This is the first of a series of base camps in lesser known walking areas of country Victoria.  The walk grading is easy-medium and daily distance will be 10-15km.  Walkers are to arrange their own accommodation.  Further details including suggested accommodation places later on.

All walkers must be fully vacinated.

Apart from registering here on the online system, please also contact Ron on 0429 384 057 to nominate for the base camp and to organise motel accommodation

Walk is on roads and bush tracks with distance each day of 16-22km. Walkers to arrange their own accommodation with Casterton being the most suitable place.

This is the final stage of the Major Mitchell Trail walk which started from Boundary Bend on the Murray River.  Over 4 days we will walk some 70km finishing on the Thursday afternoon if all goes well.  Friday morning will be kept in reserve, but if we have already finished there will be a short walk near Portland on the Friday morning.  Meeting point each day is near Portland Bay Holiday Park in Bentinck Strret.  There is kerbside parking about 150 metres south of the main entrance where we can leave cars for the day.  MGA coords are 553030E 5756350N.

Walk grading is east-medium, with most of the first and second days in Annya State Forest.  The 3rd day is mainly on the busy Princes Highway so fluoro vests/bright clothing is recommended.  The final day is mainly on quieter roads. We will enjoy a celebratory dinner on the Thursday night.

Walking will be within about 10km of Yackandandah, mostly of Easy-Medium grade with some hill-climbing.  

History and scenery.  Meeting at Holiday Park entrance each morning at 8-30am. 

The daily walks on each of the five days have now been finalised.  You will be pleased to learn that the Stage 1 longest daily distance is now 16km (was 20km), but the walks are still rated Medium plus because of the many ascents, sometimes long and sometimes steep.

Also, meeting time in Halls Gap each morning has been brought forward to 8am at the car park opposite the main shopping centre.

Mon 3rd - 16km - Mt Zero Car Park to Roses Gap Rd.  All on GPT.

Tue 4th - 16km - Roses Gap Rd to a point on Mt Difficult Rd North, 5km off the GPT.  The first 11km is on the GPT, then we walk 5km out to Mt Difficult Rd where cars can access.

Wed 5th - 14km - Mt Difficult Rd North to the first point at which the GPT crosses Mt Difficult Rd.  First we walk 5km back into the GPT, then 9km on it.

Thu 6th - 13km - From the above-mentioned crossing to Halls Gap.  All on GPT.

Fri 7th - 10km - Halls Gap to Silverband Rd.  All on GPT.

We will have walked 69km of the 166km GPT.

Please contact Ron by phone to book in as well as registering on this system.  

To attend this event, the club policy is that members must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or hold a valid medical certificate.  

Arrive Tuesday and Depart Friday.  Staying in Walhalla accommodation or Rawson

Walhalla is a picturesque village, located north of Moe and Traralgon. Nestled in a steep sided valley at the southern edge of the Victorian Alps, the town is surrounded by a national park, lush forests and fern gullies.  Walhalla is a historic gold mining town where in the 1860s onward the Long Tunnel mine produced 13.7 tonnes of gold. For more info see: https://www.travelvictoria.com.au/walhalla/

Tuesday: We are meeting at 11:30am at the picnic ground where we'll have lunch, and then do a walking tour around town, including the famous cricket ground and the cemetery, and it's possible to do a tour of the richest gold mine in Victoria if you wish.

Wednesday: Dinner tonight at the old pub where there's great food.

Thursday: 

Friday: return home.

To book your own accommodation you might try: 'The Mill House' 2br, 4 persons, ph 0427 899 709; 'Happy Go Lucky' 3br, 8 persons, ph 0414 789 488; 'Jacomb Cottage' 2br, 4 persons, ph 0450 385 483; 'Sancreed Cottage' 2br, 4 persons, ph 8373 4049; 'Windsor House' BnB 5 rooms 0407 519 215; 'Wild Cherry' BnB, 0427 975 042.

To celebrate 20 years of leading you wonderful people on walks, rides etc, I am putting on a base camp of easy walks!

Arrive on Friday night.  On the Saturday we will drive to the Wannon falls for a very short walk.  We will then walk 11kms of  the Hamilton – Coleraine Rail Trail to reach the small township of Coleraine, where we can do a further 5km walk around town, visiting the Points Arboreteum.  On this day we can walk as little as 1km or as much as 16km, all easy grade.

Saturday evening we will have a meal out in Hamilton.

On Sunday we will walk the other half of the rail trail, this time from Hamilton township towards Wannon Falls.  Another 11km.

Both walks require car shuffles and if there is a non-walker happy to collect drivers at the end of the walks that would be a big help.

Important note:  Please book accommodation early as it is likely to be in short supply due to the Dunkeld Cup.  I will be staying at the Lake Hamilton Motor Village and Caravan Park, (ph: 03 5572 3855).  Bookings are by phone only at the time of writing. I am camping and can share a site with another person or couple.  Basic cabins, as an example, are $185 for four persons, per night.  Deluxe cabins are $215 for four people.  Let me know if you need help finding people to share with.

Combined Base Camp event with Diamond Valley, Koonung and Waverly bushwalking clubs in the Alpine region near Falls Creek.   Fully catered with bunk room accommodation for 5 nights.  Various walks for each day, and a themed NYE party for the final night.

Bookings through the YMCA website, only. 

For further details and expressions of interest, contact: Col Purchase: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Phone: 0407 879 751.

Stay in Daylesford 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 nights; or attend each walk as day trips.  Refer to individual events for further details.

This Base Camp is on the online Event Booking system as a reference only, and each walk (the blue events) is listed separately.  Therefore, please register for each event separately, so that the leaders have separate walk sheets, and contact Col Purchase on (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or 0407 879 751 to advise if you’re staying in Daylesford or attending as day trips. Details are attached to this event.