Trip Reports - Magnificant Grampians

The Grampians is one of my favourite spots in Victoria, and not just because that is where I first met Carolyn, but that’s another story. Whilst being known as a not-so-challenging 4WD touring area, it is definitely recognised as picturesque with a variety of walking and camping opportunities amongst some unique natural features. It did not take too much therefore to twist my arm to run a club trip to this destination when it was suggested by some members.

With a week to go the trip registration list was looking pretty healthy having seven vehicles registered on it. By this time we had already lost one “tentative” participant who had decided that the lure of the High County was just too strong and had changed their plans for the weekend! When Friday morning had come around, another two had definitely withdrawn and a further two members reported in that they would only be able to attend for part of the weekend … maybe. The remaining dedicated group of three had all made different plans to get away from work early, so the idea of a convoy from Melbourne was cast to the wind and the official starting point was declared to be the base camp at Jimmy Creek, about half way between Dunkeld and Halls Gap.

Ian Stuart and Penny Rodwell (#028) were the first to arrive early on Friday afternoon. Armed with photos and instructions from yours truly as Trip Leader, they staked out the pre-determined camp area and proudly displayed the club banner announcing to the world who we were. They then proceeded to create a home away from home with their trusty Kimberly Camper before relaxing in the afternoon sunshine. Little did they know that this was to be almost the last time they would see sunshine until returning home! Colin and Kathy Walker (#026) were next to arrive and parked Kimberley No 2. next door, managing to get themselves settled just before dusk. The Andrews (#002) family were last to arrive on Friday, undertaking the usual job of making camp the first night in the dark, with assistance from the vehicle headlights. As people emerged from under canvas on Saturday morning, everyone was keen to just take some time to stop and wind-down.

Milton was filling in on the 4WD Radio Show so we decided to take a drive into Halls Gap where we would get phone reception and call in to the station with a live “in the field” cross from our trip! After a wait on the phone we finally got put “to air” for a brief chat to the team, with Michael Coldham recommending a local establishment worthy of a visit - a winery of course! After sampling the goodies at the Halls Gap Bakery for morning tea and getting some last minute supplies from the SuperMart and Newsagent, we headed back to camp for lunch. On the way back to Jimmy Creek, we took a diversion to Silverband Falls under the leadership of Ian and Penny for an introduction to the sport of Geocaching. This aroused a great deal of interest amongst the group and was very timely with our guest speaker for the next club meeting talking about GPS systems. Judging by the enthusiasm shown, I expect to see some Geocaching activities on the Trip Calendar in the near future.

If you want to know more check out the article written by Ian elsewhere in the July-August edition of our club magazine, "Off The Beaten Track".

During the afternoon we had our first short off-road jaunt travelling around the southern end of the Serra Range via Mirranatwa Gap and on to Fields Track and Griffen Fireline. It was interesting to see the change of landscape caused by bushfires and the very slow recovery being made because of the drought. Crossing the blacktop we headed into the Wannon River marshlands only to find after a short distance that gates were locked and we could proceed no further. With the light starting to diminish and a need to gather firewood we decided to call it a day and return to camp. A full day of off-road touring was planned for Sunday, with the Victoria Range being our planned destination. Our route started at the southern end of Henham Track heading north east towards Moora Moora. We stopped for morning tea at Ingleton Springs after failing to find our planned destination at Green Creek. Then it was on to Buandik Camping and Picnic Ground for lunch via Goat Track stopping twice to investigate the aboriginal cave paintings and once to admire the view and for a chat with the local ranger about the fox tracking survey Parks Victoria were undertaking.

After a very pleasant, but late, lunch break we took a walk to Buandik Falls taking advantage of the fine weather while it lasted. The journey back along Victoria Range Track via Mount Thackeray took us past some interesting and quite unusual rock formations. We were all looking forward to another night around the campfire but, alas, that was not to be. Shortly after finishing dinner the rain started, but not to be deterred we all donned out wet weather gear in the hope it would not last too long so that we could enjoy the warmth of the fire—and each others company. Unfortunately, the rain set in and kept on coming down! After taking cover under the awning of Ian and Penny’s Kimberley for a short while, the cold and rain took its toll on us. Everyone decided that seeing it looked like the campfire wasn’t going to be much good to us, the best place was going to be snuggled up warm and dry in bed!

The rain continued on Monday morning. In fact, it continued for most of the day! For us the day started with a hot pancake, banana, maple syrup and cream breakfast as it was Katelyn’s birthday. Being the last day of our long weekend break we were all keen to make as much of the short day as we could. Milton managed to join us for breakfast after recovering from a nasty migraine that prevented him from travelling up earlier in the weekend. We set off with a larger convoy this time around, which grew once more as a solo vehicle driven by an ex-local asked if he could join our convoy. Matthew and his brother Daniel were out exploring in Matt’s HiLux on a visit back home for the weekend. Now working further afield, Matthew was visiting his dad who just happens to be the keeper at Moora Moora Reservoir. As well as enjoying some low range 4WDriving, we succumbed to the challenge of finding another geocache. There was one showing up on Ian’s GPS, just a few kilometres away at Zumsteins, so off we went to try to discover it before lunch. This time the clues were a little less obvious, so we split up to scour the general vicinity of the GPS point. To my delight, and also that of Katelyn and Lauren, I was the one who managed to unearth the white container. We attempted to make an entry in the log, however the rain and dampness made it a little difficult to write on the paper. I wonder if someone else from a 4x4 club will get to make an entry in it!

The official part of the trip ended just after lunch with campers and tents being packed up wet during a short break in the rain. Sorry, Milton, that your tent had to go home wet, even though you didn’t manage to use it. At least if you had arrived as planned, you wouldn’t have had to get set up! So it was, that yet another successful, if wet, CITYWEST club trip drew to a close. Katelyn got to celebrate her birthday away from home 4WDriving, yet again! Only this time it included singing “Happy Birthday” around a locally baked mud cake in the main street of Halls Gap. Ahhhh! - that’s the life.

—Mark Andrews (July 04)