Once on the grassy plain you have reached the locality of Mayford, one of the best places to camp in the Victorian High Country. 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. If your looking for a customised itinerary we can tailor make a tour to suit your requirement. A mountain gold town which flourished during Victorias golden era, Talbotville was one of the longest surviving towns in the region. Packed with features, including the region's history, natural features and highlights, making this guide is an indispensable travelling companion for those Booktopia has High . He used this place regularly as a camp due to its fantastic views over the King Valley, giving him time to escape the local police. The view from Dannys Lookout was amazing, we sat up here for well over half an hour, letting our little girl stretch her legs and have a crawl around and chatting with the photographers, who were quite concerned that Id just cleaned my camera lens with my t-shirt! 0. 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. From Talbotville head east towards Grant, which is approximately 11km via McMillian Road. From end-to-end, Billy Goat Bluff track is less than 10kms but due to the challenging terrain, its advisable to schedule at least an hour for this trek. If you are interested in doing a Victorian High Country 4wd Tag Along Tour then have a look at the trips that Australian 4x4 tag Along Tours run to this region. It's a really nice mix of high alpine scenery (snow gums and epic landscape views) and 4WD track driving. There is also a track to the right to another campsite, but it pays to cross the Dargo River and continue up the valley as there is plenty more to come. Broadly the High Country encompasses an area starting from Nagambie in the west, Rutherglen in the north, Omeo in the southeast and Jamieson in the south. The For this reason, most of the 4WD tracks in the region are closed for from the start of June to November. The Victorian High Country (VHC) has some of the best 4WDriving and camping anywhere in Australia, and this trip is into one of the best in the region. The 12mm I picked up was great, as it can focus to infinity and has an aperture of f2. Steep descents that test the nerves, keeping your foot off the brake pedal and allowing the vehicle to walk down as you steer delicately to avoid deep ruts and rocks. With ample flat grassy campsites adjacent the Dargo River, plenty of shade from the majestic gum trees, and the vista of the surrounding mountains you would be hard pressed to find a better location for a few days. Stop in and explore famous High country huts like Craig's Hut, Bluff . I was told today visiting VHC would be like a holiday to the moon following the devastating fires. Almost immediately after starting down Crooked River Track, you will come to the first of 20+ river crossings along this track. Victoria's High Country is a wine-lovers paradise and with so many amazing wineries in the region (like Pizzini, Dal Zotto, Corsini and Politini), one of the best ways to start your journey is by taking a full-day wine tour. Up stream from Talbotville along the Crooked River there are plenty of old gold mining sites including the New Good Hope Mine and further along to the area of Stonewall with its old gold mine and the remains of the fireplace and oven which are more often than not covered by black berries. The itinerary includes two base camps beside beautiful mountain streams and a camp high amongst the snow gums. At the bottom of Billy Goat Bluff track is the Wonnangatta Road. African safaris. The Rooftop series of maps give you a nice, detailed view of the Victorian High Country. The 4WD Suitable to 4WDrives with high and low range. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Blue Rag Range Track in the Victoria High Country would have to be one of the best 4WD tracks that you will drive any where in Australia.Blue Rag Range Track. However littleremains today. The Wellington River Camping area offers a dozen campgrounds, spread out along a 10km stretch of the river bank. Around 6km onwards is Kingswell Bridge and immediately over the bridge turn to the left onto the Crooked River Track. [Pros & Cons], 100+ Incredible Travel Resources (For Simple & Cheap Travel), Taking a Year Off Work to Travel (Full Guide +4 Examples), Things To Do Before Travel: 35 Clever Little Tips [Checklist], 19 Alternative Travel Tips and Tricks I use on Every Trip, What is a Sabbatical? Turning left will take you through to Eaglevale and onto the iconic Wonnanngatta Station, but on this outing were turning right towards Dargo. Food This is a self catered tour, bring your own food and drink requirements, we supply a gas BBQ for your use in camp. Best of Victoria - Camping, Hiking, Snow & Road Trips | Snowys Blog Sydney Jeep Club - Victoria High Country January 2016 - WildApricot Balance: due and payable 30 days prior to departure. Trauma. Complete this quick survey. For those who want to call it a weekend, head south from Drago along Dargo High Plains Rd. We were grateful for finding somewhere to eat though, and politely listened to stories about people wed never met whilst munching on some freshly made sandwiches. So when youre forced to drive kilometre after kilometre down into steep valleys, your brakes will really start to feel the heat. Suitable 4WDrive with high and low range. There is much to discover about the area's rich . The Victorian High Country in is without question one of the best Four-Wheel Drive locations in Australia. Be considerate of others on the track. JavaScript is disabled. During the gold rush era, the township boasted a population of 2,000. The lake is one of Victorias deepest natural lakes and is believed to have been formed about 1500 years ago when a massive rock slide collapsed into the valley damming the waters of Nigothoruk Creek above Wellington River. Being such a large area you can spend weeks or even months exploring this region. After a stressful year with the Covid lockdown and not being able to see any family from the UK, a two night stay on Ellys little farmstead was the most relaxed Ive felt in a long long time. The shady park nearby is an excellent place for a cuppa or lunch before tackling the tracks. Its worth it for 360 degree views looking out over a view littered with the bodies of burned out gum trees and boulders smoothed from millions of years of erosion. Arguably one of the most well-known and scenic coastal drives in Australia, the Great Ocean Road can be done by anyone with a well-maintained 2WD or 4WD and an adventurous spirit. Explore nature trails on foot or horseback, and frolic in the snow in winter. Most of the time, these crossings are straight forward, however if its been raining recently, take caution and plot your course along firm footings. . Some of the tracks, rated double black diamond by Four Wheel Drive Victoria, are a test of tyres, suspension, engine torque and driver skill. From Grant Junction continue northwards through the forested area on the Dargo High Plains Road. Peru & Bolivia Marco Polo Pocket Guide - Geographica Oct 18, 2019 - Explore the Victorian High Country in Australia. Worth a listen and track it on google maps or something as he talks about it. 1251 expert & traveler reviews on South Africa trips. 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. 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. So without further ado, here are some of the High Country must see places and my Victorian High Country Itinerary. Keep going for another 15 kms and you will reach the Pinnacles Lookout and Fire tower. Call Vic for an itinerary. From here you can take a day to drive the best part of the Great Alpine Road up to Hotham Heights, even doing the full loop up to Omea and back round to Mount Beauty. Theres information boards highlighting the surrounding areas and peaks, and your camera is sure to get a workout, especially on a good day. At this point, park your 4WD and head out on foot. Choosing just one great track in the high country verges on a criminal act! Victorian High Country with Camper Trailer - ExplorOz During the gold rush era, the town of Dargo provide a stop over for miners on their way to the goldfields of Grant, Talbotville and Crooked River. It's home to steep climbs and descents, plenty of water crossings and thousands of kilometres of tracks that are ever-changing. The photo above was taken with this lens, as were many of the wide-angle shots from on the Alpine Road. Id seen photos that left me nostalgic of summer trips to Austria and wanted to see this slice of Victoria for myself. it costs more - as expected, however the itinerary will be altered to suit your interests; eg, the stop at the winery can . There is enough to do here to make it an interesting place to stay home, but the big appeal is access to so many of the High Countrys icons. The end point go our Alpine Road adventure was the town of Dinner Plain. However most gates to 4wd tracks are locked in May in anticipation of imminent snowfalls. From the Wellington River, the road climbs up out of the valley to Bennison Lookout which is worth a stop to take in the fabulous views towards Lake Tali Karng, Mount Wellington and the Razorback. there is a couple of good books on 4wd tracks in the high country with heaps of info. Some 4WDing experience is preferred as there are numerous steep hill climbs and descents and creek crossings. It felt like walking onto a movie set an hour before the actors and crew arrived. 4WD Day Trips 4WD Day Trips are very enjoyable where you will find good company, practise some skills and get into. If unsure it pays to walk the crossing first. These tours run throughout the year and are fully catered. It would involve a fair but of driving (around 1,000km) and our first big adventure with our 11-month-old little girl. There are plenty shady parks with rest areas nearby for lunch or a quick stop over. And thanks to cut-price DVDs at big retailers, theyre not hard to find, either.