Grampians loop day/o'night hike...what would you do?

[cal_blam]

Any suggestions please?

I have two nights out at the Grampians...but...
-->Arriving late Friday night and pitch tent.
--> Leaving early on Sunday morning (by around 9).

This gives two options:

A. easy option --- camp in the same spot Friday Night and Saturday night, and just do a big day hike on Saturday, preferably a long scenic loop.
B. more adventurous option --- set up camp Friday night, hike Satuday and camp out in a different spot, then hike back to the car Sunday morning and leave. So long as it is only a couple of hours walking on Sunday morning, should be OK to leave in time.

I have done Mount Difficult before. I would like to check out another section maybe Southern or Western. Major Mitchell Plateau looks good. Into nice scenery, of course, and camping under the stars, of course. Not scared of a long day hike on Saturday.

Are there any recommednations for me for either option A or B?

Cheers! Cal

[icefest]

Mitchell plateau should be a good walk. You can camp at the southern end, walk north, and then either camp at the camp just to the north of the summit, or in the saddle between the two peaks.
The former has the better view, and the latter the less walking the next day.

You'll need to hitch back to the car.

[Snowzone]

Hi Cal, not having much time on the Sunday makes it hard for a walk in camp. I'd be more inclined to do a nice big day walk on the Saturday.
You would not have time to walk out from Major Mitchell Plateau Sunday morning but you could walk from Mount William carpark to the plateau and back as a day walk.
On the Western side you can walk into the Fortress and back out in a day.
There's also plenty of other good daywalks in the Gramps. A lot of the Northern Gramps is still closed due to the last lot of fires.

[Isis]

Your not going get back by 9am Sunday if you walk the Major Mitchell Plateau.

[icefest]

It depends on how you do the hike. The full 40km is a long, very difficult daywalk, but if you only walk the ridgeline it will only around 23km, which is not an easy walk, but doable.

I'm not sure as to how much you are able to walk (and how comfortable you are with long days).

Within your constraints, this is what I would do:

Friday Night:
---Drive to Jimmy Creek Campground, set up tent and stay the night
Saturday:
---Get up early, almost at sunrise, and hitch up to the Mt William carpark. Aim to be at the carpark before 9 am.
---Walk the 23km back to Jimmy Creek campground that day.
---Camp at the same campsite.
Sunday
---Pack up and leave.


Walking downhill is easier than uphill, but you should consider driving up Mt William to watch the sunrise and then hitching back to Jimmy creek. You will then have to walk in the opposite direction. This has greater chances of being on time (it's easier to ask for a ride) and will enable you to see the sunrise and sunset. It will be a much harder walk.

Whatever you do, take a good light and a GPS in case you get lost.

Lastly, this is what I would do myself. It's a long day and can be impossible if you have a heavy pack and/or are unfit. Don't do it if you are unsure.

[Lophophaps]

Given the 9 am Sunday departure, a pack carrying walk is not viable.

There's some good off-track walking behind Rosea. On the Friday, drive to the Rosea camping area, then west on, I think, the Stoney Creek Road. (I do not have a map with me at present.) After a few minutes there's a T intersection, probably the Rosea Track. Go south (left) down this for about ten minutes to a small campsite on the creek. There are other campsites nearby, but they are hard to describe. From the creek you can walk to the waterfall, Eastern Wall, Tower Hill, Rosea, Bundaleer and other places. The distances are not great and the terrain is slow, but the scenery is brilliant and it's relatively isolated.

Parks Victoria seem to say that this area is open. See
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... Update.pdf
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... Report.pdf
for information about walking tracks and roads.

[peregrinator]

There's some good off-track walking behind Rosea. On the Friday, drive to the Rosea camping area, then west on, I think, the Stoney Creek Road. (I do not have a map with me at present.) After a few minutes there's a T intersection, probably the Rosea Track. Go south (left) down this for about ten minutes to a small campsite on the creek. There are other campsites nearby, but they are hard to describe. From the creek you can walk to the waterfall, Eastern Wall, Tower Hill, Rosea, Bundaleer and other places. The distances are not great and the terrain is slow, but the scenery is brilliant and it's relatively isolated.

Great suggestion, Lophophaps. You are correct about the names of both tracks. And about the scenery. From Rosea Track, Calectasia Falls (would be the one you mean) is close by to the west and Castle Rock to the south. All should be achievable in a day, including Mt Rosea.

[cal_blam]

Think we will leave the camp set up this time around and do a big day walk...so Rosea suits well!

Thanks everyone for the great ideas!

[cal_blam]

Given the 9 am Sunday departure, a pack carrying walk is not viable.

There's some good off-track walking behind Rosea. On the Friday, drive to the Rosea camping area, then west on, I think, the Stoney Creek Road. (I do not have a map with me at present.) After a few minutes there's a T intersection, probably the Rosea Track. Go south (left) down this for about ten minutes to a small campsite on the creek. There are other campsites nearby, but they are hard to describe. From the creek you can walk to the waterfall, Eastern Wall, Tower Hill, Rosea, Bundaleer and other places. The distances are not great and the terrain is slow, but the scenery is brilliant and it's relatively isolated.

Parks Victoria seem to say that this area is open. See
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... Update.pdf
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... Report.pdf
for information about walking tracks and roads.

Uh oh...rosea track is closed and I am in a 2wd. Is there a good place I can launch off for a good rosea day hike from a more accessible campsite, but still somewhere nice and picturesque? Cheers.

[peregrinator]

Uh oh...rosea track is closed and I am in a 2wd. Is there a good place I can launch off for a good rosea day hike from a more accessible campsite, but still somewhere nice and picturesque? Cheers.

If you're referring to http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/628936/Map6.pdf, that is showing tracks currently closed to vehicles. You can use the track for walking. See http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/621246/Grampians-National-Park-Update.pdf

In fact, the best time to walk many tracks in the state is precisely when seasonal closures are in place. Quite a lot of them should be closed to vehicles all year, but that's another story.

[cal_blam]

If you're referring to http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/628936/Map6.pdf, that is showing tracks currently closed to vehicles. You can use the track for walking. See http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/621246/Grampians-National-Park-Update.pdf

In fact, the best time to walk many tracks in the state is precisely when seasonal closures are in place. Quite a lot of them should be closed to vehicles all year, but that's another story.

Still a bit confused though about where the campsites are that are accesible by car. I found this:

Mt Rosea Loop
Start: Rosea Campground, Silverband
From Rosea Campground cross Stony Creek Road for a climb through messmate forest to the plateau. Follow markers through sandstone outcrops, Eagle Rock and cross bridge over the Gate of the East Wind. Continue the ascent up terraces to the intersection, turning left to the summit. View is one of the most spectacular in the Park. Returning to the intersection veer left and continue until it widens into an old 4WD track. Follow this to Burma Track and continue along Burma track to reach Silverband Road. Turn right down the road for 200m and take the Delley's Dell walking track through Soft Tree Ferns to the Silverband Road and back to the campground.
http://www.grampiansnationalpark.com/gr ... /walks.asp

I think will do this loop - so will be setting up at Rosea Campground. It's not on the PV map but I guess will find it if driving down the Silverband Road? Might be the best strategy arriving by night.

Is it OK to also access the creek, waterfall, Eastern Wall, Tower Hill from that campground by foot?

Might be best if I go invest in a Gramps NP map this arvo

[cal_blam]

OP update for future hikers:

hike:
Please note there is no longer a "loop" track option for Rosea carpark to top of Mt Rosea and return.
We ended up doing sundial carpark -> Rosea carpark -> top of Mt Rosea and back the same way. It was a lovely scenic walk. Not difficult in any part, but tired by the end with a day pack.With about an hour up top for lunch and nap overlooking the wonderful views, we spent about six hours out.
Well signposted.

camp:
Apparently Rosea campground is bush camping/no toilets.
Instead we chose Plantation campground for Fri/Sat nights and drove to our hike start in morning. Still free for now. Easy to find at night not knowing area.
Toilets and (untreated water) taps and fireplaces. 10km north of Halls Gap up Mt zero unsealed 2wd road. Take care for wildlife especially driving at dusk.

From Melbourne makes a great weekend if you have limited time but still want to do a nice walk and camp a couple of nights.

[Strider]

Looks like a great walk. How long is the drive from Melbourne?

[neilmny]

Maybe 3 hours from your location Strider. It's about 3 1/2 or so from the outer east side.
Probably Western Ringroad, Western freeway out past Ballarat to Ararat then to Halls Gap (C222)
via Moyston and Pomonal.

[Snowzone]

OP update for future hikers:

hike:
Please note there is no longer a "loop" track option for Rosea carpark to top of Mt Rosea and return.
We ended up doing sundial carpark -> Rosea carpark -> top of Mt Rosea and back the same way. It was a lovely scenic walk. Not difficult in any part, but tired by the end with a day pack.With about an hour up top for lunch and nap overlooking the wonderful views, we spent about six hours out.
Well signposted.

camp:
Apparently Rosea campground is bush camping/no toilets.
Instead we chose Plantation campground for Fri/Sat nights and drove to our hike start in morning. Still free for now. Easy to find at night not knowing area.
Toilets and (untreated water) taps and fireplaces. 10km north of Halls Gap up Mt zero unsealed 2wd road. Take care for wildlife especially driving at dusk.

From Melbourne makes a great weekend if you have limited time but still want to do a nice walk and camp a couple of nights.

The loop you have mentioned is most certainly still able to be done. It starts at the old Rosea campground and finishes where Burma track comes back out onto Silverband Road. Then you have a short section of road to walk back on.
Rosea Campground was closed a few years back. The road in that accesses Calectasia Falls and Castle Rock is seasonal, I think, its been a long time since I've seen that track open now that I think about it.

[peregrinator]

I was in the area recently, so here is an update.

The gate on Rosea Track near the pad to Tower Hill is closed to walkers and vehicles due to the area being used for the reintroduction of Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies. So that means there's no access to Castle Rock and et cetera. Unless you're one of them 4WD hoons wot drives round gates.

The pad which continued east from Tower Hill to Calectasia Falls (well, it did when I was there in 2005) is overgrown so a compass is required.

There was also a locked gate on what I think is the track from Delleys Dell to the Silverband Road near the discontinued Rosea campground. Not sure about this as it's not an area I've previously walked. But the track from the Rosea camp to Sundial has been remade, passing a Keep Out -- Construction Zone sign where the old track commenced some switchbacks.