vic high country in october

[hiluxjim]

Hi guys,
Im from SA (dont hold it against me) and the family and I are thinking of doing a week or so in the high country at the start of october. I realise some tracks will be closed still but does anyone have some advice to give me regarding camping spots, accessable with offroad camper trailer? I will probably find a nice campspot leave the trailer and explore during the day so something that is close enough to the action but still far enough in that we can camp and relax. Thinking of coming in VIA Bonnie doon and down through jamieson and east towards dargo but I think the road may be impassable. Any advice is welcome. I will be travelling with 2 other cars and we all have fairly high experience 4wding. cheers in advance.

 

[Biesel]

We did our first trip to VHC only earlier this year. Most things were still open when we went (So I can't offer advice there). One thing that we noticed was everything seems really fairly close in VHC and most things are really only a couple of hours drive. Very different to other travel we are use to.

You will love it, take a chain saw.

 

[hiluxjim]

thanks Biesel, definitely take the chainsaw.

 

[Outrage]

Link below opens a map, then click on the 'forest explorer' button, shows the seasonal closures as red lines. In reality, you're quite limited in making your way across to Dargo prior to the tracks reopening.
http://mapshare.maps.vic.gov.au/MapShareVic/index.html?viewer=MapShareVic.PublicSite&locale=en-AU

 

[Bomber2012]

If you drive a bit further north to Porpunkah you can drive open tracks across to Dargo , don't know if I would want to take a camper trailer on these tracks (I wouldn't take a CT anywhere near the HC) but you can get through .
Porpunkah
Buckland Valley rd
Buckland river rd
Selwyn Creek rd
Selwyn logging rd
Tea Tree track
Mt Hart
Mt Hart spur track
Wombat Range track
Cynthia Range track
Eaglevale track
Dargo
Hope this helps
Take full recovery gear and make sure you can recover yourself solo .

 

[Ziggy]

Seasonally closed tracks are slated to reopen Cup Day with a couple of exceptions but given the snow depths like last year it may take longer. This may not be reflected in Mapshare markings.

 

[Ziggy]

thanks Biesel, definitely take the chainsaw.

Take a drag chain too and a plan B - some of those logs can be big.

 

[boobook]

Seasonally closed tracks are slated to reopen Cup Day with a couple of exceptions but given the snow depths like last year it may take longer. This may not be reflected in Mapshare markings.

Ziggy, the exception list grows every year. Most reopen in the 1st weekend of November, and the exception list is 30th Nov. I recall Kings spur was added to the end November list about 7 - 8 years ago. Then there were about 5 tracks. Now there are dozens. http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/closures/seasonal-road-closures2

 

[Ziggy]

More importantly for anyone heading high in spring, these listings are not promises, they're intentions, and tracks get reviewed and get cleared if necessary in due course. Where the tracks remain soft after the wet they stay closed until they can take traffic without damage. I've been a volunteer on club working parties doing track clearing and access sign updating and opening dates are contingent on this kind of work.
Mapshare listings reflect the intentions.
If any track is central to an itinerary you should get the latest info from ParksVic close to the time.

 

[Spooner]

Its all common sense , check weather conditions and look it up and plan in advance .
Its not rocket science

 

[Ziggy]

Here's the list in searchable form, from 4WDVic.

 

[Kendiscoveries]

If you drive a bit further north to Porpunkah you can drive open tracks across to Dargo , don't know if I would want to take a camper trailer on these tracks (I wouldn't take a CT anywhere near the HC) but you can get through .
Porpunkah
Buckland Valley rd
Buckland river rd
Selwyn Creek rd
Selwyn logging rd
Tea Tree track
Mt Hart
Mt Hart spur track
Wombat Range track
Cynthia Range track
Eaglevale track
Dargo
Hope this helps
Take full recovery gear and make sure you can recover yourself solo .

 

[Kendiscoveries]

how long does it take from Buckland rd to Dargo going this route you pointed out bfr tracks open up 1st November this year ?? thinking of going this way and starting our trip from Morocco up billy goat into Wonnangatta out to zeka onwards to Craig’s hut.. I’ve been from eagle vale up wombat down into wonngatta and out towards Buckland.. but not gone in from Buckland down mount Sarah etc towards Dargo ?.

 

[Big Rig]

Well we'll be in early Nov and I intend towing my camper from Talbotville over Cynthia and into Wonnangatta then up Zeka and along King Billy to Bluff hut. That unless something has changed since the last time I did it 2 yrs ago?