Essendon Bushwalking Club

This 2 days of walking will be jointly led by Melanie and Jim. There are two consecutive day-walks - walkers can do either or both (staying overnight nearby if doing both). When registering, register for one day or both, depending on your plan.

Cathedral Range is an iconic "medium/hard" walk to the East of Melbourne. Mel's description of the Northern Circuit (from her Maroondah Club -"Begins with a steep climb up St Bernards and Jawbone Creek track. The walk then takes us along the ridge track, this is a rugged ridge line with exposed rocky outcrops to Cathedral Peak. Continue down Neds Gully Track. The walk is classified as medium/hard due to rock scrambling along the razorback which can be slow going and for which a degree of confidence is required."

The walk is about 12km and, optionally, can be shortened a little with a judicious car-shuffle. Long pants, long-sleeved shirts and shoes with good grip are recommended. Poles are optional, they can get in the way at times. Although it's a short walk in distance, it takes a fair time and has no water along the track - make sure you have enough.

Meeting time at Cooks Mill is 10am - it's a 2 hour drive from Airport West. Both Melanie and Jim will be staying overnight in the Alexandra area, so will not be able to offer car-pooling on either day. However, if walkers are coming for one day and want to car-pool, perhaps it can be arranged. We'd recommend starting from Airport West.

If staying overnight, there is National Parks camping at Cooks Mill, Caravan Parks at Taggerty and Acheron, and other accommodation in the Alexandra area.

Mel and Jim will also be organising a Saturday pub meal in Alexandra on the Saturday night.

Cowombat Flat is a beautiful grassy flat near the source of the Murray, where the Australian Alps Walking Track crosses from Victoria into NSW. It has a multitude of highlights (see below) and can only be visited by walkers - unless you're a ranger, etc. It's also a VERY long way from Melbourne, so this is a six-day trip - days 1 and 6 are essentially driving ...

Day 1: Drive to Native Dog Flat; car-based camping overnight (so a few luxuries permitted).

Day 2: Short drive to the start of the walking track, then packs on for the 12.5km (reasonably flat) walk in to Cowombat Flat. Set up our camp - the next two days are "day-walks" returning to the same campsite.

Day 3: Loop walk taking in the nearby highlights - Cowombat Flat itself (Plane Crash remains, farmhouse ruins, wildlife - native and feral, etc); the Absolute Official source of the Murray, marked with a pipe in the ground; the far end of the "straight-line" bit of the Victorian Border and the huge cairn marking it; and a walk back to the Flat along the baby Murray River. Probably less than 10km for the day, but full of interest, and a lot "off-track".

Day 4: A longer and harder loop walk, along 4WD tracks. (Pilot Creek Firetrail, Snowgum Firetrail, Cowombat Flat Track). A long climb initially, then undulating - about 19km. Good views of the Main Range (Kosciusko etc) in the distance. Possible off-track climb of Mt Pilot (alpine ash regrowth probably makes this too difficult).

Day 5: Pack up camp, walk the 12.5km back to the car(s). Drive to Omeo for camping at the caravan park (or accommodation). Celebratory Dinner!

Day6: Return to Melbourne

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

A medium to hard 12 km walk. If coming from Melbourne, drive along Greendale Trentham Road and turn right at O'Briens Road. Travel along 5.9 kilometres of unsealed road to O'Brien's Crossing Picnic Ground, our starting point.  For the first six kilometres the walk follows the Lerderderg River with some walking over rocks and along steep sides of a hill before heading inland.  Along the way are magnificent views of the river and surrounds.  The return leg along Cowan Track is less rocky but numerous hills will get the heart pumping before reaching Short Cut Track. From here we descend a few kilometres on a rocky 4WD track before arriving back at the cars.  Refreshments will be in Bacchus Marsh.  Boots and poles are recommended.  

This circuit walk starts in Newbury which is between Trentham and Blackwood. It follows old logging tracks, joins the Domino Trail and later links to an old Tramway to reach the historic mineral springs north of Lyonville. There are undulations but is generally a pleasant walk. Gaiters and poles are recommended.  Note: the meeting point on the Trentham/Blackwood Rd can be called Clarrie Donald Track or Donald Lane.

Blue Mountain is situated south of Trentham near Newbury. Today there is no view, only a Communication Tower.  However the area is imbued with history, especially relating to gold mining.

Few people know of the old cemetary that lies just below the summit and that there was a significant settlement nearby.  I am calling the walk "exploratory" because I have not walked it recently. But it is pleasant walking on tracks, undulating, with at least one notable climb to Blue Mountain.  It is a circuit walk starting at the junction of the Blackwood/Trentham Rd and Amelia Lane Sth. Note, there is another entrance to Amelia Lane closer to Trentham. Amelia Lane St is just south of Kearney Rd in Newbury.

Test event to check if Super Users recieve emails for registrations and waitlist.

Test event added by Test Leader (non Super User) for him to add another member to this event.

Howmans Gap Base Camp - four days of magnificent walking in the Alpine National Park.  Team aim to provide four days of walking, a mixture of six walks per day of Easy, Medium and Hard level.  Join a mixture of various bushwalking club members for the unique walks.  Staying at Howman's Gap YMCA.  Meals supplied (Please advise if any special needs).  Bring sleeping equipment, and appropriate equipment (sunhat, sunscreen - refer "what to take on trips" subpage on "Our Events" page of website.  Take camp-chair, drinks container, for the daily "happy hour", and prepare for the New-Year's Eve costume event - this years theme "Olympics", with late New Years Eve dance.