4WD Treks Close to Melbourne: Validation of Trek 19 – Andersons Garden
Date and time: 9:00am, Saturday 06 May to 4:00pm Saturday 06 May 2023
Description: Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
The purpose of this trip is to validate Trek 19 Andersons Garden from the book ‘4WD Treks Close to Melbourne’. This means that the trip may run slower than normal whilst time is taken to check each part of the route and note updates needed on track comments.
The route starts from Wallan and heads into the Mt Disappointment area via Wandong Regional Park, passing through Anderson’s Garden and Strath Creek Falls, finishing in Strath Creek. It is listed as a Hard trip as there are a couple of loops marked as Difficult.
At the Strath Creek finish point you have the option of heading for home or camping overnight with us nearby, most likely in Tallarook State Forest. The intent is to complete Trek 18 Mt Robertson on the Sunday (see separate day trip listing), so you are welcome to sign up for that trip as well and make a weekend of it or depart at your leisure.
Part of this trip will be exploration as I have not travelled some of these tracks before. If the weather and track conditions are too difficult we will revert to validation of Trek 11 Mt Disappointment, which has a very similar route, but rated as Easy.
Please carry all food and water for the day plus cooking and camping equipment if you plan to camp overnight.
Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas.
Appropriate clothing and closed toe footwear for cold and possibly wet conditions (depending on forecast). Overnight temperatures can be cold. Bring appropriate camping gear for these conditions (if you are camping).
No camper trailers, pets or firearms.
I highly recommend RACV Total Care or similar plus full Ambulance Cover.
References: Rooftops Maps ‘Toolangi - Macedon Adventure Map’ and ‘Mt Disappointment Forest Activities Map’
Accommodation: We will bush camp in a designated campsite with drop toilets available for those staying overnight on Saturday. If you are only coming for the day then accommodation is not applicable.
Weather: These are forested areas, so rain and fog are possible. The weather will be monitored leading up to and during the trip. The trip may be modified to Trek 11 or cancelled depending on weather conditions.
Equipment: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if your vehicle is suitable for a trip, please have a chat with the trip leader.
Good off-road tyres (All Terrain, 60 profile recommended as a minimum), UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club), a well-maintained vehicle with low range (or equivalent), good ground clearance (200mm recommended as a minimum), recovery points, standard recovery gear including dampener, rated snatch strap and shackles, shovel. Drivers must have completed the RRCV club training or equivalent.
Additional Equipment required: Cold weather clothing suitable for short walks in the bush, air compressor and tyre gauge, MaxTrax or similar recovery equipment. Optional chainsaw and all safety equipment (chaps, hard hat, safety goggles, ear muffs, steel toe cap boots, leather gloves – PPE). A winch may be handy if you have one. Camping gear suitable for cooler environments if staying overnight.
Trip Standard: Hard – Most tracks are Easy, but there are some sections classified as Hard. Drivers must have completed at least the Proficiency level driver training course, have had some experience with Medium tracks on other club trips and be comfortable using driving aids such as traction control and hill descent control.
Fuel: Enough fuel from Wallan for 63km.
Distance: Melbourne to Wallan 60km. Wallan to Strath Creek 63km. Strath Creek to Melbourne 90km.
Duration: 1 day
Convoy limit: 6 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: We plan to meet at Hadfield Park (near McDonalds), Bentinck St, Wallan at 9.00am for our trip briefing. (What3Words reference https://w3w.co/cured.unfilled.matchmaker). We aim to finish about 4:00pm at Strath Creek.
Trip Leader: James Lawson, Phone - 0429 265 550, Email – lawsonj71au@gmail.com
