by Evan Spence 14/01/2015, 9:44 am 1 Comment. The incline of the roads meant we gained altitude at a rapid rate, quickly getting above the green into an eerie landscape of white tree skeletons, leftover from devastating bushfires in 2013. 4WD Day Trips 4WD Day Trips are very enjoyable where you will find good company, practise some skills and get into. Select Make Select Model Select Year Great Divide Tours will determine if any refund is due if this action occurs. If you are travelling up into the High Country with kids, then a sturdy carrier for hikes is going to be needed. Hotels near Devil's Pool Hotels near Victoria Falls Hotels near Livingstone Museum Hotels near Mukuni Big 5 Safaris Limited Hotels near Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park Hotels near Owen's Taxi and Tours Hotels near Livingstone Crocodile Park Hotels near Cherish Travel and Tours Zambia Hotels near Railway Museum Hotels near Zambezi Eco Adventures The Victorian High Country in is without question one of the best Four-Wheel Drive locations in Australia. For those heading into the High Country, Dargo offers a chance to grab some last min supplies and fuel from the General Store. The track itself is extremely narrow at places, with cliff faces on both sides. Victoria High Country - January 2016 Following the great trip we had through the NSW Snowy Mountains in January 2014, I'd like to have a go at the Victoria High Country in January 2016. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 The Sabbatical Guide | Established 2018. Still images are harder to capture up here, as it is a genuine 360-degree view, but thats why we spend more money on our vehicles than our cameras, right? Billy Goat Bluff is one of the most iconic Victorian High Country tracks and considered one of the best of the Victorian High Country 4WD tracks. Enjoy yarns and games around a cosy campfire. Within the thousands of kilometres of two-wheel drive roads and four-wheel drive tracks there are dozens of destinations that are part of the history of Eastern Victoria. A further 13km onwards the road crosses Moroka River with the Old Moroka road on the right.Another 2km is the Marathon Road turnoff on the right, which heads south to Briagolong. Bright was definitely our favourite town, with the farmstead near Mansfield the best experience, as we sat on the edge of the hill watching the sunset and a clear sky full of stars appear every night. Follow the footsteps of the pioneering cattlemen and gold miners. it costs more - as expected, however the itinerary will be altered to suit your interests; eg, the stop at the winery can . It will generally take about 1 hour to reach the camping areas in the valley from the turnoff on the Dargo High Plains Road. From Grant Junction continue northwards through the forested area on the Dargo High Plains Road. This walk traverses diverse landscapes of forests, alpine grassland, winters snow-blanketed mountains, precipitous ridges and high plains. In the evening shed knock to see if we wanted to go down with her to sort the animals out for th night. There are still plenty of relics to find in the bush. 4WD only with high clearance and low range capability. For three days I would add a nights stay in Beechworth to the itinerary above, a historic rural Victorian town with lots to do. In my opinion, a high priority is to visit the legendary Dargo Pub. Wilderness Survival. If you visit in Winter, you'll find the mighty Alpine blanketed in snow with Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and . For those who want to call it a weekend, head south from Drago along Dargo High Plains Rd. Was a Second Trayon Camper The Right Choice? Take some time to absorb this view and appreciate what many believe is the best view in the whole Victorian High Country! 1251 expert & traveler reviews on South Africa trips. There have been too many instances of drivers failing to do so, and plummeting of the side of the track and into the snow gums. Find your own secluded campsite by a fresh mountain stream. Now that we have the people who love a bit of exercise sorted let's get onto the good stuff; food and drink! The stars here are also something else, so stay out late if you can. From an adult point of view, Mansfield Zoo is a so-so experience, but for a kid this place is amazing. NSW & Victoria High Country DEPARTING Tuesday 4th February 2020 COST $2475.00pp (twin share) The finer details Tour Price: $2475.00 per person twin share Single Supplement:$475.00 Deposit:$300.00 per person within 7 days of booking. For more recommendations read 20 Amazing Attractions to Discover in Beechworth. 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. 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. May 31, 2019 - Explore Helen Henrich's board "Victorian High Country" on Pinterest. Ive already written a bit about this place in the Where to Stay in the Victorian High Country section, but I wanted to push home the point here. What was great fun though was the number of animals that it was possible to get up close to and feed. It would involve a fair but of driving (around 1,000km) and our first big adventure with our 11-month-old little girl. The steep descent should pose few problems except in wet conditions when some of the clay based sections will become quite slippery. Holly Revord. After a pleasant night or even a few days at Mayford, it is time to backtrack down the valley and back up to the Dargo High Plains. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There is nothing better than rocking up to one of the regions pristine campsites with all the comforts of home that you have in the Trayon. With inspiring scenery, challenging drives and vibrant townships, it caters to a broad spectrum of travellers' tastes, from off-road adventurers to foodies, hikers, cyclists and more. Though, the High Country experience doesnt have to be all white knuckle and hairy chested. The Peru & Bolivia Marco Polo Pocket Guide lets you explore Peru and Bolivia with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips. A superb tin hut built to withstand the fire season (with a really unique gutter design), and a great view out the front. Airlie Beach. Here are a few other things we found really useful on the trip: What is the best place you have visited in Victoria? It felt like walking onto a movie set an hour before the actors and crew arrived. See more ideas about beautiful mountains, mountain town, australia. We are the home of Ironman 44 and all things 4WD in East Gippsland and the Victorian High Country. Towns like Bright and Harrietville are simply stunning as the leaves fall, and the bracing weather makes you really feel like a High Country traveller. Keep an eye on future articles to explore more of the region. I have visited this area for over 25 years and have put together a trip that includes the magic and splendour of this great land. Mount Buffalo is almost literally on the doorstep, the Great Alpine Road starts heading quickly upwards from here and even Beechworth is only 45 minutes away. Rule 1: don't try to cram an entire . Saturday: We can head up to Blue Rag,and other tracks time depending. With a little girl in tow, we decided to head back up into the Alpine Road and drop back into Bright for the evening. You will have the opportunity to take in the impressive mountain range, breath-taking views, and wildlife. It will take between two and a half and three and a half hours to get to the Victorian High Country, dependant on traffic. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Chiltern is a town in Victoria 's High Country. The Offroad Tradies will guide you through this 6 day/5 night thrill seeking, ultimate 4WD Tag-Along Adventure Tour. this will no doubt cause some controversy, so let the hate mail begin! 166 reviews. Almost immediately after starting down Crooked River Track, you will come to the first of 20+ river crossings along this track. Thrill to the spectacular mountain-top scenery of the alpine high plains. Keep going for another 15 kms and you will reach the Pinnacles Lookout and Fire tower. Billy Goat Bluff is considered one of the most challenging and scenic tracks in the Victorian High Country. A wood, white and grey, modern home looking like its been copied straight from an Ikea showroom, it had everything we needed including toys provided, a BBQ and play area outside. For this, I am assuming you have a weekend and are travelling up on a Friday night before returning late on a Sunday. Victorian High Country - 4WD Tag-Along Adventure Tour - The Offroad Tradies Products Victorian High Country 6 day Tag-Along Adventure Tour 2022 From AUD $900.00 Duration: 6 Days (approx.) VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY. Your 4WD should have recovery points located at the front and rear. there is a couple of good books on 4wd tracks in the high country with heaps of info to fit your itinarary this might be some ideas to work with camp at sheepyard flat out of mansfield day 1 craigs hut and mt stirling, back to sheepyard flat day 2 bindaree falls and lake cobbler loop via the staircase, back to sheepyard Next stop-off was beside a man-made lake we saw off to the side of the road about a further 3.5km along. Victoria's High Country Brewery Trail. There are plenty of 4WD and walking tracks emanating from here so it is a good place to base yourself for a few days and explore the areafurther. These are our favourite places from the High Country in the order we visited them. Victoria's High Country region encompasses an extensive area of alpine mountain terrain about 380km north-east of Melbourne. If you want to test your vehicle and more importantly test yourself, the High Country is the place to go. If I want to impress someone, the Blue Rag Range track is short, exhilarating and not too far up the road from Mt Hotham. 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. [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? There are some information boards position along walking tracks which provide commentary into the story of this former mining town. For a cheap lens that is perfect for astrophotography, I recommended the Samyang range. This is not a road for the travel sick! For two days in the High Country I would suggest basing yourself at Bright for both nights. Wonnangatta Station, an iconic four-wheel drive destination, has long history of cattle grazing, family tragedies and two grizzly unsolved murders from the early 1900s and is still in the news with Fuel Reduction Cattle Grazing Trials polarising public opinion. With its famous Raspberry Grenade, a great tasting beer flavoured with a hint of local raspberries, the Jamieson Brewery is a hard pub to pass. 12km from Arbuckle Junction is MacFarland Saddle, which is the trail head for the Lake Tali Karang walking track. The track climbs steeply out of the river and then drops down to another crossing, with another two river crossings before the valley opens up into a picturesque grassy plain with the bubbling Dargo River, surrounding mountains, and wide open plain this makes a spectacular sight! For a five day Victorian High Country Itinerary I would suggest one night in Beechworth, two in Bright and then two near Mansfield to finish off where you can visit Jamieson, Mount Buller or do as we did, relax on a farmstead. Treat yourself to fine dining The fine dining experience at Provenance is a must-do for foodies. Bear in mind that this is a 3.5 hour journey each way to Central Melbourne. The rest of El Dorado is fairly sleepy, with a couple of little hikes near the creeks, a self-guided historic town walk and the Mcevoy Tavern, which lays claim to being the smallest pub in Victoria. Access: Closed during winter and on catastrophic fire danger days. Move aside and let on coming convoys pass in safety. The Wellington River is also a good place to try your luck at catching a Trout although probably having a plan B for when the fish arent hungry! This road begins at Torquay which is around a 90 . The 4WD trails in the High Country are perfect for experienced drivers. Jawbone Marine Sanctuary: The Best Place to Visit in Williamstown? Clocking in at 110km from Suggan Buggan to Benambra, set aside a day to complete the trek at a casual pace. 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. We chose to stay one day in the north of the High Country near Beechworth, two days in the centre in Bright and two days in the south near Mansfield. This is a fantastic option for your first overnight camp. The Man From Snowy River 1 & 2 are essential viewing. . WAYPOINT EXPEDITIONS. Around 6km onwards is Kingswell Bridge and immediately over the bridge turn to the left onto the Crooked River Track. For this tour we recommend drivers have some 4WDing experience; as there are numerous steep hill climbs and descents and creek crossings. Talbotville would have to be a front-runner as the most popular site for families, but with its history and misty mountain scenery, Id have to give the award to the Wonnangatta Valley. The drive up the mountain is an exciting one, it took us nearly an hour to do the 38km from the B500 (the road heading into Bright) and we counted well over 20 sharp bends. From the south of Thailand to the north, then down through, Read More 6 Things Ive Learned from 6 Weeks in AsiaContinue, Its rare I feel the need to write about an individual place we stay on our adventures, but Springriver Resort, Read More SpringRiver Resort Laos: 5 Reasons You Must Stay Here [Review]Continue, Nothing in this world thats worth having comes easy Now thats a quote worthy of starting an article. Blue Wren Stay, Eldorado>>>CLICK HERE TO SEE CURRENT PRICES<<<. If you're coming from Woomargama National Park, you can join the trail from either end - or opt for a cruisier section by starting at Sandy Creek Bridge, which . Suitable 4WDrive with high and low range. The Victorian High Country is a premier camping and 4WD destination that combines breath taking scenery with some of the most spectacular 4WD tracks. JavaScript is disabled. Tracks with river crossings where you have to pick the right line before carefully climbing out of the current onto the slippery track that leads to another deeper crossing of the same stream. A guided 4 day Pack-Free walk. 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. Image: Michael Page-Sharp. Past the Treasures-Mt Even Hut which is just visible from the main road with the Downey Road heading off to the right. Victoria's High Country is a fabulous spot for a road trip - the 4-hour drive from Melbourne goes through some gorgeous little towns and once you get there, it's a pristine wonderland. 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. Submitted: Monday, May 16, 2016 at 20:41. . personly i wouldnt go down zeka spur , but go up to mount wellington and then the pinnacles. Further along this road there are some great camping areas on the Dargo River with places such as Italian Flat, Dusty Flat and Black Flat just to name a few. After a few kilometers there is a turnoff to the right to Long Spur Track continue following King Spur Track. Check out this Victorian High Country Map of our adventure. If I was concerned the road was a little flat for an Alpine route, I shouldnt have been. There are pit toilets, a hut and several separate areas to setup camp. This is when the lower foothill areas that are much less used are worth visiting. One of the greatest Victorian road trip destinations, Gariwerd (commonly known by its anglicized name, The Grampians - but it was called Gariwerd by the indigenous population for thousands of years prior) is a spectacular national park. Beginner trip to the Vic High Country. From the Dargo River campsites backtrack to the Dargo High Plains Road and commence the steep climb up onto the high plains. It includes towns such as Beechworth, Bright, Yachandandah, Mansfield and Wangaratta as well as natural attractions such as Mount Buller, Mount Beauty and Lake Eildon. Its recommended that this trip is embarked on by intermediate to advanced drivers and navigators in two or more capable 4WDs with low range and appropriate recovery gear. Such a trip is perfect for a long weekend and provides a real taste of what the High Country has to offer. Complete this quick survey. The main aim of the, Read More Pulpit Rock & Cape Schanck Lighthouse: Definitely Worth a VisitContinue, If I had to name my favourite place to visit in Williamstown, it would be the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary (and, Read More Jawbone Marine Sanctuary: The Best Place to Visit in Williamstown?Continue.