First Overnight Walk with 3 & 5 year old? Suggestions Please

[Kyliel]

Hi,
We have been gearing up and doing some day walks with out two kids! They can easily handle 6km of reasonably challenging terrain (considering their age!).

We want to head out on our first over-nighter and have no idea where to start. We have done a lot of bush camping so the kids are used to being out with out facilities and we want to go that step further now

We are looking for somewhere where you can overnight camp that is not accessible by car - walk in only - we are outer east so if out this way it would be great, but don't let that limit your suggestions. I guess we are looking for a walk with enough interest for the kids and a little bit of a challenge as well! (but not enough to scare them off over-nighting!)

My husband and I are pretty excited on starting out next adventures! Hit me with your ideas!!

Thanks in advance everyone!

[MickyB]

There are a couple of suggestions in these threads which may help you.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15418

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=12614

[Tortoise]

A lot in those threads! Quicker to add my 2c worth in case it isn't there.

I love Edmondson's Hut - I've taken many newbies, young and old there. About 4km from the road at Watchbed Creek iirc. Been too many years to you'd have to check it wasn't burned down, and it's probably fuel stove only now. You walk from there up Mt Nelse for excellent views, maybe visit some other huts while you're up that way, like Wallaces.
(Edit typo )

[neilmny]

Telelphone Box Junction to the top of Mount Stirling (4.5km approx, altitude gain 500 metres) then camp at the Bluff Spur Hut area (long drop and water tank) or down the other side on the Stirling Trail there are some great camping Spots. The views from the top of Stirling will whet the appetite for more adventures in the mountains with
great views of the Bluff, Cobbler, Buffalo and of course Buller.

Bushwalks In the Victorian Alps (Glenn van der Knijff) High Mountain Ramble page 104.

[Kyliel]

Thanks so far for the suggestions!!

neilmny - We were really hoping to do some of Stirling but didn't know if it seemed too ambitious - thanks for some suggestions there! Pretty keen on trying this!

I have no idea where Edmonson's Hut is Tortoise - i'm off to google that one

Thanks MickyB - the first link is more just car camping, looking for something more 'off the track' than that, but the second link is helpful!

...off to a good start thanks!!

[Tortoise]

I have no idea where Edmonson's Hut is Tortoise - i'm off to google that one

I think it was a typo - should be Edmondson's, though even Kosciuszko Huts Assoc website spells it both ways!

In case you're not sure, the walk starts (very) roughly 10kms ish from Falls Creek (as long as that hasn't changed in recent years), so you drive most of the way up the mountain - that's one of the great things for beginners - a nice gentle walk in the high country. Obviously a long drive, so if you could, I'd suggest 3 or 4 days, maybe car camping the other nights, exploring more - or even being open to 2 nights at Edmondson's, especially if you arrive in the arvo. ie take the food for it, and see how the kids go, plenty to explore the next day.

[neilmny]

Thanks so far for the suggestions!!

neilmny - We were really hoping to do some of Stirling but didn't know if it seemed too ambitious - thanks for some suggestions there! Pretty keen on trying this!

........

The only thing to remember is it is a big uphill walk from TBJ but being 4.5km you can take your time.
The return trip would be back the way you came or about 8 or 9 km down the other side on the Stirling trail.

A good test for little legs would be a day walk from Eagles Nest picnic ground on Mount Dandenong up to Woolrich Lookout, similar terrain but not quite as far.

[andrewbish]

Also check out:

- Beeripno
- Cathedral Range
- Wilson's Prom

[Kyliel]

Thanks for the replies everyone!
Just a quick one on the beeripmo walk - a few blogs seem to suggest that this is quite a challenging uphill slog - might it be a bit beyond a 3 & 5 year old?

[sim1oz]

Hi Kylie,

Beeripmo does have quite a bit of up and down but none of it goes on for long and if the weather is clear there are lots of opportunities to stop and admire the views.

We took our younger two for their first overnight packwalk (they carried!) at ages 5 and 7, so we started rather late in age which had more to do with worry on our part - in the end they coped admirably. We kept it short and simple because we were running so late that we didn't start walking until sunset. We parked at Mugwamp Camp and then walked up to the Beeripmo campsite, which was about half an hour. If we'd started early in the morning, I'm fairly confident they could have done the entire Beeripmo walk, with plenty of time for breaks, snacks and stopping to look at nature. It really does depend on your kids and their prior walking/camping experience.

There was a bit of discussion on using Beeripmo as an intro walk for kids on another post: http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1122&p=172538&hilit=beeripmo#p116040

Our kids had already done quite a few 5-10km day walks and also bush car camping, so for us it was about putting the two together. They each carried their own (school) backpack with a jacket, their water, some snacks, their headlamp, and a change of clothes. One also insisted on carrying her teddy bear. Carrying their own gear was one of their highlights! From memory, their packs were about 3-4kg so much, much less than 25% of their weight, but for younger kids I'd probably just get those drink bottles with the snack container on the bottom so they can eat and drink when want also get to feel a bit independent. Again, it depends on what your kids are already used to doing.

Enjoy!
Simone