Christmas Party – December
This year we again went out to Cardinia Reservoir. Mike and Meredith were up before dawn. However, all rotundas were taken, with many people sleeping out overnight.
We settled for a table under some trees, which gave good shade. This year due to COVID restrictions people had to bring their own food, so not having access to a BBQ was not a issue.
See newsletter #25, February 2021 for the full trip report
Keppel’s Hut- June
The trip departed Healesville after a short briefing.
We headed up the scenic Black Spur turning off to Maryville. Once through Marysville we turned onto Lady Talbot Drive which quickly became a dirt road. We hadn’t gone very far when we were stopped by a gate. The track beyond was closed due to falling trees and Covid-19. After a quick consult of the map we headed right up Sunds Track, with the intention of turn down Camerons Cascade Track. Sunds Track was a lot of fun with a variety of terrain, fallen trees, tight sections and some very steep switchbacks. There were more tracks closed off Camerons Cascade Track. We had lunch. After lunch we ended up doing a few more tracks and then headed home.
See newsletter #19, June 2020 for the full trip report
Kooyoora State Park- March
We camped at Melville Caves campground. It is a very pleasant campground. We did a drive done Crystal Mine Track and did the walk out to the old mine site. We had a bit of a drive around the area. There was not much need for a 4WD vehicle.
The next day we went to Melville caves and did the walk. The track is steep. We started from the top, but it was still fairly tiring.
See newsletter #18, May 2020 for the full trip report
Tasmanian South East Coast – Feb/March
We drove off the boat and headed to Burnie. We met up with a few other people and went down to Montezuma Falls. The track to the junction with Ring River Track was slow going and it took us two hours to get there. Instead of going on to the Falls, we decided to head towards Ring River so we were at least heading in the direction of camp. This track was even slower going than the one we had turned off. After two or three hours of tough going we made it to the Ring River. The crossing itself was very straightforward as the river was not that deep. We finally got to the caravan park.
The next day we headed to Queenstown and had a couple of nights there. We then made our way to New Norfolk and squeezed into a busy caravan park. Friday morning and we were off to Bruny Island. A couple of stops on the way and then a ferry trip over to the island and down to Adventure Bay where we stopped at the caravan park for two nights.
Saturday morning and we were off to make a loop of the south island. We made our way south across the range that straddles the island. The crossing ended at a lovely beach where we stopped for lunch.
Sunday morning and the plan was to head as far north as possible to make up for the couple of days dilly-dallying in Queenstown. At Little Swanport we headed off the bitumen north towards Lake Leake, but as that caravan park was full we ended up at Swansea to set up camp.
Monday morning and the remaining cars headed up to Weldborough to stay at the back of the pub.
That afternoon we drove a short distance to the Mount Paris Dam for a look around. This is an old dam that was built for a tin mine, but subsequently decommissioned. It had some great big holes cut in it to allow the creek to resume its natural flow.
Tuesday and we drove on a number of tracks around the Weldborough area. We walked through the Derby Tunnel in Derby followed by morning tea. Before lunch we visited Cascade Dam on the Cascade River and then drove over Dead Horse Hill Road. After lunch we had an easy drive that took us to Ralphs Falls and an hour or so walk around a loop track to the falls and beyond. The falls were spectacular, and the walk was amazing with the variety of vegetation that seemed to change from one step to the next.
The next day a few of us headed back home, while a few other stayed a few more days.
See newsletter #17, April 2020 for the full trip report
Moliagul – Queens Birthday 2020
A short trip around the Dunolly area. Camping at the Welcome Stranger Monument camp ground. This is where the Welcome Stranger gold nugget was found. There are no toilets, just a table and fire pit. There are toilets in the town of Moliagul itself, which is a short 2km drive from the camp ground. There is a good view from the top of Mt Moliagul (see photo), and some historic sites – some old mine shafts and an old State School.
See newsletter #20, July 2020 for the complete report.