Victoria’s Deserts
Description: This trip is designed for members who wish to experience sand and desert driving and is excellent practice for those intending to participate in some of the longer remote trips run by the Club later in the year. The trip will give you the opportunity to refine your vehicle setups and establish such important factors as ease of setting up camps, and your fuel consumption.
Victoria’s deserts are located in the north east of the state on the border with South Australia some 450km north west of Melbourne. The drive to Wonga camping ground in Wyperfeld NP takes approximately 5 hours from Melbourne.
The camping grounds have drop toilets with no washing facilities, potable water, or showers – bring adequate water for drinking a cooking, and plan to cook on a fuel stove.
The travel distances are relatively long and so we will stop for morning coffee, lunch, and afternoon tea (we will also stop at the numerous points of interest lest I be beaten by Sherry).
Please note there is no mobile phone reception once we have entered the park sections and that a fresh fruit and veg scam quarantine is in operation at Vic-SA border (in the past I have fruit and veg at the border whilst I go into Pinnaroo to get fuel).
Camping:
Thursday evening 29th March (optional): Wonga Campground (Wyperfeld NP) Booking : http://www.parkstay.vic.gov.au/wyperfeld-national-park
Friday evening 30th March: Shearers Quarters camping area (Murray Sunset NP) FREE, toilets, NO Water
Saturday evening 31st March: Broken Bucket Camping Area (Broken Bucket Tank Bushland Reserve) FREE, water and toilet
Sunday evening 1st April: Kiata Campground (Little Desert NP) FREE, toilets, NO Water;
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/little-desert-national-park/things-to-do/camping/kiata-campground
Equipment: Bring recovery gear, snatch strap, shackles and a shovel [if you have MaxTrax (or the like) you can throw them in if you like] . Cars should be in good condition and all terrain tyres.
UHF Channel 15.
Don’t forget to bring your morning tea and lunch.
Please leave pets at home.
Trip Standard: Medium - Most of the main tracks will be easy-medium but there may be track sections that are more difficult depending upon weather and sand conditions. A chance to develop some skills!
Fuel: A full tank from as close to Wonga Campground as possible. We will have opportunity to refuel in Pinnaroo (ca. 330km from Wonga Campground, on day 2) and Nihll (ca. 300km from Pinnaroo, on day 3)
Distance: Approximately 700km
Duration: 4 days
Convoy limit: 8 vehicles.
Meeting Arrangements: We plan to meet in the Wonga Campground in Wyperfeld National Park west of Hopetoun and aim to set off at 9.00am on Good Friday. We will aim to finish about 3.00pm in Dimboola on Easter Monday
Trip Leaders: Mark Bown and Sherry Mayo; 0437251645
