VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY

WAYPOINT EXPEDITIONS

OVERVIEW: VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY - $1885 TRACK “““The traveller by the mountain-track may hear their hoof-beats pass, And catch a glimpse of brown and black dim shadows on the grass.” 808KM – Banjo Paterson Brumby’s Run 9 DAYS

Explore the Victorian High Country and ’s . The DIFFICULT High Country is one of ’s most precious jewels, offering rugged mountains, PREFERRED magnificent 4WDing and quaint country towns. There are picturesque journeys, powerful rivers and a rich history kept alive by cattlemen’s huts and ruins. With tracks SELF-CATERED ranging through from easy to very difficult the VHC is a challenging and rewarding experience. Throw in a rod, toss in your hiking boots, pack your tent and get on board TOUR INCLUSIONS for an exhilarating exploration through the best of the Victorian High Country. • 9 days of intermediate to advanced 4WDing Victorian High Country Expedition starts in Mansfield and finishes in Corryong. Head • Invaluable tips and tricks to combat off the highway in your 4WD and have a High Country adventure with Waypoint. Victoria’s High Country Travel up and down the Alpine back roads and forest tracks at a leisurely pace and • Local expert and touring guide discover great camping, rivers, waterfalls, sweeping views and a chance to tackle • Knowledge about indigenous and European some serious 4WDing and improve your skills. history of the area • Knowledge about flora and fauna native to The tracks range from easy to difficult and this is not for AWDs. High clearance, Lo the area range capable 4WD will be required for this tour. There are many creek and river • 8 nights of million star camping crossings (including 6 in a row), steep ascents and descents, sections of very rough • All Camping fees track and a lot of bulldust. This of course is interspersed with amazing scenery, lush • All Victorian Park Fees plains, a rich history, and it’s a lot of fun! • Private land owner fees • Farewell dinner with complimentary drink • Satellite comms & tracking This is a 9 day expedition with plenty of time for you to explore, relax and enjoy your • Remote Area Qualilfied staff with Outback time out here. If there are particular interests such as photography, astronomy, history, 1st Aid Kit flora and fauna there is time to pursue these interests as well as our tips and tricks to 4WD traverse the High Country.. TOUR EXCLUSIONS • Insurance Waypoint Expeditions supplies a support vehicle fully equipped with recovery • 4WD Recovery costs equipment, satellite phone, GPS tracking equipment, emergency locator beacon and • Alcoholic beverages remote area first aid equipment. • UHF Radios (can be hired) • Camping equipment Each Waypoint Expedition is a carefully thought out, planned, and researched route to provide you with a unique experience where you not just “tag along” but participate in culture of place. We hope, by the time you have finished your journey with us, you will have a new appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of the Victorian High Country as well as its importance as one of Australia’s great wilderness mountain regions.

Travel with Waypoint – experts in outback adventuring for over 20 years.

*** ALL TAG ALONG TOURS*** Due to the nature of where we travel - the ever-changing track conditions and other influences itineraries should be taken as a guide only. VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY

WAYPOINT EXPEDITIONS

ITINERARY

Rendezvous Mansfield Day 06 1530 – 1630 Meet in the BBQ area at the Mansfield Holiday Park for a Blue Rag quick meet and greet. This morning we climb one of the High Country’s most famous tracks, Blue Rag for spectacular 360 views over the surrounding countryside. 1800 Welcome Dinner at the Mansfield Hotel. We head back out via Hotham for resupply to Omeo... and then run onto our Camp at Limestone Creek. Day 01 Mt Stirling Day 07 Departs Mansfield in the AM and heads out on the Mt Stirling Circuit Limestone Creek via No. 3 Rd and King Basin Rd. It’s beautiful entry to this tour through We follow the Limestone Creek Track up to the Poplars and the Tomahawk before the climb to Mt No.3 across the ridgelines and down headwaters of the . Then it’s through the stunning Davies into Kings Basin. Camp will be along the . High Plain Country before rejoining the Murray at Tom Groggin and camping alongside. Day 02 Howqua Valley Day 08 We visit Craig’s Hut this morning (The Man From ) and follow Mt PInnibar Clear Hills through to Mt Stirling and down to Howqua Gap. The there’s We leave Tom Groggin and head up through Mt Pinnibar and Mt Gibbo the twisting and turning descent into the valley via Bindaree Falls. We where you can see across to NSW and Australia’s highest peak, Mt camp alongside the Howqua River. Kosciusko before descending into Wheelers Creek where we make our final night’s celebratory camp. Day 03 The Bluff Day 9 Today is the Bluff after climbing out of the valley, we visit Bluff Hut, Mt Corryong Lovicks and Picture Point, taking in some of the best scenic views of the Today we make our way out of the High Country via Scrubby Creek High Country. We camp along the King Billy Track. towards Corryong. Depending on where you have come from and/or where you going next there are options to depart at Stacey’s Bridge or Colac Colac, otherwise it’s onto Corryong for lunch...

Day 04 Wonnagatta River Day 5 sees us track the famous Zeka Spur which we follow into the pretty Wonnagatta River Valley. There’s a bit of history here and some great camping alongside the Wonnagatta River. But we have 7 river crossings in as many kms, ascending the Herne Spur and onto for our camp.

Day 05 Billy Goat Bluff The day begins a run down to the infamous Billy Goat Bluff and it’s ascent culminating in the magnificent Pinnacles lookout. We then follow the Junction via Scrubby Creek and into Dargo for a lunch. We head up through the Dargo High Plains and camp at Basalt Knob. VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY

WAYPOINT EXPEDITIONS

FAQs

WHAT IS THE DISTANCE OF THIS TOUR? WHAT HAPPENS IF OUR VEHICLE BREAKS DOWN ON TOUR? Victorian HIgh Country alpine journey is 809km We will do our best to get you going again but if we can’t, we will discuss the options of getting your vehicle recovered and to where WHERE ARE THE FUELLING POINTS? it can be repaired. We strongly recommend you have cover with a Mansfield [125km] Mirimbah nationwide motoring association and also take out travel insurance. Mirimbah [410km] Omeo Omeo [273km] Corryyong HOW DO I BOOK? Additional Fuel Stops VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY is available 3 times a season. Bookings Mt Hotham and Dargo between Mirimbah and Omeo can be made online via the payment gateway or an offline booking Benambra between Omeo and Corryong form. SNOWY MOUNTAINS ADVENTURE is a similar adventure in length and style. DO I NEED TO CARRY EXTRA FUEL? The longest distance between fuel stops is 380km through mostly WHAT DO WE NEED TO BRING? 4WD terrain. Depending on the fuel capacity of your vehicle you may The most important thing to pack is a sense of adventure. Don’t worry need to carry extra fuel., at least 1 x 20lt jerries of additional fuel for if you have misplaced yours as you will soon find it on the tour! Once most vehicles. your place has been confirmed a briefing kit with all the information you will need will be sent to you. It will contain list of suggestions, spare HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD I CARRY? parts, maps, camping requirements, etc. This question is about preference and capacity but recommended you carry at least 40lt of drinking water and 20lt of general usage water. WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SICK OR INJURED? There may opportunity to refill general usage but the longest time If you become sick on the trip all efforts will be made to maintain your between drinking water refills is 3 days. comfort and enjoyment. Our Expedition Leaders are first aid trained (Remote Area First Aid) and experienced in emergency management. ARE CAMPER TRAILERS/CARAVANS ALLOWED? In the event of an emergency the tour leader carries a Spot Tracker Yes - Camper Trailers. However due the difficult nature of some of the emergency beacon for emergency assistance and a  Sat phone. tracks, the fragility of the environment and other considerations off- Vehicles are also fitted with UHF radios for local radio contact and road caravans are not allowed. satellite tracking.

WHAT TYPE OF 4WD IS SUITABLE FOR THESE EXPEDITIONS? 4WDs that have medium to high clearance and a high/low transfer case, with a quality set of springs and shock absorbers as well as All Terrain / Mud Terrain tyres with at least 70% tread. UHF Radio either hand held or fitted is a must as well. These expeditions are not suitable for AWDs. RESPECT THE HIGH COUNTRY

DO WE GET TIME FOR SIGHTSEEING Please make best efforts to minimise impact on the high Absolutely! You will get plenty of time to explore, bushwalk, fish, country environment photograph, stargaze and take in the beauty and grandeur of the places we visit. • Keep to well-defined access routes across the high coun- try to avoid damaging the fragile landscape LIMITED 4WD EXPERIENCE? WayPoint will assist and guide you in the basic skills of 4WD driving • Rubbish comes out – place in strong plastic bags (do not and sustainable 4WD driving to suit the terrain in which we will travel bury, it will be dug up) however consider doing a 4WD course prior to the trip as some • Keep the camp clean and tidy advanced off road techniques will be required. • Burn or bury toilet paper • Keep dirty/soapy water away from natural water supplies HOW LONG DO WE DRIVE EACH DAY? • Conserve firewood No more than 100km per day. Most days are between 40-60km. We • Use of firearms and chainsaws is not permitted discuss the following day’s events around the campfire at night, or at • Abide by fireban regulations our morning briefing sessions before departure. We are normally on • Do not feed animals the road at 9.30am each morning and stop for lunch between 12pm- 1pm. We stop at all points of interest throughout the day and try to set • Every animal, plant and rock is protected up camp around 3.30-4pm each day. • Aboriginal and European artefacts/sites are protected