Big Pats creek/ada tree

[Hikrazy]

Hi everyone

Just a question of water availability around ada tree or big pats Creek at this time of year. Or is Latrobe River a safe bet.

[indented]

The Little Ada River crossing between the Ada tree and the crossroads would almost certainly have water. I recall recently someone had found it too deep to cross with the water over the stepping stones. There's a few small streams between there and Starling Gap also.

[Baeng72]

In March 2019, much drier than this summer, there was plenty of water at Big Pat's campsite in the eponymous creek. I think there would be plenty today.

[Dexter]

I was there around 4 weeks ago, and found water (and many leeches) near Ada #2 campsite over the boardwalk closest to Ada2. There had been quite a bit of rain before we walked it though. We didn't go any further than that towards Ada Tree. I also spoke to some parks workers, and they mentioned at the time they were going to be clearing the track from Starlings Gap to Ada Tree in the next week or so. There were loads of trees down to navigate. So hopefully that's done, and the track is a little easier to navigate.

I'd love to hear a report back though if you go, I'm likely to head there again in the coming weeks.

[Hikrazy]

Thank you everyone.
I will post when I get back.

[Hikrazy]

Track report.
No problem with water. Basically 90% of re-enterants had at least a trickle of water.
Tracks looked as if they have been cleared recently.
I learnt a valuable lesson. Don't text and hike, as I had to do the tiger snake dance after almost stepping on a 1 meter long bad boy.

[ChrisJHC]

Track report.
No problem with water. Basically 90% of re-enterants had at least a trickle of water.
Tracks looked as if they have been cleared recently.
I learnt a valuable lesson. Don't text and hike, as I had to do the tiger snake dance after almost stepping on a 1 meter long bad boy.

What was the leech situation?

[Baeng72]

Track report.

I learnt a valuable lesson. Don't text and hike, as I had to do the tiger snake dance after almost stepping on a 1 meter long bad boy.

Thanks for the update!
I learnt a similar lesson. Don't look at the view while walking on a raised boardwalk.

[Hikrazy]

Leeches were like long grass in the wind

[Joris]

For anyone thinking of a child friendly bushwalking effort - read on, this is definitely an option.

Walked along the section from Starlings Gap to Ada No 2. Mill campground (and back) this past Thursday-Friday with my two girls - 11 and 8. First time out and about as a trio (and the first time at all for the younger one). Perfect weather for it along an easy 8km trail with the odd trunk to climb over (or under if you are 8 and still 'little'). Plenty of water from all the streams running into the Ada River as well as the latter itself. Few folks setting up at Starlings in anticipation of the next day's public holiday, but other than that we did not meet anyone on the trail. A group of 4 walkers were already camped on the platforms at Ada No 2. Mill, meaning camping in the dirt for us, but as the general area is currently merely damp underfoot as opposed to the customary early spring wetness in these hills it was no issue at all. Due to these conditions we also hardly spotted any leeches on the entire walk or at camp. Eleven year old spotted big snake (tiger or brown, we only got a fleeting look) sunning in the scrub next to the trail on the way in - clearly warm enough for them to get out and about at nearly 800m asl. Cool parental demeanor in the face of snake sightings over the years seems to have rubbed off on both my girls - keep a safe distance, admire it and move on - parenting win!

Lot of lyrebird activity at camp - some very confiding individuals about. Other little gems were Pilotbird, Rose Robin, Southern Boobook and Olive Whistler. Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Shining Bronze-Cuckoo the only summer migrants heard, though most other migrant species would still be a while. Pot noodles and chocolate pudding (latter from Strive in TAS) for dinner, couple of games of Uno before bed time and into the down bags (still cool enough at night).

The way back was a bit trickier in the morale department for the 8 year old - 8km two days in a row with a (small) backpack is quite a bit. I ended up carrying her pack for about 5 minutes before she decided she was going to do it. Counted the myriad of gullies and streams along the way, kept an eye out for special ferns, adventured along the various boardwalk and stepping stone bits, had a few small arguments and made it back in about 2.5 hours. There has already been talk about the next time!

[Baeng72]

Nice one Joris. I remember a pair of Lyrebirds at Ada 2 Mill campsite just walking about, like we weren't there.
I like the idea of driving to Starling's Gap, and walking to Ada 2 or Fed. Mill campsites, as it takes the uphill slog from Big Pat's or High Lead out of it for less than match-fit kids (I mean me, but I'll blame the kids).

[Dexter]

Went here over the weekend. The leeches were out in force!! Stop to flick a couple off and gather a few more on your shoes. Lovely scenery and a leisurely walk though, and pretty quiet being a weekend and still school holidays. We only saw one other solo hiker that joined us at Ada #2.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[Drew]

I stumbled across this post while searching for ideas for my 8yo niece's first overnighter some time over the summer (obviously in low fire danger weather). Seems to tick a lot of boxes: close to Melbourne, beautiful forest, big trees, water, leeches(!). Only negative is that I can't see a way to make it into a circuit. Any suggestions for how/of this could be done (or other options in the area?

If not, I'm thinking maybe best options would be to start at Ada Tree car park, walk via Ada Tree and then Little Ada River to Ada #2 campsite (route in pink) then back a slightly different way (route in orange). Can anyone confirm that that track along the river from Ada Tree actually exists?

Or, convince the niece's grandparents to help us with a car shuffle and walk from Ada car park to Starlings Gap.

Thanks!

[Baeng72]

Hi Drew,
I was up at the Ada Tree before Winter (I think) with family. Walked from Ada Tree Carpark, along a Vehicle track to Ada Tree, at about 1km along, you could see the track to Federal Mill heading left, but we kept right and went to Ada Tree.
We took the track along the creek to return to Ada Tree carpark. To be honest, I don't recall a track from the Ada Tree, heading along little Ada River to Fed. Mill. But I wasn't looking for one either.

I've done the walk from High Lead Carpark, to Ada 2 Mill campsite, to Starlings in a day, and then down to Big Pats for an easy second day.
Obviously had to be picked up/car shuffle. Probably a bit much for a kid to do the High lead Section, but I didn't know better....
If you can do a car shuffle: Ada Carpark, along creek (more picturesque) to Ada Tree, then head towards the track you've marked in Orange - if you can't find the track along little Ada River - to Fed Mill, then onto the crossroads and Ada 2 Mill. That isn't a particulary long walk or hilly from the parts I've done, so shouldn't tax anyone.
Next day, onto Starlings, or back track if no car shuffle....

[Drew]

Thanks Baeng!