River Red Gum Drive
10th - 13th April, 2020
+ (Mungo National Park option 13th-15th April)
Date and time: 10th April, 9.00am to 15th April, 12.00 pm (Easter)
Description:
The trip is in two parts.
The first part and primary trip is over 4 days commencing from the Barmah National Park, north east of Echuca on the Friday morning and finishing at the Yanga National Park, near Balranald on the Monday. This trip will follow generally the route of the Victorian Iconic 4WD Adventures- River Red Gum Drive, commencing in and exploring the tracks and roads of the Barmah National Park, then travelling downstream to Koondrook- Barham, along the NSW side of the Murray River. At Koondrook-Barham, we cross the river and travel upstream on the Victorian side through the Gunbower National Park to the Torrumbarry Weir, where the drive finishes. Details of the River Red Gum Drive can be found at - www.4wdvictoria.org.au/iconic4wd/river-red-gum-drive. The River Red Gum Drive follows the Murray River, winding its way through the Murray River floodplain landscapes within the world's largest River Red Gum forests. Stops will be made along the way at various points of cultural, historic and natural interest.
We then travel back to Koondrook on the Murray Valley Highway via Cohuna and continue to follow the Murray River downstream along back roads to Swan Hill before travelling north to the Yanga National Park, near Balranald. Entry into and camping within the park is free.
We will be bush camping on the Friday and Saturday nights at campgrounds along the Murray River and hopefully, in the Yanga National Park on the Murrumbidgee River on the Sunday night. However, the number of camping sites within the Yanga National Park is not large, so once the number of members participating on this trip are known, then enquires will be made as to available accomodation. It maybe that we need to stay in the Balranald Caravan Park on the Sunday night if it is likely sites are not available in the park, particularly being Easter and the sites are on a first-come first-in basis.
The Yanga National Park is one of the newest parks in NSW. We will visit the Yanga Homestead which was the home to one of the Riverina’s most productive pastoral stations. Located in the Yanga National Park and part of the Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, the homestead was built around 1870, along with station outbuildings including stables, a gardener’s shed and station store. There are also rose gardens, restored and maintained by volunteers. We will also visit the Cook’s Cottage exhibition and wander around the grounds and view the homestead’s unique Murray pine ‘drop log’ design. There is then an opportunity to explore the surrounding area along the Yanga Lake walking track and stand on the viewing deck to see evidence of the lake’s Aboriginal heritage and birdlife. Details of the park can be found at- www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/yanga-national-park.
The second part is a trip to continue onto the Mungo National Park and to meet up with participants of the Wyperfeld- Lake Mungo trip, led by John Cunning on the Monday and camp together in the Mungo National Park on the Monday and Tuesday nights With two groups from our club visiting the park and considering the time of the year, there may be limited camping availability in the Park so the number of vehicles, at this stage that will be able to continue onto the second part of our trip will be 4-6 vehicles. The number will be determined closer to the time when the number of vehicles continuing on to the Park from the Wyperfeld- Lake Mungo trip is known. When registering, please note in the comments line if you are interested in continuing onto the Mungo National Park
For those continuing onto the second part, we will stay in the Mungo National Park on Monday and Tuesday and return to Balranald on the Wednesday to finish the trip. Entry fee to the Park is $8/car /day and camping fee is $8.50 /person/night. There is an optional guided walk of the Walls of China ($50/person). We plan to do the self-drive (easy standard) tour of Mungo on the Tuesday
In regard to the Mungo National Park, artefacts of the ancient Aboriginal culture have been found within the vicinity of Lake Mungo dating back over 50,000 years across the expanses of the last ice age. This makes Mungo one of the oldest places outside of Africa to have been occupied by modern humans since ancient times.It is where the remains of the Mungo Man were found, dating back some 42,000 year and considered to be the oldest human remains found in Australia. Details of the Mungo National Park can be found at www.visitmungo.com.au
Weather: Autumn so expect mild days and cool nights.
Equipment: The River Red Gum Drive is on unsealed forest roads and tracks. However should wet weather be encountered, normal recovery gear may be required and therefore is to be carried, with vehicles needing to have low range 4WD capability, good all-terrain tyres and be UHF radio equipped. Ideally, a second spare tyre should be carried. Similarly for the trip to the Mungo NP
Camper trailers or off-road caravans can be taken.
Trip Standard: Easy
Distance: Approximately 1400 km for the total trip.
Duration: 4-6 days
Convoy limit: 10 vehicles for the River Red Gum Drive. 4-6 vehicles for the Mungo NP option.
Meeting arrangements: We will meet at one of the (to be advised) campgrounds within the Barmah National Park, near as possible to the township of Barmah at 9.00am on Friday 10th April. The campground will be where the trip leaders, who be travelling up on the Thursday, will be staying on the Thursday night.
Trip Leaders: Graeme and Carolyn Allen. Contact Graeme at graeme.allen86@gmail or on 0477488434 for any further information that you may require or any queries you may have.
