Melbourne Cup Long Weekend - Recommendations?

[JohnStrider]

Hi guys,

I'm heading out on the trail for the Melbourne Cup long weekend and am looking for 3 day (Sat-Mon) walk in Melbourne. There's myself and at least three others coming along who all have experience in hiking and camping. We're all located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Looking for a multi-day trek with each day hiking around 25 kms or more. We're all heading to NZ at the end of the year and need to be replicating the kms we will be doing on that trek.

I've already done the Walk Into History out in Warburton, and a few over nighters in Gembrook and another one in Mitchell River, so I'm looking for something different if possible.

Any and all recommendations/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers in advance,

JS

[PedroArvy]

25k days are long.
How about the Great Ocean Walk in 3 days?

[north-north-west]

Do NOT go to the Prom. It will be wall to wall people.

Alpine NP. Start at Mountain Creek, use the firetrails that cut around West Bogong, then Mt Arthur, Grey Hills, Watchbed Ck, out along the AAWT to Jim Junction, then Fainters and back, return over Timms Spur and Quartz Ridge. Plenty of up and downs and also plenty of escape routes and diversion if you want to lengthen or shorten the walk. Or start at Bogong Village and go up either the Fainters track or Spion Kopje track or over Little Arthur and incorporate some of the same territory. There are lots of ways to make a loop up there.

[JohnStrider]

Yep had a look at Prom a month or two ago and i think it was all booked out.

They all sound good. As long as there are plenty of options for campsites, then I don't really mind.

[walkerchris77]

Race 6. Number 4.

[Lophophaps]

Agree with NNW - the High Plains is a good area and avoid The Prom. One visit is enough. If you drive past Falls Creek the terrain is flatter, can go anywhere. Snowy Plains has heaps of places. Tali Karng maybe not, sort of a mini-Prom population that weekend. Sundry gorges left and right of the Howitt road. Do you want to stay on tracks? Another day would give more options.

[JohnStrider]

Agree with NNW - the High Plains is a good area and avoid The Prom. One visit is enough. If you drive past Falls Creek the terrain is flatter, can go anywhere. Snowy Plains has heaps of places. Tali Karng maybe not, sort of a mini-Prom population that weekend. Sundry gorges left and right of the Howitt road. Do you want to stay on tracks? Another day would give more options.

Would like to do all the hiking over three days, with the Tuesday being the day we head off home. Ideally would like to stay on tracks and formed trails, but happy to bush bash if need be.

[Lophophaps]

John, that's good. Most people finish about noon-2 pm on the last day and then go home, arriving there at 6-8 pm. If you are prepared to walk for the morning on the last day (Tuesday in your case), say up to four hours, this gives you much more scope than before. The last day would not be hard so that you reach the cars in a reasonable time and condition. Does this appeal?

If so, the two places I'd focus on are the Bogong High Plains and the Snowy Plains. Both are about six hours by car from Melbourne, both have good road access. Both have good tracks, destinations and campsites, with flat or climbing as you elect. It sounds as if you are after a medium grade walk: mainly on tracks, moderate ups and downs, minimal scrub, distance 10-15 kilometres a day, up to 8 hours. Note that grades are subjective. My medium is another person's easy.

[JohnStrider]

Yep that all sounds about right to me. Ideally looking for 20km + per day if possible. Would want to start hiking on Saturday morning at about 8am, so yes having that extra day to get back to the car in reasonable condition would suit.

[+dj_hansen+]

Work it if you can and get the days in leiu for another weekend when everyone else isn't around!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Even on Long Weekends the Bogong High Plains are not 100 % over run by mongers .That is where I am going. Falls Creek to Mountain Creek via Mt Bogong.

[Lophophaps]

Both the Bogong High Plains and Snowy Plains will have less people away from the focal points. Cleve Cole Hut on Bogong, Federation hut on Feathertop and Mac Springs near Howitt will most probably be clagged, especially the last two. But if you go a little distance away the number of people drops significantly.

John, if you give an indication of the place you want to visit a walk can be devised. Also, stating the number of cars would be helpful, as this shows what can be done with a car shuffle.

[JohnStrider]

Both the Bogong High Plains and Snowy Plains will have less people away from the focal points. Cleve Cole Hut on Bogong, Federation hut on Feathertop and Mac Springs near Howitt will most probably be clagged, especially the last two. But if you go a little distance away the number of people drops significantly.

John, if you give an indication of the place you want to visit a walk can be devised. Also, stating the number of cars would be helpful, as this shows what can be done with a car shuffle.

Taking one car, which probably limits our choices. The Howqua area and the Alpine National Park are of interest. I was also thinking of heading down to Gembrook and tacking on a few tracks to make up the distance I want to do. I am mindful that I will need to be in an area where I can at least filter water.