Wellington River for kid friendly/short walks & yobbo free?

[jbuzz]

Hi,

Just hoping for some advice as we inch back towards regular camping and walking post kids. We're planning a trip this Easter school holidays with our 5 y.o., toddler and the grandparents. So I'm looking for a car camping spot with some nice little walks the kids can do and ideally a couple if longer options we can slope off to if the babysitters are willing.

Anyone got thoughts on Wellington River? That's probably about as far as we want to drive (from inner western melbourne) before the toddler rips the seats out of the car in frustration.

After a horrible three nights of doof doof camping over labour day, we'd also really prefer somewhere not too party friendly.

I'm not asking for much...

Thanks
Jane

[walkon]

Used to camp along the wellington river, it was hit and miss as to who came along to the campsite and which annual trip the boys were on. We did have some great hols there but also we've been kept up all night too.

A little state park that is near us, free with toilets, is Kirth Kiln near Gembrook (puffing billy ends there). There is a beautiful walk around the camp site and lots of tracks around, Bunjip State Park is a short car drive away with lots of walks there. In Kirth Kiln the only down side is that the bigger walks are mainly closed off recovering dirt road tracks and not as adventuresome, but it is very pretty and close to melbourne with lots of bird and wild life around.

We dont mind it as you can have a camp fire, take your dogs and motorbikes are banned from the walking tracks. I should do a write up on the place though it certainly isn't as glamerous as the high country but there's alot of beautiful places around that place.

[neilmny]

Jane, the sad reality is that if you can drive there so can the doof doof brigade.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Mountain creek near Tawonga at the foot of Mt Bogong has some easy ferny walks and some good campsites.As always with car camping you take your chances whether drunken yobbos and doof doof bogans are coming to camp there or not.
Red Bluff campsite along the Wellington river is my favourite but the fresh out of the trees rock apes and mongers often leave it in bad shape like a tip and an open sewer combined.
I saw a couple at MacAlister springs who pack hiked it from the Howitt car park for 5 kms to the campsite at the Gantner hut with an under 2 year old kid in a front pack "harness". It can be done and that weeds out the cro magnons and noisy knuckle draggers who increase the car camping from hell possibilities.

[MickyB]

Kirth Kiln near Gembrook (puffing billy ends there). There is a beautiful walk around the camp site and lots of tracks around

I'd agree with this . There are some great walks around there and camp fires are permitted (assuming CFA bans are lifted by then).

There is also plenty of camping at the Pines on Lake Eildon but there can be plenty of dirt bikes as well (although every time I have been there the riders have been very considerate of other campers). There is no shortage of fire wood from the logged areas in the pine plantation. There are some great walks around the lake and great views up on the ridges. Last time I was there (about 5 or 6 years ago) they had just finished a lot of new long drop dunnies.

There are some nice walks and camping at Murrindindi Scenic Reserve near Kinglake. It may be fairly busy at Easter but plenty of short and long tracks to explore.

[Earwig]

Easter is busy everywhere so there is always a chance of Bogans. Some options - Lake Catani on Mt Buffalo, Melville Caves out past Bendigo, Cathedral Ranges (camp at Neds Gully and not Cooks Mill - Neds has no direct car access to the campsites and you have to park on one side of the creek and walk across a footbridge to camp. The 100m stroll provides some Bogan-proofing), Fraser Campground at Lake Eildon National Park, Upper Yarra Reservoir (they close the gates at night or at least they used to), or way out west to Mt Eccles.
Have a good Easter

[jbuzz]

Thanks everyone, lots of suggestions to check out. I'm not sure we're ready for the walk-in option, the toddler's ok but the 5 year old struggles a bit with motivation

Used to be so easy! I curse the makers of hi fi equipment.

[Travis22]

Lots of great camping after Licola.

If you don't mind camping in a largish campground where there are other groups then IMO the #8 camping area (mutton wood) is the best camping area out of all of the sites along Tamboritha road there.

You will need to arrive early to secure a spot but there are many in there. #8 has the grassiest places to camp while nearly all of the others are 99% dirt. A lot of the sites also have picnic tables, concrete fire rings and there are 2 pit toilets in #8.

Depending on the site you get your nearest 'neighbour' could be 20-100m away. On the average long weekend #8 will have around 15-20 groups in there, while most are quiet there's often one group who need to be disciplined.

The police and parks have been extremely proactive in the last 12months throughout this area and they are doing a pretty good job in keeping the area free of bogans.

Travis.

[andrewa]

We had a particularly unenjoyable night once on the Howqua, being kept up until 5am by the doof doof. "Unfortunately", when I went for a walk in the morning, carrying my cup of tea, I "tripped" next to their doof doof box, and spilled my tea ALL over it. Back to make another cup, and surprised myself by "tripping"in exactly the same place again! I then entertained myself for an hour or so with my chainsaw, making some camp furniture from a fallen tree that was adjacent to their tents. Hopefully that made their weekend as enjoyable as hours was.....they were probably too stupid to associate their activities with mine.


A

[rocketrm2]

Who wants to join a hit squad to wipe out the doof doof and bogans?
We once contemplated putting a desert spoon of sand in each of their trail bikes petrol tank as they snored away after wild drunken night. Regret that we didn't.
Easter brings out the worst of Australians.

[vicpres]

Hi Jane

In my experience, the more water there is around, the greater the likelihood of there being hoons and doof doof music around. On long weekends it is likely to be even worse, and worse again at Easter.

A venue that may meet your requirements is Mt Samaria State Park, which between Benalla and Mansfield. The best access is from the Mansfield end, as from the Benalla end the there is a rough-ish section of road near the crest of the range, though it is certainly passable by 2WD.

There are four camp sites, two drive in ones at Samaria Well and Spring Creek Mill, and two walk in ones, Wild Dog Creek (800m walk) and Camphora (not sure how far the walk in, but much less than Wild Dog Creek). On the Labour Day weekend the creeks at all but Samaria Well were running. There are several walks available that should satisfy all your party, ranging from easy (Wild Dog Falls) to a little more challenging (Mt Samaria summit) and the saw mill ruins are a bit different due to the drying kiln ruins that are there. Mt Samaria has 360 degree views that take in Mt Buller, Mt Stirling, Mt Buffalo and the plains from Wangaratta, to Benalla, Shepparton, Euroa. On a clear night you can see the lights of all these towns and many more beside. All the camp sites have fireplaces, tables and toilets. If staying at Samaria Well it is a 10k drive each way on a sometimes rough road to the walking tracks and the toilet is a 300m walk up hill from the camp site.

Another option which is a favourite Easter destination of mine is Wyperfeld. It's a much longer drive but the camp site is huge and I have never seen any hoons there or heard any loud music. There are always lots of families there and there are plenty of walks.

[trickos]

Easter brings out the worst of Australians.

I would put Australia Day way on top of that. A day of National Drinking.

[jbuzz]

Thanks again folks, further research required but I'm feeling much more positive about our trip now after some serious doubts post labour day.

Now just need to arrange some decent weather. Anyone who can fix me up in that regard please get in touch

[Cattsworthy]

Hi there.

Is the road to the Muttonwood Camp Ground accessible by a 4WD with a pop top caravan? Van is 12ft. Site sounds perfect, but have been put off by a review I came across warning against taking a van up there due to the road conditions (windy with steep drops, and no way that two vans could pass each other).

Cheers,

Catherine

[north-north-west]

Hi there.

Is the road to the Muttonwood Camp Ground accessible by a 4WD with a pop top caravan? Van is 12ft. Site sounds perfect, but have been put off by a review I came across warning against taking a van up there due to the road conditions (windy with steep drops, and no way that two vans could pass each other).

Cheers,

Catherine

Muttonwood - like all the riverside camps - is still in the sealed road section. There are some curves and hills, but I've seen similar sized rigs up there. Just drive carefully and you'll be fine.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Only In winter do I dare go car camping and that would be July, not on long weekend at Sheep yard flat on the Howqua river .No Flies, fewer Bogans and fires are permitted. I sometimes use it as base for Mt Stirling but snow camping in July near the Bluff spur hut on Mt Stirling is better .
The Wellington river can be a good place to car camp. When it is not a long weekend it is relaxing. The only walk in the immediate area I can think of is the steep ascent up the Crinolene track. That is a real work out.