Best Victorian Multi-Day Hike (For A Beginner)

[neil_fahey]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the world of multi-day hikes so I guess I'm looking for something not too difficult but still worthwhile... Maybe just 2 or 3 days.

I'm not keen on the G.O.W. (it's on my list for another time with a different companion) so looking for alternatives.

I'm open to anywhere in the state really... Ideas??

Thanks!

[rowan]

Try the Great SouthWest Walk (GSSW) in the far west. Not too hard, many different environments, well maintained with water and (mostly) drop toilets at each camp. You can do as much or little as you like. I love it.

[Drifting]

Do a circuit on the Bogong High Plains- lots of alternatives there.

[north-north-west]

Try the Major Mitchell Plateau, or the Mount Difficult Range, in the Grampians. Access is year-round, weather is variable but at least it's not going to be under metres of snow right now, and the scenery is fantastic. Good tracks, some good campsites, and although there's a bit of climbing it's not too hard.

[trickos]

maybe some a little more unknown, although both have been subjects of the Vic forum.
Beeripmo walk - Mt Cole State Park just north of Beaufort. a 2 day walk.
or Burchell Trail - Brisbane Ranges Nat Park. Close to Melbourne but still has a real wilderness experience about it. A 3 day walk.

[neil_fahey]

Thanks heaps for the suggestions... I'll definitely look into all of those. Still keen to hear more though!

[trickos]

Considered Wilsons Prom? Lots of options there.

[north-north-west]

Yeah, the Prom's a terrific way to start overnighting - as long as you avoid the school holidays.

There are plenty of sections of the AAWT that can be done as two or three night trips. Once the roads up to the High Country are all open again you can look at making circuits out of the country from MacDonald to Speculation, for instance. Good learning curve with a lot of that area.
Or, from Mountain Creek, go up Eskdale Spur or Granite Flat spur to the hut, overnight there, and back down via Staircase Spur after visiting the summit of Mount Bogong. That can be done even in winter if the weather's good.

Then there's Croajingalong way out east. Or the fairly easy walk into Cowombat Flat from the Limestone/Black Mountain Road - the road into the carpark is closed right now, but it's only an extra hour's walking and the Flat's a brilliant place to camp and explore.

[neil_fahey]

Thanks trikos and nbnw... Both of those sound like great ideas. I'm not sure exactly when this will be happening yet so not sure about weather or school holidays.

How long would a beginner need to do the Eksdale Spur suggestion?

[north-north-west]

You're climbing most of the way, but it's not too far. I'm slow as uphill, but I managed to haul the pack up the Staircase, over to the junction with Eskdale, dump the gear, and climb up to the summit and back to the hut on a winter's day, getting there in plenty of time to have dinner before it got dark. Depends how early you leave Mountain Creek.
Mt Bogong summit is a summer's daywalk up and back, but spreading it over two days gives you time to get over to West Peak and see a bit of the Hooker Plateau. In summer, you could even haul the gear up to the top and nip down to Cleve Cole to camp (or use the hut) and visit the falls.

[neil_fahey]

Thanks heaps for the info! I've got a bit of time so I'll ponder for a while.

The 'to-do' list is growing!

Cheers
Neil

[Biggles]

I second the Mountain Creek-Eskdale Spur-Mount Bogong (keep going)-Cleve Cole Hut walk as an excellent, varied multi-day walk (with a leisurely 'lay-up' day on top to explore). I recall years ago the Staircase is a bugger, with many photos of it, up and up and up, levelling out briefly at the snowline before climbing again up to the summit plateau, then easy walking through such splendid places as Hell Gap and Lendenfeld Point then down to Cleve Cole Hut. Perhaps the biggest thrill is the outstanding alpine panorama up/down Eskdale Spur, though there are lots of others, too.

Range upon Range en route Mount Bogong: Eskdale Spur panorama.

Eskdale Spur_Nov1991.jpg (143.55 KiB) Viewed 43307 times

EDIT: Note in our student poverty we wore runners up and down, and one even wore sandals (!). Ah, how much we've learnt in 20-odd years...

The Hills are Alive... Morning panorama from Lendenfeld Point.

LendenfeldPoint_1988.jpg (55.06 KiB) Viewed 43305 times

[neil_fahey]

Thanks for the photo - that looks awesome!

[jcr_au]

There's also some nice 2-3 day sections of the Great Dividing trail between Ballarat & Bendigo that would be worth considering and not that far to drive. Unlike the Great South West Walk (which the wife & I love) there's not really defined walker campsites or toilets nor water points so water drops would be required, even in winter

[neil_fahey]

Hi John,

Thanks for the idea. I'll keep that in mind.

Cheers
Neil

[rowan]

Don't overlook some of the longer rail trails - I like the one west of Ballerat. They are really easy and have good paths but are still quite enjoyable.

[neil_fahey]

Thanks Rowan

[jcr_au]

Don't overlook some of the longer rail trails - I like the one west of Ballerat. They are really easy and have good paths but are still quite enjoyable.

That's the Ballarat Skipton Rail trail, there is water available along the way and good camping just east of Linton.

When we did the GDT we started at Skipton, from memory the rail trail is about 60km long

[robtrotter]

Avoid the School Holidays and do the Southern Circuit at the prom. You can stretch it from 2-4 days depending on how far you walk each day - and it becomes a great introduction to multi-day walks.. No chance of getting lost, toilets + water at campsites, no car shuffle... It will let you focus on walking.

Follow it up by doing some of the other suggestions in the thread.

[neil_fahey]

Thanks Rob, I must say I'm definitely leaning towards the Prom... Only problem is avoiding the school holidays because my holidays coincide (yep 12 weeks off a year!) so getting time off at other times is tough. I guess I could just do a 2 day hike over a weekend. So is it really THAT busy over the school holidays!?

[jcr_au]

Manofunreal

Being married to a (now retired) kidwalloper I've only done day walks at the prom & assumed it would be horrific during the hols, so can't really comment there, but there is always the weekend + "mental health days" which could get you 3-4 day weekends

[CenVicCharlie]

There's also some nice 2-3 day sections of the Great Dividing trail between Ballarat & Bendigo that would be worth considering and not that far to drive. Unlike the Great South West Walk (which the wife & I love) there's not really defined walker campsites or toilets nor water points so water drops would be required, even in winter

I'm currently working on a project with Conservation Volunteer's and we are replacing all the old track markers with new and easier to see post between Ballarat/Daylesford, as well as repairing all the bridges.

There is definitely some good day and even a good three night four day walk from Ballarat to Daylesford. For a day walk anywhere around Slattery Creek is good.

Cheers
Charlie

[north-north-west]

So is it really THAT busy over the school holidays!?

Yes.
My first visit to the Prom was over Christmas, almost 30 years ago, and I only got a one-night tent site at Tidal River after coming out because of a late cancellation. Christmas/New year and Easter are the worst, but holidays of any sort - including long weekends = are horrendous.
It's easy camping, mostly easy walking and a lovely place, so everyone wants to do it.

[neil_fahey]

Sounds like a mental health day might be the answer... Thanks everyone!

[Biggles]

It's true that first-time walkers to the Prom are rather taken aback by the sheer number of people who converge on the place. It's all about timing. I avoid the Prom like the plague on long weekends or holiday periods. Sit back and be patient. Get in the day after the hordes have departed back to Sin City and you'll have the beautiful outstation camping areas mostly to yourself, or at worst, share the company of other walkers also seeking quiet and solitude. Tidal River is not the place for any quiet or solitude even on weekends. Sealers Cove, Refuge Cove and Little Waterloo Bay (and there are others) really do have that enjoyable "far and away from it all" feel about them. I'm heading back in the first week of August for another circuit.

[trickos]

Also bear in mind that The Prom is a free park now as of 1st July. I would imagine that would make the park even busier at peak times.

[Biggles]

Also bear in mind that The Prom is a free park now as of 1st July. I would imagine that would make the park even busier at peak times.

Uh—, what?
What do you mean "The Prom is a free park now"?
So no walking fees? Why?

EDIT: Mystified, I went searching for something about this on the Parks website, and it came up thus: http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1ministory.cfm?story=414. Probably doesn't include free overnight/outstation camping fees (?).

[neil_fahey]

This is free park entry, Victoria wide and has nothing to do with other fees as far as I'm aware

[trickos]

Yes that's right......I only meant as in Gate entry Fees. Not camping and hiking permits.

[north-north-west]

What do you mean "The Prom is a free park now"?

It has been released. Liberated. Uncaged; unfettered; the handcuffs unlocked, removed and thrown away. Bereft of entrance fees it definitely doesn't rest in peace.