One of Victoria’s most beautiful areas is the region around Lake Eildon. It has got absolutely everything; character filled towns and pubs, cycling trails, kayaking trails, wineries, restaurants, camping, rock climbing, water skiing, houseboating, fishing, and of course . . . hiking trails!

This trip will have us exploring just three of the many hiking trails in the region. We intend to stay at the quiet hamlet of Thornton.

The hike leader is Craig B. The trip organiser is Doug M.

 

For more information about this trip, please use the Enquiry button below to contact the trip organiser who will send you the trip flyer.

 

Please read the sections Should you Participate, Social Distancing and Good Hygiene and Transport before booking into this walk.

 

Accommodation

We are staying at the Rubicon Hotel-Motel in Thornton. They are located at 1362 Taggerty-Thornton Rd, Thornton. They can be reached on 5773 2251. Their website is www.rubiconhotel.com.au

Each unit has three bedrooms, so everyone gets a private room! We have booked nine rooms (three units). Some of the rooms have double beds and some have twin beds, so friends/couples can naturally share.

Each unit has a shared bathroom and a lounge/dining area with a small fridge, toaster, tea/coffee making facilities, microwave. Whilst you are welcome to make your own dinner in your unit, given the limited facilities we expect most of the group will choose to eat out each night.

Cost for accommodation in the units booked by the club is $250 per room for the three nights of the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

However, you can book your own accommodation if you prefer.

For those staying in the units booked by the Club, please observe the following Covid protocols.

. No communal use of hand towels, tea towels, food etc.
. Cleaning of cooking and bathroom surfaces after use.
. As far as possible, social distancing and keeping windows open or using extractor fans.

 

Itinerary and Walk Descriptions

For more details about the hikes, refer to the trip flyer, as mentioned above.

We leave for each day’s hike at 8.00 am.

We will have a group dinner on Saturday and Sunday nights at a local pub.

 

Friday 5th March: Arrive at your accommodation.

 

Saturday 6th March: Lake Eildon Blowhard Circuit – 18 km, Medium-Hard (about 8 hours)

The enjoyable Blowhard Circuit hike takes in Blowhard Summit in the Lake Eildon National Park, providing superb 360 degree views, and finishes with a pleasant walk alongside Lake Eildon.

 

Sunday 7th March: – Rubicon Tramways Circuit – 18 km, Medium (about 5 hours)

The Rubicon Aqueducts hike is a rather pretty walk with no steep hills.

 

Monday: Cathedral Ranges Northern Circuit. 14.7 km, Medium-Hard (about 7 hours).

The Cathedral Range is a spectacular seven-kilometre ridge of sharply upturned sedimentary rock. A variety of walking tracks ranging in difficulty from easy to challenging offer the opportunity to explore the park’s main features and climb the peaks to enjoy views of the forests and farmland in the valley below.

We will be doing the northern circuit which involves considerable rock scrambling / hopping.

We depart for Melbourne at the end of this hike.

 

Should you Participate?

We need to follow all state government guidelines regarding COVID-19, hence if you are required to be in quarantine or isolation, live in a restricted postcode (if and when designated by state government) or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms including the following, you should NOT be doing this walk:

• Loss or change in sense of smell or taste
• Fever
• Chills or sweats
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose
• In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered.

If you or anyone in your household feels sick in any way, please cancel. If you become unwell during the walk please notify your Leader immediately.

If you are in a high risk category, including being elderly or having a pre-existing medical condition, you should consider carefully whether you participate as the Club will accept no liability if you choose to participate.

Refer also to the Victoria state government Coronavirus page

 

Social Distancing and Good Hygiene

Before, during and after the walk, please practice social distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risk of infection:

• Carry a mask and wear it when required by the state government.

• • Refer to: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-masks-vic-covid-19

• Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and other walkers.
• Do not share food / water / equipment, or shake hands.
• Use tissues and do not dispose of these in the bush. Carry a plastic bag for disposing of tissues.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
• Wash hands or use sanitiser after contact with shared surfaces, e.g. gates, fences, benches, petrol pumps.

If you are not able to practice good hygiene your Leader will ask you to leave the walk.

 

Transport

Transport to and from the walk location is by car. Thornton is a good two-hour drive from Melbourne. You will want to arrive on the Friday night, so get away from work early if you can!

Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.

If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations.

Drivers can choose whether they wish to take passengers or not. To maintain physical distancing, it is recommended you take no more than 1 passenger, unless you are taking family members or persons from your household.

For drivers who agree to accept a passenger, the Victorian State Government guidelines during Victoria’s CovidSafe Summer restrictions are:

You can have passengers in your car. Where possible:

• your passenger should sit in the back seat in order to maintain physical distancing 
• all passengers should wear a fitted face mask in the car unless you have a lawful exemption
• increase ventilation in the vehicle by opening windows wherever possible. Avoid having air-conditioning on recirculate
• high touch surfaces in the vehicle should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

 

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please bring cash for this purpose.

 

Booking

Booking is required for this walk. You need to submit a Booking Request (see below). The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the walk, or not, via email.  The leader will provide further details as required.

Trip Fees:

If you book a room in the club-booked accommodation, cost is:
Members: $250.
Non-members: $260.

If you book your own accommodation, cost is:
Members: free.
Non-members: $10.

 

Payment:

All trip fees must be prepaid. Payment by Paypal or card is the quickest method, but if you choose to pay by EFT please follow the instruction to email the Treasurer with your payment details.

 

Cancellation:

If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity.

If you have made your payment but need to cancel, we will only provide you with a refund if we can find a replacement for you. However, if you need to cancel because you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, then we will provide you with a full refund (even if a replacement can’t be found).

 

What to bring

• Hand Sanitiser
• Face Mask
• Day pack
• Sufficient water for each day (2 litres, more on hot summer days)
• Lunch and snacks for each hike
• Hat, sun screen
• Suitable outdoor clothing (no jeans/sneakers!)
• Rainwear & warm jacket
• Proper walking shoes/boots
• Torch
• All the gear and food you will need at your accommodation for the 3 nights.

Refer to our Gear Checklist page, or discuss with your leader, for more details.   If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.

 

Still have questions?

Check out Joining a walk and your safety

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Check out our Covid-19 status.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.

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