Crusoe

 Map suitability:  Interesting mix of vague spur gully, steep spur gully and some reef mining.

Land Manager:

A- Parks Vic

B- City of Greater Bendigo

C- New camping precinct (transferred from Coliban to Parks Vic)

Access issues:

• A- Generally course setters should only use the Parks Victoria block. A special cut down version of the map is supplied. Called Upper Crusoe

• B - Access to the City of Greater Bendigo managed land is limited. Past management has been uncomfortable with off track useage, placing greater priority on bird boxes. The status as of 2025 is uncertain, but generally this area should only used for very small events such as the Fowl and Fizz. 

• C - Coliban Water land, but is being leased to the Djarra Corporation to develop a commercial camping facility. No access for courses.

• Government regulations require that NO DOGs are permitted in any of these areas. This needs to be communicated in any event information. NO exceptions.

• There is no vehicle access into the park. This means control placement and collection requires more walking than usual. Sites 2 and 5 may ease the burden.

Assembly sites:

1. Most spacious assembly area on Tuckermans Lane. There is space for approximately 50 cars. However, this site is surrounded by the vaguest of the terrain. A distant start would be a useful approach. Access is via the Calder Highway and the traffic management plan requires specific instructions to drivers.  Traffic and toilet instructions here.

2. This area off Crusoe Rd has been used in the past, but is now fenced off. There is parking for one car here. Useful only for control placement and collection.

3. The No 7 Reservoir Park has space for 20 cars and competition for those spaces from other users.  This is insufficient for most events. The only exception is small local events starting early. There is ample alternative parking in Granter Street and Hammill Street. Orienteers would need to walk 300 metres to the park proper. Traffic management requires entry via Granter St and exit via Hammell St. Traffic and toilet instructions here.

4. The Crusoe Reservoir site has parking for 35 cars, but there is strong competition for these sites from other users. This site is not suitable for a permitted event. 

5. Big Hill Range Telstra site has parking for a couple of cars only. Suitable only for control placement and collection.

Safety Issues:

• At both assembly areas the road access is via very busy roads with 100k speed limits. Care must be taken to enter and leave the assembly areas. Special instructions will be needed for the Tuckermans Lane assembly as cars from Bendigo will need to drive south past the assembly on the Calder, then do a U-turn at a break in the divided Hway before then travelling north to the assembly turn off. Extra care with signage.

• There are some deep mine shafts on the map. Many have been fenced by Parks. These fences have not yet been added to the map. 

Map status: Mapped in 2012 by Neil Barr. Conversion to ISOM17-2 and minor track updates in 2021 by Neil Barr. Some minor fencing only. This area seems remote enough to be spared most of the illegal track construction seen around Bendigo. The exception is some trail bike damage that sporadically appears on the steep hills in the SW of the map.

Dja Dja Wurrung

• Covered by MOU

Map files: Upper Crusoe

Copyright: Bendigo Orienteers

Page updated Dec 2025