Heading out for a 2 night camping trip in the Vic High Country.

Camping on Friday night in Licola area at Barkly River camp ground. (If you can't meet at 3.30 you can meet at the campsite). 

Saturday starts by heading for Wonnangatta via Butcher Country, Howitt Hut and Zeka Spur Track,

Sunday heads off to Dargo via Talbotville and Grant.

 

Trying to keep the days manageable to enable time to relax and not have to hurry.

With the difficulty of the tracks involved I recommend only highly capable vehicles join the trip, we don't want to be winching all day and setting up camp in the dark.

Requirement

  • Electric Winch
  • Recovery Gear
  • Nathan

  • Nathan (Earlz) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 1 trips)

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (26-Apr-2017 21:18)
    LS1 (1992 Landcruiser)
    • 33" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Clint (McClint)

    GOING
    Myself only
    4.8 GU Wagon (2002 Patrol)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch
  • Paul

  • Paul (furkew)

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (27-Apr-2017 16:28)
    JK Wrangler (2010 JK Sport)
    • 37" Tyres, 4" Lifted
    • Front Diff Lock
    • Winch
  • Danny

  • Danny (Bogg3d) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 3 trips)

    GOING
    Myself only
    79 Single Cab (2015 LandCruiser)
    • 35" Tyres, 4" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • (DonK)

    GOING
    Myself only
    The Grandcruiser (1989 HJ61 12HT manual)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
  • Allan

  • Allan (Big Pig) I had chainsaw training I had winch training Completed Proficiency training Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 10 trips) Premium Member

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (26-Apr-2017 19:18)
    BIG PIG (2014 WK2 diesel)
    • 32" Tyres
    • Rear Diff Lock
    • Winch

Thurstain
Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
How are you planning to get to talbotville from Wonangatta? Via crooked river?
17 Apr 2017
Kevin
Kevin (riordak_ranger) Premium Member
Nathan mate be aware there was a large fire there recently and a lot of the tracks would have been freshly graded
17 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Thurstain (Tcm9669) wrote: How are you planning to get to talbotville from Wonangatta? Via crooked river?
Thurstain, I don't know the area that well but looks to be the only way in unless station track joins up there somewhere
17 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Kevin (riordak_ranger) wrote: Nathan mate be aware there was a large fire there recently and a lot of the tracks would have been freshly graded
Thanks for the info, if they are graded, no big deal, just means more time to relax.
17 Apr 2017
Thurstain
Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
I did a similar trip last year around same time but was the other way... From Dargo to Licola. Was awesome fun.

If your doing crooked river might be worth mentioning that snorkel is required in trip details.

Might join the trip as it was awesome last time.. Just gotta confirm availability beforehand.
17 Apr 2017
Paul
Paul (furkew)
I know an awesome camping spot out there. It's 3 small river crossings to get to it, but once there you are set for the weekend.
17 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Additional note, a snorkel would be recommended due to the river crossings.
17 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Thurstain (Tcm9669) wrote: I did a similar trip last year around same time but was the other way... From Dargo to Licola. Was awesome fun.

If your doing crooked river might be worth mentioning that snorkel is required in trip details.

Might join the trip as it was awesome last time.. Just gotta confirm availability beforehand.
Very good point, I guess I take me snorkel for granted and think that everyone has one.
Trip note has been added.
17 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Paul (furkew) wrote: I know an awesome camping spot out there. It's 3 small river crossings to get to it, but once there you are set for the weekend.
Whereabouts Paul?
17 Apr 2017
Paul
Paul (furkew)
It's about 40 minutes from Dargo. I've not been for a couple of years but I'll check with a mate if it's still easy access and will PM more details. I'll hopefully be at the servo on time on Friday because it's a bitch to find it in the dark.
17 Apr 2017
Jono
Jono (Varangian)
I was there last month. I did Butcher track to Howitt Plain then down Zeka and up over Cynthia Range to Dargo. Rivers were all half wheel height you won't need a snorkel. Just bear in mind that Licola to Dargo via Butcher / Zeka / Cynthia is a bloody long way. Even if the tracks are graded you'll be in the cab for most of it.

Also, most vehicles other than SUVs would be able to complete this trip.
18 Apr 2017
Paul
Paul (furkew)
Hi guys. Is the idea to set up camp and return each day or are we moving camp each day? Need to know what to pack so I can prep this weekend.
The camp site I know is on the crooked river with plenty of room, and ideal if we want to set up for a couple of days.
I'll bring some fire wood to get us started, but if others have access to wood even better.
21 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Hey all, the plan is to camp in two different locations. Friday night at Barkly River campsite and the Saturday night in Wonnangatta Valley.
If we could all bring a some firewood for the Friday night to prevent getting out there and not being able to scavenge enough.
We can find firewood along the drive for the next night through the day.
Hope all that makes sense.
21 Apr 2017
Allan
Allan (Big Pig) Premium Member
I might add , make sure you all have enough fuel , it is available at Licola and Dargo but check hours also try and find time to do Barkley river Jeep track , it short and steep with switch backs like you have never seen.
24 Apr 2017
Allan
Allan (Big Pig) Premium Member
Nathan , any remote chance of a spot on this trip, its a ripping area your heading into and just the sort of tracks I love, would love to join you.
24 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
Allan (Big Pig) I've sent you a Private Message. Please check your inbox.
24 Apr 2017
Allan
Allan (Big Pig) Premium Member
Nathan , the Friday camp is that in the open area at the bottom of Barkley river Jeep track.
25 Apr 2017
Antony
Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Allan (Big Pig) wrote: Nathan , the Friday camp is that in the open area at the bottom of Barkley river Jeep track.
It's closer towards Licola al. If you head in from
Licola, up jamieson Licola rd and just as the asphalt finishes turn right and that will take you to the camp ground
25 Apr 2017
Allan
Allan (Big Pig) Premium Member
Thanks Anthony, looks like I can head up on the Glencairn-Licola Rd with the camp ground at the bridge where it crosses the Barkly river, if I recall its a big concrete bridge.
25 Apr 2017
Allan
Allan (Big Pig) Premium Member
Nathan I will be struggling to make the 3.30 meet up time on Friday , probably about half hour behind , if you could flick me your number I will call you when I'm heading down the highway.
Regards Al.
0419505851
26 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
I hope everyone is ready for a bunch of wet tracks!
I've looked at the weather for the weekend, looks like we're in for a rainy Saturday morning but otherwise not too bad.
I'll be in touch with Parks Rangers tomorrow to see if they have any condition updates from the weather in the last few days.
I spoke to them today but they said they would be checking things out a bit more tomorrow.
With the amount of rain out there hills will be slippry, the rivers will be higher and the bog holes will be deeper.
With this in mind, I tossing up the route a little and thinking of swapping Butcher Country Track for Caledonia River Track.
We'll no doubt discuss it over a few drinks and a fire on Friday night.

I'll be in touch tomorrow night again.
26 Apr 2017
Nathan
Trip Leader Nathan (Earlz)
I spoke to the ranger and he said to avoid Butcher Country as the bog holes would be horrible. We can have a vote/discussion tomorrow night about it but otherwise he said it'll be okay out there. He pointed me to the BOM website to check the water level in the Wonnangatta river and all is well there.

My number is if anyone can't make it to the meeting point let me know so we're not waiting around for no reason.
See you out there.
27 Apr 2017
Paul
Paul (furkew)
I'll be there at 3.30.
I'm probably the best set up on 37's and big lift for river crossings along with Alan on 35's.
thanks for the research as trip leader. Looking forward to a fun (and probably cold) weekend.
I've got my chainsaw fueled up and packed but no room for fuel so if anybody has room for some 2 stroke as back up they would be awesome.
C u all Friday around a warm fire with a cold beer and a jaeger.
27 Apr 2017
Allan
Allan (Big Pig) Premium Member
I am unsure what time the Mobil in Heyfield closes so to be sure I will be filling up at Traralgon east.
I also have my chainsaw and I find a tank full cuts a shed load of wood.
27 Apr 2017
(DonK)
See you at the meet up my number is 0430 553 346 Don
28 Apr 2017
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TRIP COMPLETED

6 GOING, 1 Interested
6 adults
Trip Date
28-Apr-2017 (Fri) to 30-Apr-2017 (Sun)

Meeting Point
Longwarry Caltex Eastbound (hungry jacks)
3:30 PM (Fri, 28-Apr-2017)

TRIP FULL

Organiser
Nathan

Nathan (Earlz)

View my trips