alternative campsite for night 3 grampians peaks trail

[arhill]

Im doing the Grampians peaks trail this September / Oct - and am looking for suggestions for where to camp on night 3.

The official campsite "Werdug Hike-in Campground" ..is booked out - but am hoping to find somewhere not too far from there. Its (near) where the trail crosses Mt Difficult Rd / Long gully creek.

I understand some people do the whole trail free/bush camping - and I can certainly understand the appeal of that - but not sure how to plan something like that without any real local knowledge.

[Baeng72]

I think you're talking about Longpoint East camp. It was basically on the end of 4WD track.
I've walked past it, and it just seemed to be a cleared area with signs of somebody having a fire.
You can follow a track down from the GPT.
There's water on the way down.
If you keep going until Mt. Difficult Rd, you can walk to Longpoint West which is less of bushcamp, as it has toilets and a water tank. It isn't that far further.

[EDIT] I see that it's not on Long Gully creek, so probably not what you're talking about.

Longpoint East

[CraigVIC]

There's no campsite near Werdug. You are not supposed to camp along the trail (or anywhere outside official campgrounds). It's confusing because they haven't updated the visitor guide which still shows areas where camping is allowed but the rules have changed.

[Baeng72]

There's no campsite near Werdug. You are not supposed to camp along the trail (or anywhere outside official campgrounds). It's confusing because they haven't updated the visitor guide which still shows areas where camping is allowed but the rules have changed.

Is this for campsites like 1st Wannon (which is still taking bookings online) on the GPT, and Longpoint East&West?
I also thought dispersed camping was still allowed in certain areas in the Gramps. but I had read that might change.
I'm guessing this it out of date then? https://assets.visitgrampians.com.au/pr ... -guide.pdf

[CraigVIC]

You can check the official faq for the gpt where they state no informal camping on the route is allowed, something they have consistently said from the day it opened. The rest you can read in the management plan. The two year grace period, that they never officially announced to my knowledge, has elapsed, also with no official acknowledgement. Brambruk have no understanding of the park rules and are not useful at all. You must get past them and speak directly to a visitor ranger if you are seeking futher clarity on any Grampians issue.

[Baeng72]

Cool. so 1st Wannon would be OK, as it's not informal.

[EDIT] rant about GPT removed as it adds nothing, and wasn't even cathartic.

[EGM]

What are the chances that you would ever get caught camping somewhere you're not meant to, and then what would they say if you were? Ask you to leave in the morning?

I'm not sure, but I know I like those odds.

[CraigVIC]

Given they haven't updated the visitor guide it is difficult to see how they could fo anything at all even if they caught you.

The answer to the OP is that if you are using a 1P tent, or even better some sort of tarp setup, then you will be able to find a spot to camp near werdug. It won't be easy, but it also won't be difficult, just allow plenty of time towards the end of the day.

That doesn't change that officially it is not allowed. Parks actively advertise this walk using paid influencers so it isn't surprising they expect informal campers to cause problems.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Seek and ye shall find. Ii is public land in a national park.
I take umbrage that only people paying AUD$52.00 per night are officially permitted to camp anywhere near these places.
The Visitor centre in Halls Gap simply is a pop up shop now for the GPT and the official party line of user pays modus operandi.

[Xplora]

Seek and ye shall find. Ii is public land in a national park.
I take umbrage that only people paying AUD$52.00 per night are officially permitted to camp anywhere near these places.
The Visitor centre in Halls Gap simply is a pop up shop now for the GPT and the official party line of user pays modus operandi.

It appears the government has heard you. Free camping from Dec 1 until end of June. https://www.9news.com.au/national/victo ... fab653faef

[CraigVIC]

The GPT is specifically excluded from the free camping.

[Xplora]

The GPT is specifically excluded from the free camping.

Saw that on the Parks website today. But only the remote sites?? None are really remote.

[CraigVIC]

It's all the sites on the gpt. No, they definitely aren't all remote, eg bugiga is on a short mvo (<700m) from a carpark but they say the fee can't be reduced due to the cost of the helicopter lifts required for a few sites which they spread over all 11 gpt sites.

I asked about it on Facebook and had a reply that there's no reduction or anything possible for the gpt.

[Bill P]

Has the ban on "distributed hike in camping" "from 2024" as indicated in the Greater Gariwerd Landscape Management Plan been implemented?

[CraigVIC]

Who knows Bill? The visitor guide has not been updated. Brambuk are absolutely useless and have no idea about the park rules. No advice via their news or SM has been forthcoming.

They appear to have learnt nothing from the whole debacle of how the climbing ban was brought in and haven't made any progress on bringing the public with them by keeping people informed.

Whatever rules may or may not be in place now or in the future people are still camping and having fires outside gpt camps and nothing will change about that.

[Bill P]

Seems like I dyed my bivy bag in camouflage colours unneccesarily!