Vic high country questions

[Toy pradopetty]

Hi everyone. I've also posted this up in trips section but no success with any responses. Thought I would try my luck in general.

 
I'm finalizing plans for our club trip to the high country at Easter for 2 weeks so I've decided to do some searching for things im not sure about.
First up will be our group. 4 vehicles with 1 camper...mine.
First port of call will be the HowquA Historic Area. I'm thinking from what has been said here and elsewhere, that we might head to a different campsite than Sheepyard Flat or Frys hut area due to the ease of access to thos who make lots of noise and motorbikes. I think I read the term Ferals somewhere lol. Don't need this as there will be 2 cars with kids and 2 without and don't need to expose the kids to that sought of behavior especially at night. We are there to enjoy the area, not get into squabbles for excessive noise or lack or respect for others privacy.
This area we intend to stick to. For 4 or 5 days depending on the open tracks and what areas we can access.
Next area will be down towards wonnangatta river area and do the tracks in that area, namely blue rag trig and billy goats bluff and other interesting tacks in the area. The final destination is yet to be decided as its a 2 week expedition and I don't want to rush it and weather I've heard is very unpredictable.. Plus we wouldn't mind a lay day here or there.
Now my questions as I couldn't find answers specific in the search function.
Since there will be 2 diesels and 2 petrols ( my 120v6 and Pajero 3.5) what kind of distances could we cover comfortably during say a 7 hour day with medium to harder tracks? They would be return trips. Initially I thought 50 km per day but m leaning more towards 75-100 km per day How does that sound so far?
Next up is allowable fuel for trips between fuel stops.im allowing say 3 km / liter or 33 liters per hundred km. I think this would be generous but was after more seasoned opinions from those who have travelled the area.
Have got just under 3 weeks and am hanging for it. Thanks for your time reading.
Cheers
Frank

[GGV8Cruza]

I will give you a bit of info, the other month in the MySwag high country trip lead by Rich we had a good size party with no campers. On the Saturday I think we covered under 100km in around 8 hours roughly, they were good tracks and we had numerous stops. The difference at Easter is that there will be a fair amount of traffic around. You are right in not staying in the sheepyard area and I would head higher into the hills into a quieter spot. I would maybe also suggest dropping the trailer all together and swag or tent it. If the weather changes in any way the distances can change dramatically, one bit of rain on the wrong track and you are in a world of winching and slipperiness. Last year I almost got stuck on Zeka Spur and the winch saved me from the clay mess. Adequate all terrain tyres I believe are a must and a good set of recovery gear.

The fuel issue is an unknown for me, If you are worried I would be carrying spare, I know the Patrol will do an entire weekend in the mountains and I now carry a gerry for back ups.

Mace is the high country official tour guide as far as I am concerned now, his knowledge of the area and history is number one, hopefully he can add some words to my ramble.

Hope that helps

GG

[Toy pradopetty]

Thanks GG.   The prado has 180 liters and I will also have a Jerry can of 20 more liters of fuel. The camper was actually purchased specifically for this trip due to space -lack there of in the prado. There will be 3 other trucks tagging along and the camper will be situated in a camp site for about 5 days at a time. I don't have the energy that Darren and Gunna Do had last year with the epic trip with trailer in tow. Base camps I was thinking of were Talbotville on second part of the trip. First part I'm still not a 100% sure but I have heard Tunnel bend or eight mile flat might be a bit more quiet and still close to the HowquA River. What do you think of them places?
Cheers
Frank

[Traveller]

I agree with GGPatrol in that a camper could be more trouble than it's worth. Saying that, I have and will continue to take our camper into the High Country but we tend to drop it at somewhere like Horseyard Flat, Talbotville, etc and then do the harder tracks with just the Patrol. The only problem with this is you are then stuck with just day trips.

Our club was driving out of the Wonnangatta up Zeka Spur and one vehicle was towing a trailer. The track was in reasonably good condition, but a lot of crushed rock had been placed on some of the switchbacks. The trucks were doing it reasonably easily but the guy with the camper ended up destroying his two rear tyres trying to drag the trailer up through the sharp rock, and he had one of the most capable vehicles. Not a fun job changing tyres on that sort of slope.

I have also seen a truck/camper combination bobsled it's way to the bottom of a fairly long muddy descent while the rest of the truck-only units drove it fine.

I am not trying to turn you off bringing your trailer, but just showing that you can be much more adventurous without it.

Whatever, come on down and enjoy the place, it is magic.

[Toy pradopetty]

Hey Traveller. I have full intentions of bringing the camper. Thanks for the words of wisdom and advice. I will surely take it on board . It will be a 2 week expedition so day trips will definitely be the order of the day. Want to split it up into 3 sections. That being Craig's hut/HowquA hills area first SECTN, section 2 will be Talbotville so we can do blue rag and billy goats bluff and also south basalt knob trk, amongst others. The 3rd section I'm not sure of as yet. Might make our way back home via khancoban and Tom grogginess maybe ?
Thanks so much sofar for the advice
Cheers
Frank

[Mace]

Ok - presure is on - thanx GGPatrol.

Traveller has raised some pertinant points.

Use this basic map as a starting point:

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/313168/Park-note-Alpine-NP-Valleys-and-bluffs-around-Mansfield-and-Whitfield.pdf

If you are going in at Easter from the Mansfield end it will be busy around sheepyard.  There will usually be room somewhere upriver, 6 mile, 7 mile or 8 mile flats, before Brocks Road leaves the Howqua river and heads for 8 Mile gap.

There are further camp areas in the Uppper Jamieson, Upper Jamieson Hut - steep access, not CT country to get in to and out if it gets wet (damp even) , as well as a river crossing that is treacherous when the Jamieson river gets up. 
There are other camp areas in the Upper Jamieson as well tho, where the Mt Sunday Road heads of to the south.  Usually quieter in there.

You could base yourselves for the first few days around there, and do short trips up to the Bluff and Lovicks hut, but bearing in mind, if you head to Wonangatta then, your next fuel stop is Dargo.  Id go for a refill back to Mansfield (30k for Sheepyard) before heading to the Gatta.

You would access Wonanngatta by traveling up Brocks Track (used to be called Road) over to Mt Howitt.  Then down Zeka Spur to the Gatta as described by others.  You will be going down, not up, but still can be rough going and spinjcktjer clenching if in the wet with a CT on the back.

From the Gatta, then say 2 hours running out to Dargo for next fuel.  Basing yourself at Talbotville will give go a base to do your other trips with access back to Dargo for fuel.

So, IMO take a spare jerry for each if possible.  Your fuel tanks should be enough to get you from Mansfield thru to Dargo, but bear in mind you will chew thru more with the CT.

If you want to take the CT, Id be making sure the weather forcast is clear - no rain expected for the time you expect to be travelling thru the gatta.

PM me if you have any other queries.

[Toy pradopetty]

Thanks Mace. A very detailed response there. If it does get wet then will rehash the trip to accommodate for the camper being towed. I don't really have a choice in the matter. Camper has to be towed. The prado is pretty well setup with twin lockers, winch , 2 inch lift and kumho kl71 muddies?Trailer has electric brakes.
Fuel wise. That's what I was going to do regarding our first section. Before heading off to second section, we would go back to Mansfield most likely and refuel. What fuel does dargo have? Is it ulp and diesel?
Cheers
Frank

[GGV8Cruza]

A bit of light reading here

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=10930.0

GG

[Toy pradopetty]

Thanks. I actually have that saved as a bookmark on my iPad. Love reading that thread. Thankfully my camper isn't as heavy as theirs.
Cheers
Frank

[GU Rich]

Frank don't forget to allow for detours/mechanical/emergencies etc. I have towed many camper trailers and it does add approx the estimated time x2 on your travel time. Don't forget if others haven't done the areas you have planned they will want to stay and soak up the atmosphere of there surroundings.

The Prado should be fine on fuel but if your in the Howqua Hills area for a few days I'd be heading out for fuel the night before your departure towards Wonnagatta. It mights sound like a hindrance but it may be worth the hassle to make sure all available tanks are full. With the time allocated to your trip you should have plenty of time.

hope this helps

Cheers
rich

[Toy pradopetty]

Hey Rich. Thanks. We are all High Country virgins and want to take in as much as possible. It seems the general consensus that we will fuel up day/nite before we head further south from HowquA.
And by the way if ya'll see a silver prado towing a GIC red top camper extend ya hand and gimme a wave or drop in and say hi.
Cheers
Frank