a lot of damage in the Caledonia. The river changed course and followed the road. A completely new road has been put through from one end to the other. All of the old campsites are gone, the entire area is badly overgrown due to it being closed for two years.

It's going to take some years before new campsites are established along the new course of the river.

Dingo Hill remains unchanged except for one large culvert at the river end.

 

[Nickj]

Thanks for the notes guys

Will report back with up to date info in the New Year with pics.

Nick

 

[uzz32soarer]

I'm back from my trip. Range Rover P38 and Hummer H2.

We travelled via Licola to Tamboritha Saddle then down Dingo Hill into the Caledonian Valley. Dingo has been altered a lot at the bottom end and is considerably shorter than before. It's still got the switchbacks and a couple of rough sections, but all in all it was in quite good shape. There is a new bridge at the Snowy Plains crossing just before you head into deep bush.

Caledonian thru to the Link Track was in good shape. All campsites and crossings as they have been for the past 30 years I've been going in there. A bit of work around the Link Track and a new sign posted there giving the track name.

Past the Link Track there are a number of sections where the track has been re-aligned, most particular is where the difficult rock ledge river crossing under the cliff edge was that took out many a sill over the years. This is gone now and a new track around it. We went to the first 2kms of steep climb out of the valley and overall the track and general condition of the Caledonian River is in good shape.

We exited today via the Link Track to Butcher Country then left and down to the MacAlister River waterfall campsite opposite the junction.

There is no damage here at all and the campsite looks exactly as it has done for years. Still room for eight or ten cars here.

Heading down the Macalister River Track towards the McMillans Spur Track, the trail was badly eroded, very dry, dusty and overgrown. A number of tree falls needed clearing and amazing amounts of young wattle sapplings encroaching on the track. Not easy on the big H2.

The biggest suprise came at the Macalister / Caledonia junction. I have visted here many, many times over the years and could not believe the damage caused to this area by the floods of 2007. The entire river junction is altered. Banks are eroded, the rivers take new directions, and there is no way to cross to the other side where the old Caledonia camps aare situated. Photos to come of this area.

Exited via McMillans Spur to Bull Town Road, then out to Licola. The Licola - Jamieson Road is now sealed for 18kms from Licola so the drive down to get a cold drink and an ice cream was much quicker than anticipated.

 

[uzz32soarer]

Pictures of the Macalister / Caledonia junction.

You can see that the rivers now take different courses, the natural dam wall below the original crossing point has gone, the old track down to the crossing has been washed away and is five feet deep now.

Real shame.

Pictures:
1. Caledonia River at the junction.
2. Old crossing entry now washed away and DEEP!
3. Macalister River at junction.
4. Looking downstream where the old natural dam wall was.
5. Old crossing location.

 

[phs]

just got back from there yesterday too macalister river to butcher country to butcher link to dingo hill to caladonia river tracks are all in very good order, id say any 4x4 with half decent tyres could get through unassited, we had 5 4x4s new and old from half bald 31" a/ts to new 33 m/ts no one need any help to finish the trip... about to post a trip report in the trips section now..

 

[Nickj]

Thanks for the views and the words Uzz. We are heading up there this afternoon for a few days.

Pics and report to come.

Nick

 

[uzz32soarer]

Enjoy Nick. Fantastic up there at this time of year. If the mountains get a bit of this light soaking rain that Melbourne is having, the dust will settle and you will have a great trip.

 

[Nickj]

Thanks Uzz

Great weekend, just did Caledonia River Tk which was great. Got a bit of rain Fri and Sat nights but no problems. Helped keep the dust down.

Report soon.

Nick