UPDATE - Wednesday 6th March 10:30am

Dargo Base Camp Venue Cancelled - now Dandos Camping Area in the Otways

On Monday evening, Parks Victoria closed all of the Alpine NP, which means that almost all of the 4WD tracks that we were going to drive in the Mansfield/Tolmie/Stringybark Creek area are now closed.  So unfortunately our weekend venue again has to be changed once again if we are to do anything other than a few short forest drives.  So….. after a rethink last night we have decided to go West to avoid the eastern part of Victoria, half of which seems to be fire affected (as they once said in America - go west young man). 

The new plan 

The Otway Ranges are unaffected by fires currently, so we have moved the venue to the Dandos free camping site, which is 38 Km south of Colac via Gellibrand and about 200 Km from the CBD.  You can find this camping spot on Google maps (search for Dandos Camping Spot – Sayers Track). 

Dandos is a large open free camping area with bush toilets, but no other facilities.  We will need to be totally self-sufficient, since there is no water there, so you will need to bring your own drinking and washing water.  There is good access along a well-formed dirt road, along Gellibrand Rd, Lardners Tk to Sayers Tk, so caravans and campers should be OK. 

There are no reserved campsites, so camping is on a first come first served basis.  There are a couple of us who will get there on the Friday and try to reserve as much space as we can, but we don’t know how popular the campground will be.  Be prepared to squeeze in. 

There will be fuel at Colac and Gellibrand, but  I am not sure if it will be open on the weekend (there is a general store/café with fuel).  I would suggest a full tank ex Colac

IMPORTANT NOTE: As the new camp site is a public facility, we are unable to book spaces. So those arriving on Friday need an idea of numbers so we can spread out to cater for late arrivals.

If you have decided you don't want to come to the new venue at Dandoc in the Otways then please deregister from the trip - otherwise we will assume that you are still coming and try to hold a space for you.

Amended - see below for further details.

Description: As with the Dargo basecamp, trips will be decided closer to the weekend when weather and track conditions are known but there will be several different trips occurring each day, returning to base camp each afternoon. This will be exploratory as this area is not well used by the club.

As yet, we don't know how many trips will be run so there may be more social activity that anticipated, oh, and great ocean road is not far away.

This is a base camp for 3 nights: Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Bring your own tent, camper or caravan.

Before the Saturday night dinner, we would like to have people coming to a common area for some pre-dinner drinks and nibbles (byo drinks and a small plate to share).

ALL MEMBERS are welcome. New Members who have not completed driver training will be catered for and are most welcome.

Weather: Check the Bureau or Meteorology for updates and bring appropriate clothing and footwear

Equipment: Vehicles need to be in sound condition, have low range 4WD capability, good all-terrain tyres (minimum profile of at least 65 recommended), reasonable ground clearance (minimum 200mm recommended) and UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club). Usual recovery gear should be carried.

Hat, torch, good footwear, warm clothes (cold nights), swimmers, NAME TAGS, kids bikes - TOILET PAPER

Simple, “on the move” lunches, food for 3 days, ALL water as there is no water nearby.

We may do a few of the walks in the area, so bring some sturdy footwear.

There are no shower facilities at Dandos & only drop toilets.

DO NOT bring: Pets, firearms, or motorbikes.

Trip Standard: Easy to Medium  - we will be exploring this area that not many have visited, so bring your sense of adventure.

Fuel: Fuel in Colac. Possibly in Gellibrand of the café is open on the weekend.

Convoy limit: None. 

Meeting Arrangements: Dandos free camping site, which is 38 Km south of Colac via Gellibrand and about 200 Km from the CBD

Trip Leader: Graeme Carter Ph 0400 195 932