Events

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.

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Mt Speculation, on the Australian Alps Walking Track, is one of the most scenic locations in Victoria, with 360 degrees of alpine views. In good weather a summit camp is worth the extra thirty minutes of lugging your pack up from the lower campsite at Camp Creek.

Getting there is not all that easy. In the absence of a serious 4WD, this route will take the easiest walking route, starting at Lake Cobbler.

From Lake Cobbler we’ll walk up to the Cobbler Plateau then drop packs and do a one-hour side trip to the craggy and very distinct summit of Mt Cobbler. From there it’s a road-bash to Camp Creek, and, weather permitting, we’ll camp on the summit of Mt Speculation, otherwise we’ll camp at the more sheltered saddle at Camp Creek.

On Sunday we’ll return via a foot track along scenic clifftops to Mt Koonika, then scrub-bash down to the road and descend to Lake Cobbler.

This is an alpine walk, with Mt Speculation topping out at 1700m, so all participants must be prepared for the possibility of cold conditions.

Suitable for novice pack walkers with a bit of self-confidence.

Getting to Bennies Camping Area

31km S of Whitfield, junction of Lake Cobbler Road and Rose River Road via Whitfield then Cheshunt. A map to Bennies will be provided to drivers.

About Getting to Lake Cobbler

From Bennies camping area (meeting point 1), the road up to Lake Cobbler is unsealed and slightly rough in places. AWD medium-clearance SUV’s are the recommended minimum vehicle type, for example Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forrester, etc.

If you have never been to Lake Cobbler, I strongly recommend you stay at Bennies on Friday night and come up with the convoy. Spare seats in the vehicles going up should not be a problem for those who wish to leave their car at Bennies.

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Howmans Gap Base Camp Wednesday, 27^th December 2023 to Monday 1^st January 2024.

This popular base camp offers five night’s accommodation including 3 meals per day in the Howmans Gap YMCA Lodge near Falls Creek. This camp has been running for a number of years. Each day around 4 walks of varying levels from easy to hard will be offered for you to choose between or just take the day off as this is your fun and relaxing time with the chance to make new friends.

This is a Diamond Valley, Koonung, Waverley, Essendon and Bayside Bushwalking venture with combined walks and activities including a New Years Eve celebration.

Accommodation is in bunk rooms (triple share) and we generally only use bottom bunks. Single rooms and rooms for couples are limited.   The cost is $500 per person - with a $200 deposit due by the end of August to confirm your booking. Instructions will be sent at the start of August to those who register for the camp, and the balance ($300) will be due at the end of November. 

At this stage this event is not on the website for registrations, as there are two payments involved. Essendon has a guaranteed minimum 10 positions to secure the venue, and this allowance will increase later in the year.   Full details of the event will be released as planning continues.

If you are interested in attending this popular event, then please contact Col Purchase to register your interest.

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

As well as registering on this system, please also phone Ron to nominate for this event and to organise accommodation at the caravan park.

The cost of the caravan park is $125 pn for a caravan with two bedrooms with all linen supplied.  BYO food.  Walks will be in the Marysville area and the Cathedral Ranges, Australia's biggest ancient feature, and there will also be a walk in the Beech Forest with giant trees in the rain forest and waterfalls.  Will go out one night for a meal.  On Tuesday will meet at the caravan park entrance at 12:00 for lunch from where we'll leave on the first walk.  BYO own lunch everyday.

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds