THE GRAMPIAN MOUNTAINS

and WILSONS PROMONTORY, McKILLOP's BRIDGE, 

THE ALPINE WAY, THE BARRY WAY, JINDABYNE, and KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK

By Lee & Nic 

OCTOBER 2009.

DAY ONE      HOME - BALLARAT

 Monday 5/10/09

Speedo     61090.

 Depart from home at 6:00 am on this rainy Monday morning.   The first stop is at Yass for fuel. Travelling in showery conditions via Holbrook along the Hume Highway, our next fuel stop is at Wodonga.  We stopped in a rest area just outside Wodonga for lunch at noon.

Back on the road towards Ballarat travelling now in sunny conditions. We arrived in Ballarat at 4:00 pm. We visited the tourist information centre to get some accommodation details then headed to the caravan park.  We stayed at the Ballarat Windmill Big 4. We were set up by 5:00 pm just in time for happy hour. After that, we went for a walk around the park.

We got ourselves ready and went out to the Golf Club for tea. When we returned to camp we had showers and went to bed.

Camping Fees: $45.00.

 Distance Travelled: 960km.

DAY TWO    BALLARAT – HALLS GAP in the GRAMPIAN MOUNTAINS.

 Tuesday 6/10/09

 Speedo 62050

Got up, had breakfast and packed up camp ready to depart Ballarat at 9:00 am. On the road today to Halls Gap in the Grampian Mountains.  Fuel stop at Ararat at about 10:00 am

We arrived in Halls Gap at 10:45 am and checked in at the Grampians Gardens Tourist Park. We were fully set up by 11:45 am and then went for a walk around the park to stretch our legs before having lunch.   We had lunch in the camp kitchen due to the rain.   After lunch, we went for a drive into Halls Gap for a look around. We then headed up to McKenzie Falls for our first expedition in the Grampian Mountains.

When we arrived at McKenzie Falls after a very scenic drive up the mountain, it was raining so we had to sit in the car for about half an hour until the rain shower passed. The weather went around in circles in the mountains, so the rain only ever lasted about half an hour, then the sun was back out for a few hours before the rain came back around again.   When the shower had passed, we began our walk to the lookout at the top of the falls. We took some photos and video then took the walk to the base of the falls. Again we took some more photos and video footage of the falls.

After McKenzie Falls we drove to Lake Wartook and had a walk around there and took some photos, before heading off to Reed Lookout and The Balconies Lookout. The walk to The Balconies lookout is an easy 2km return flat walk through the bush on a very well marked track and the view at the end of the walk is spectacular. Again we took some more photos and videos.

We left The Balconies and went to Silver Band Falls. Again a very easy short walk through the bush on very well maintained tracks to the base of the falls. Silver Band Falls is known as the falls that disappear. The water hits the ground at the base of the falls and disappears into the ground. There is no pool of water at the bottom of the falls. It is quite amazing to see. The water reappears about 50metres down the track and becomes just a small stream.

After viewing Silver Band Falls we headed back to camp and arrived there at 5:15 pm just in time for happy hour. After happy hour we had showers and tea then played cards for a while in the camper before going to bed.

Grampians Gardens Tourist Park

Camping Fees: $87.00 (3 Nights unpowered)

Distance Travelled: 205km.

DAY THREE  Rest Day - Grampian Mountains

 Wednesday 7/10/09

 Speedo 62255

Rose at 7:30 a.m for a cup of coffee and breakfast. We stayed around camp for a while to see what the weather would do. It started nice and sunny but a bit breezy however the clouds continue to increase as the morning progresses.   We decided to do some exploring anyway and we depart camp at 10:15 a.m heading to Roses Gap. We started by visiting Beehive Falls which was a nice easy walk until the end where it climbed up a bit but nothing too strenuous.

After Beehive Falls we headed back up Halls Gap road toward Baroka Lookout at 11:30 a.m.   On our way to Baroka Lookout, we called in at Plantation campground for a look around. It is a very nice camping ground and something to keep in mind for future reference.   Baroka Lookout is magnificent. We arrived here at 12:30 pm. Great views of two mountain ranges, lakes and Halls Gap and surrounding regions. We then went into Halls Gap for some lunch.

After lunch, we went for a drive to Jimmy’s Creek also for a look at the camping ground. We did a loop from the Grampians road then along Jimmy’s Creek Road and turned right onto Moyston Road then right onto Yarram Gap Road we turned right yet again back onto the Grampians road before arriving at Jimmy’s Creek camping ground. We drove in and had a look around then headed back to Halls Gap.   At Halls Gap, we walked to Venus Baths at about 3:15 p.m. The walk began in the Botanical Gardens then followed the creek up to Venus Baths which are a series of rock pools.

We returned to camp at about 4:00 pm.

Distance Travelled: 187km

DAY FOUR   Rest Day - Grampian Mountains

 Thursday 8/10/09

 Speedo 62442

Today we slept in until 8:30 a.m. then had a cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs.   At 10:00 a.m. we drove into Halls Gap for a look around all the shops. We bought some souvenirs then drove up to the National Park and Cultural Centre and had a good look around there.   After that, we drove to Stawell for a look around. We then drove to Fyans lake for a look then headed back into Halls Gap.

In Halls Gap, we bought some windcheater jackets and a few groceries before returning to camp at about 3:15 p.m.   Back at camp we had a cup of coffee and relaxed.   We cooked tea at around 7:00 p.m after playing cards while enjoying happy hour.

Distance Travelled: 85km.

DAY FIVE   Grampian Mountains – Wilsons Promontory

 Friday9/10/09

 Speedo 62527

Departed Grampians Gardens Tourist Park at 8:30 a.m on the road to Wilsons Promontory.    Fueled up at Ararat then on to Koo Wee Rup where we fuelled up again. (12:15 pm)   We stopped for lunch at a rest area just outside of Koo Wee Rup at 12:30 pm.   After a half-hour break, we were on the road again. We arrived at Tidal River camping ground in Wilsons Promontory National Park at 2:45 p.m and had camp set up by 3:15 p.m.

After setting up camp we went for a walk around, then we did a load of washing and relaxed around camp.   We had happy hour and a couple more walks around the sights of the National Park.   We had tea at about 7:00 p.m then relaxed again at camp with a cup of coffee.

Tidal River Camping Ground at Wilsons Promontory National Park

Camping Fees $36.00 (2 nights un-powered)

($18.00 per night un-powered $41.00 per night powered.)

 Distance Travelled:  490km

 Day SIX   Rest Day Wilsons Promontory

 Saturday 10/10/09

 Speedo 63017

Rose at 7:00 a.m. Had breakfast and cleaned up.  We started the day by taking a drive to Mt Oberon at 9:30 am then on to Squeaky Beach.   Our next stop was at Glennie Lookout at 10:30 am then Picnic Beach.  At Picnic Beach we walked down to the beach and explored around the rocks.

We then returned to camp and walked to Loo-Errn Track which is a boardwalk around Tidal River. We then returned to our site at noon to prepare some lunch.   After lunch, we did another walk to a lookout overlooking the campground.  We returned to our site to relax in the sun before having showers and cooking tea.   Tea over and done with by 7:00 pm.

Distance Travelled: 21km.

Day Seven   Wilsons Promontory – McKillops Bridge

 Sunday 11/10/09

 Speedo 63038

We are leaving Wilsons Promontory today and Heading for McKillops Bridge.   We left the Tidal River campground at 8:30 am and had our first fuel stop at Toora.  Our next fuel stop was at Bairnsdale and we also had lunch here. (Grand Angus burgers at McDonalds) at 11:30 am.

We were back on the road at midday. We drove through Buchan and Gelantipy (very nice snowy river country.)  At Gelantipy we turned off and headed to McKillops Bridge. (25km). The road is very slow and windy right through to the camping area at McKillops Bridge.   We arrived at McKillops Bridge camping area at 2:30 pm and we picked our site before taking a walk to the actual bridge, to take some photos and have a good look around.

The bridge was originally built in the 1930s but was washed away 11 days before the official opening of the bridge.   Repairs were done to the bridge in 1934, adding five more metres to the height.   The bridge spans 256 metres and is 191 metres high from the river bed.

Back at camp we had happy hour at about 4:00 pm and built a campfire which we lit ready to cook tea.   We cooked tea over the open fire then sat around the campfire for a while until it was bedtime.

Camping Fees McKillops Bridge $0:00

Distance Travelled: 421km

 DAY EIGHT   McKillops Bridge – Jindabyne

 Monday 12/10/09

 Speedo 63459

Depart McKillops Bridge at 9:20 am.   We drove along the Alpine Way through Victoria and into New South Wales. The road now becomes the Barry Way. It is a very well maintained dirt road, however, very narrow and windy with limited space for passing. There are a few cutaways where passing is possible so oncoming traffic is a bit of a hazard.   The scenery is beautiful as you wind your way down the mountain and frequently glimpse the magnificent snowy river. There are plenty of lookouts to stop at, to take photos. We stopped at Little River Falls to take some photos.

We drove into Jindabyne at about 12:20 pm and set up camp in the wind and rain. We made lunch then decided to pack up camp and take a cabin for the two nights we are staying as the weather is extremely bad with very strong wind and rain and snow falling higher up in the mountains.   We settled in our cabin for the afternoon and watched some television as the weather didn’t allow for any outdoor activities. We all had showers before happy hour then later, cooked tea.   It was nice to be in the cabin as during the night the rain continued and the wind just got stronger.

Cabin Fees $242.00 (two nights)

Distance Travelled 154km.

 DAY NINE   Rest Day Jindabyne

 Tuesday 13/10/09

 Speedo 63613

We are having a rest day in Jindabyne safe from the wind and rain in the cabin. We got up and made scrambled eggs for breakfast and were on our way exploring the mountains by 8:40 am.   We drove to Thredbo where we stopped for a while and had a walk around. It is currently snowing so riding up the Crackenback Chair Lift is out of the question. We will have to leave that for another trip, preferably during the summer months.

We continued to Khancoban where we visited the National Park Centre before heading up to Cabramurra (the highest town in Australia). We bought a souvenir here and had some lunch before heading back down the mountain through Adaminaby and back to Jindabyne.   We got back to our cabin at 3:00 pm for happy hour then we went out for tea at the sports club.

 Distance Travelled 350km.

DAY TEN     Jindabyne – Home

 Wednesday 14/10/09

 Speedo 63963

We left Jindabyne at 8:00 am. We drove to Cooma for breakfast at McDonalds.  After leaving Cooma we drove straight through to home. We arrived home at 3:00 pm.

Start unpacking.

Distance Travelled 414km.

FOOT NOTES

Grampian Mountains

Halls Gap

Plantation Camp Ground and

Jimmy’s Creek Camp Ground.

 Halls Gap Caravan Park    

The caravan park in the centre of Halls Gap is central to all walks and lookouts in the Grampians National Park.   It is within walking distance to shops.

Plantation Camp Ground is a very nice, flat, green area with plenty of sites. There are two toilet blocks and two showers. The showers are a singular building with a stainless steel bucket set up where you provide your own hot water. (Bush Showers)

 Dogs are allowed on leads.

 Fires are allowed in fireplaces only, weather permitting.

 Camping Fees apply. Camping Permit needed obtained from Brambuk Cultural Centre or call (03) 5361 4000 and pay by credit card.

 Jimmy’s Creek Camp Ground has the same facilities as Plantation Campground but is significantly smaller and not as green and grassy.

 Dogs are NOT allowed at Jimmy’s Creek.

 Fires are allowed in fireplaces only weather permitting.

 Camping Fees apply as per Plantation Camp Ground.

McKillops Bridge

 The camping ground at McKillops Bridge (western side) is not particularly flat however there is plenty of room for a dozen or so camps.

 Fires are allowed in fireplaces only, weather permitting.

 Pit Toilet. No Showers.

 Picnic Tables.

 No Pets

 River Access (shower water available from the river if you have your own bush shower).

 The Bombala/Delegate side (eastern Side) has camping down Armstrong Track with room for 6-8 camps.

 Fires are allowed in fireplaces only weather permitting.

 Pit Toilet. No Showers.

 Picnic Tables.

 No Pets

 There are 2 walking tracks: Silver Mine Loop Track 18km (5hrs) return and Snowy River Track 30mins return.

 ROAD CONDITIONS FROM McKILLOPS BRIDGE

 From the campground, there are about 20mins of driving where there is very limited passing. 

 30mins from the campground is Little River Falls. Here there is a picnic area with a pit toilet (no showers), a picnic table and a fireplace (weather permitting)

 400m walk to Little Falls.

 40mins from campground turn off to Jindabyne.

 Suggan Buggan

 Nice campsite on the river, flat, fireplaces, pit toilets.

Wilsons Promontory National Park - Tidal River Camping Ground.

 Beautiful place, that is flat with green grass and,plenty of wildlife.

 About 800 camping sites. Fees Apply about $18 per night (unpowered) and this includes a National Park entry fee.

 Camping is segmented into streets and avenues. Areas for groups to camp together. Bus tour groups and school groups have a separate camping area.

 Plenty of amenities blocks. Hot showers. Laundry facilities.

 No Fires.

 No Pets.

 Grocery shop.

Take away food.

Ice.

Gas.

Fuel