millsy
4x4 Earth Contributer
Yesterday we explored some more of the Big Desert area. We camped at the lovely Casuarina Campground ( point D on the Google track below ). The kids loved the many kangaroos we saw on the way into the park from its entrance ( point A ) to the campground, at D. Young Brocky was wrapped when I sent him for a short walk back along the track as I aired down, and he saw a huge roo just sitting quietly in the trees watching proceedings. They are obviously very inquisitive.
from:Unknown street to:Snow Drift Trk toine Plains Rd to:Meridian Rd to:Snow Drift Trk to:Unknown street to:Unknown street to:Meridian Trk to:-35.454378,142.08189 - Google Maps
Between points E and C there is a 'hidden valley'. An amazing little depression between the sand hills that you might first think is where the road follows a creek bed. But it cannot be a creek, as you drive down into it from each end. There are these beautiful gnarled and ancient trees lining the hill along each side. It is only about 600 metres long, and then you drive out into the real world again! Just a trick of how nature formed the sand hills I guess, and then the right plants took advantage of this little sheltered valley.
And then the many kangaroos that greeted us, as we drove into the camp site. Probably the same 'herd' I accidently walked through and startled when I went for a night walk last year to collect some firewood. The pounding of leaping 'roos all around me, but too dark to see any of them! Spooky!
We brought huge grins to the kids faces when we drove back through the 'hidden valley' the next morning to play on the giant sand drift at Snowdrift Picnic Area, at point F. Even quiet and reserved Chantelle found herself climbing back up the hill for a second time, when she saw the fun her younger brother and sister were having rolling down the hill. And Mum made it even more fun as she 'pleaded' with them not to do it, and then made a fuss when she tried to smack the sand off their clothes. All adding to the adventure. Not to mention the tightropes to be conquered as we all tried our skills on the wire rope set up to keep the fourbies from running riot also! Apparantly, according to the policeman I met later that day, 4x4 vehicles used to have fun climbing that same hill years ago, before it was roped off!
And then we drove down several tracks making our way to the Wonga Campground. This is the largest and the main campground in the Wyperfield Park. It would also be the most central to many of the park's points of interest. There are many places of interest to visit, as marked on our Meridian 'Victoria's Deserts' map. I bought these from our local ARB in Elizabeth. Very helpful, showing all the campgrounds and their facilities, plus the places to 'go and see'.
Not far from Wonga are the Lake Brambuk Nature Walk, the Tyakil Nature Walk, the Desert Walk, the Eastern Lookout Nature Tour and many marked lookouts.
And there are enough four wheel drive tracks to keep you happy for many days of exploring, all within a 30km radius from the North East to South West of Wonga. There are many information plaques next to huts and farm equipment, explaining the history and heritage of the area.
I find that this large 'corner' of the Big Desert is the most beautiful. It is called a Pine - Buloke woodland. An ecosystem with very few Eucalyptus ( 'gum' ) trees. There are four main tree species according to this article I found, and that is what gives this area its 'special' character for me;
Victorian Ecosystems - Pine-Buloke Woodland
Three of these trees are the Cyprus-Pine, the Buloke and the Belah. I cannot pin down the name of the fourth. None of them have proper leaves, and are all a primitive, or early, form of trees that existed before evolution produced the leaf as found on most trees today.
Brocky found the pine needles on the fallen timber were just the thing to make the fire come back to life. Better than newspapers. He made me fill my spare bag with them ready to light the fire the next day!
Unfortunately, the other thing I find interesting could be to do with the early farming activities. There are many clearings that you come across as you drive along the tracks. This gives your eyes a rest from the endless Eucalypt monotony that surrounds you in other parts of the Big Desert - such as along the Milmed Rock Track! And these clearings were probably caused by the damage done by grazing sheep and the rabbits.
from:Unknown street to:Snow Drift Trk toine Plains Rd to:Meridian Rd to:Snow Drift Trk to:Unknown street to:Unknown street to:Meridian Trk to:-35.454378,142.08189 - Google Maps
Between points E and C there is a 'hidden valley'. An amazing little depression between the sand hills that you might first think is where the road follows a creek bed. But it cannot be a creek, as you drive down into it from each end. There are these beautiful gnarled and ancient trees lining the hill along each side. It is only about 600 metres long, and then you drive out into the real world again! Just a trick of how nature formed the sand hills I guess, and then the right plants took advantage of this little sheltered valley.
And then the many kangaroos that greeted us, as we drove into the camp site. Probably the same 'herd' I accidently walked through and startled when I went for a night walk last year to collect some firewood. The pounding of leaping 'roos all around me, but too dark to see any of them! Spooky!
We brought huge grins to the kids faces when we drove back through the 'hidden valley' the next morning to play on the giant sand drift at Snowdrift Picnic Area, at point F. Even quiet and reserved Chantelle found herself climbing back up the hill for a second time, when she saw the fun her younger brother and sister were having rolling down the hill. And Mum made it even more fun as she 'pleaded' with them not to do it, and then made a fuss when she tried to smack the sand off their clothes. All adding to the adventure. Not to mention the tightropes to be conquered as we all tried our skills on the wire rope set up to keep the fourbies from running riot also! Apparantly, according to the policeman I met later that day, 4x4 vehicles used to have fun climbing that same hill years ago, before it was roped off!
And then we drove down several tracks making our way to the Wonga Campground. This is the largest and the main campground in the Wyperfield Park. It would also be the most central to many of the park's points of interest. There are many places of interest to visit, as marked on our Meridian 'Victoria's Deserts' map. I bought these from our local ARB in Elizabeth. Very helpful, showing all the campgrounds and their facilities, plus the places to 'go and see'.
Not far from Wonga are the Lake Brambuk Nature Walk, the Tyakil Nature Walk, the Desert Walk, the Eastern Lookout Nature Tour and many marked lookouts.
And there are enough four wheel drive tracks to keep you happy for many days of exploring, all within a 30km radius from the North East to South West of Wonga. There are many information plaques next to huts and farm equipment, explaining the history and heritage of the area.
I find that this large 'corner' of the Big Desert is the most beautiful. It is called a Pine - Buloke woodland. An ecosystem with very few Eucalyptus ( 'gum' ) trees. There are four main tree species according to this article I found, and that is what gives this area its 'special' character for me;
Victorian Ecosystems - Pine-Buloke Woodland
Three of these trees are the Cyprus-Pine, the Buloke and the Belah. I cannot pin down the name of the fourth. None of them have proper leaves, and are all a primitive, or early, form of trees that existed before evolution produced the leaf as found on most trees today.
Brocky found the pine needles on the fallen timber were just the thing to make the fire come back to life. Better than newspapers. He made me fill my spare bag with them ready to light the fire the next day!
Unfortunately, the other thing I find interesting could be to do with the early farming activities. There are many clearings that you come across as you drive along the tracks. This gives your eyes a rest from the endless Eucalypt monotony that surrounds you in other parts of the Big Desert - such as along the Milmed Rock Track! And these clearings were probably caused by the damage done by grazing sheep and the rabbits.
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