The Grampians Spring 2019

[CaptainBanana]

This was another bucket list place I managed to tick off this year, there was no off-roading as every single track was closed and apparently they're not that great anyway but the Grampians as a destination was fantastic. i actually enjoyed the hikes and climbs a lot, ill re visit at some point .

 

[BensWhackCar]

Slip around the closed off signs. They closed nearly all tracks a few years ago and often just don't open them because they're lazy.

Been down most and there's 0 reason for them to be closed. Aside from protecting the environment I guess

 

[CaptainBanana]

Slip around the closed off signs. They closed nearly all tracks a few years ago and often just don't open them because they're lazy.

Been down most and there's 0 reason for them to be closed. Aside from protecting the environment I guess

That's not something I've ever done I figure if they're closed I'll just go somewhere else you can only make things worse if you get caught as they will not just put signs but gate the bastards as well and never open them again which we see all the time now.

 

[BensWhackCar]

Only been driving a few years but most of em seem always closed, my boss is heaps into CFA too and says they’re closed so no one messes up the fire routes. I just be careful on the fire routes.

yes they are gated, that’s what I thought you meant by closed, I’ve not seen just a sigh before At the Grampians, but there’s very well used paths that go just around the gate.

 

[CaptainBanana]

Only been driving a few years but most of em seem always closed, my boss is heaps into CFA too and says they’re closed so no one messes up the fire routes. I just be careful on the fire routes.

yes they are gated, that’s what I thought you meant by closed, I’ve not seen just a sigh before At the Grampians, but there’s very well used paths that go just around the gate.

Those paths are everywhere but in a lot of places they result in massive monetary fines probably more importantly they result in areas being closed completely. you look at Gembrook for example 15 years ago there was a ton of cracks and options now you can't drive in there at all I'm not going to be contributing to that kind of thing.

In regards to the Grampians specifically I have no idea if there are Gates or not we print it out the track closures list and pretty much every single track was on that list so we didn't try it all.

 

[BensWhackCar]

As I said they’ve always been closed, way I see it I can follow the rules and miss out on the good spots, while the idiots will still go and ruin the tracks.
You sound pretty reasonable, and so I bet you would clear tracks of fallen trees, do you keep some bright coloured string or something to warn other drivers of wash outs or real dangerous turns?
I look after the tracks I go on, and without a good reason other than fear of fines or the track staying closed I’m not going to miss out.

 

[CaptainBanana]

If you're referring to the Grampians tracks always being closed I don't know how you mean as the closure list is seasonal so that tells you right there you can in fact drive them during the correct time of year.

I don't tie string to anything, if you hit a washout too fast you're likley driving too fast for the conditions. I clear trees of tracks if necessary and practical. I don't go above and beyond to get into places if I don't need to I just go somewhere else.

 

[dno67]

If a tracks closed, do everyone a favor and stay off them. And if you do happen to travel on the occasional, l'd suggest you don't go on social media or public forums informing everyman and his dog about it.

That block surrounded by park was my families farm way back.

Right below the Mt William lookout.
Carry on...

 

[CaptainBanana]

If a tracks closed, do everyone a favor and stay off them. And if you do happen to travel on the occasional, l'd suggest you don't go on social media or public forums informing everyman and his dog about it.

That block surrounded by park was my families farm way back.
View attachment 69693
Right below the Mt William lookout.
Carry on...

Pretty nice country out there it's a shame there's probably not a lot of work because I wouldn't mind living somewhere like that.

 

[dno67]

Pretty nice country out there it's a shame there's probably not a lot of work because I wouldn't mind living somewhere like that.

Awsome part of the world. Gets in your blood, out there its more about lifestyle and your surroundings.
Both my parents worked at Ararat and Ballarat at the time, traveling is just part of the the deal unless you have a large enough plot to be self sufficient / sustaining.
Lots of smaller lifestyle plots out that way these days, so they'd mostly be traveling for work also. As your into food, l suggest if you haven't already or anyone else visiting the area has a meal at the Royal Mail, Dunkeld.

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Best meal l've ever eaten.

 

[CaptainBanana]

Awsome part of the world. Gets in your blood, out there its more about lifestyle and your surroundings.
Both my parents worked at Ararat and Ballarat at the time, traveling is just part of the the deal unless you have a large enough plot to be self sufficient / sustaining.
Lots of smaller lifestyle plots out that way these days, so they'd mostly be traveling for work also. As your into food, l suggest if you haven't already or anyone else visiting the area has a meal at the Royal Mail, Dunkeld.

Google Travel

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Best meal l've ever eaten.

Oh we've been through there last time but if I remember it was a pretty small kind of town never even thought to stop for food, I'll keep it in mind though because we might be doing a big desert trip as South Australia probably won't let us over to do our next propose trip to Beachport.

 

[dno67]

The town was almost dead before a top melb chef purchased the hotel, since then they have purchased several other properties in the area creating quiet a bit of employment for locals.

We actually planned our trip with a nights stay in dunkeld so we could have a meal there. There's a great place in town with self-contained cabins, l can highly recommend also.

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Something very un unexpected in such a small town with little to offer at first glance by the passer by.

 

[CaptainBanana]

The town was almost dead before a top melb chef purchased the hotel, since then they have purchased several other properties in the area creating quiet a bit of employment for locals.

View attachment 69695
We actually planned our trip with a nights stay in dunkeld so we could have a meal there. There's a great place in town with self-contained cabins, l can highly recommend also.

Google Travel

www.google.com

Something very un unexpected in such a small town with little to offer at first glance by the passer by.

Last time we stayed at a fantastic free camp in Ararat which I would do it again without hesitation but we did a day trip right through the Grampians and then came back via dunkfield so we didn't spend a lot of time out there.

This next trip we're planning is probably going to incorporate at least one day in the Grampians so I'm going to readdress that maybe we end up in Dunkfield for a meal because the food at Ararat wasn't that flash to be honest. Actually how's this for funny we went to fish and chips in Ararat where they sell fresh fish in the window but they won't cook that fresh fish they only cook frozen battered fish from the Woolies across the road. The potato cakes to tasted like the Frozen type you get from the supermarket freezer they were not homemade or handmade potato cakes I couldn't believe I was eating frozen fish while standing in a fish and chip shop that sells fresh fish.

 

[dno67]

Dodging the health regulations around commercial kitchens and food prep requirements or similar would be my guess.

 

[CaptainBanana]

Dodging the health regulations around commercial kitchens and food prep requirements or similar would be my guess.

Oh yeah could be - we just ended up throwing it away three of us ordered and couldn't eat it you should have seen it was a bright yellow like some sort of chemical experiment. The second night we went to the pub which was absolutely full of people and food was flying out but even the chicken parma was drier than dust although the chips were edible. That's why I say I'm more than keen to give this place a crack next time I'm up there.

 

[dno67]

Thats how good the grub is... lol

 

[CaptainBanana]

View attachment 69698
Thats how good the grub is... lol

Yeah I'm pretty keen to have a crack at that it's been a while since I've gone out for a decent meal it, was a almost weekly occurrence prior to Dan saying it's too dangerous to eat in public.