High Country Accommodated Trip: Australia Day Week
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Trip Overview
The famous High Country in Victoria is home of some of Australia’s most famous hiking, skiing, mountain biking and sight-seeing areas.
We will be walking some scenic trails around Mt Hotham and Mt Buller and enjoying the snow country in summer!
Trip leader and hike leader is Craig. Trip organiser and second in command is Doug.
For a copy of our trip flyer with full details of the trip, please contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button (see below).
Accommodation
In both lodges, we will have the whole lodge to ourselves. Each lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, lounge/living area and a number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
You will be staying in share rooms, maximum 2 or 3 people per room. We will split people up according to gender where possible. Most beds are bunks, however every room should have at least one spare bed as we don’t intend to fill up every room.
In Aardvark Lodge, there shouldn’t be anyone in a top bunk, however in Amber Lodge there may be a small number of you in a top bunk. According to the photos on the Amber Lodge website, the top bunks have side rails so shouldn’t be intimidating.
Itinerary and Walks
This is, ultimately, a hiking trip, and we intend to move at a reasonable clip. It’s not a stroll, a guided tour or a photography sojourn. Therefore, please be honest with yourself about your ability – you not only need to be able to complete the distances, but you need to be able to keep up. Having said that, the hikes are not a march or a race, and most people with good hiking fitness and experience will be OK. Two of the hikes are graded Hard, the others are Medium-Hard or Medium. If you’re concerned about the Hard hikes, you could have a rest day on those days.
You can have a rest day any day you like, except for the poor leader who will trudge on every day!
Friday 20 January: Arrive in Mt Hotham and check in to your accommodation.
Saturday 21 January: Room with a View/Montane Walking Track
12 kilometres // 5 hours // Medium-Hard // 8.30 am
Sunday 22 January: Mount Feathertop // The Razorback
22 kilometres // 6 hours // Medium-Hard // 8.30 am
Monday 23 January: Dibbins Hut
20 kilometres // 8 hours // Hard // 8.30 am
Tuesday 24 January: Tabletop Walk
14 kilometres // 5 hours //Medium-Hard
Wednesday 25 January: Travel from Mount Hotham to Mount Buller
We depart Aardvark Lodge and enjoy a rest day with a drive to Mount Buller. You may wish to find a nice stop for lunch and see some sights on the way!
Thursday 26 January (Australia Day): Corn Hill Track to Mt Stirling
17 kilometres, 7 hours, Medium
Friday 27 January: Delatite River Trail
As a one-way hike, its 8.7 kilometre. As a return hike, it is therefore over 17 kilometres.
Saturday 28 January: Mount Buller Western Ridge, return via Klingsporn Bridal Trail
19 kilometres // 7-8 hours // Hard // Car Shuffle
Sunday 29 January: Return home.
Leave Mount Buller. Holidays are over and 2023 is under way!
We aim to depart for each day’s hikes at 8.30 am at the latest. This will give us plenty of time in the afternoons to enjoy the surrounds and enjoy a drink or two with friends, old and new.
The lodges do have kitchen facilities, so you can self-cater if you wish. Plan to self-cater for breakfast and lunch; you will not be able to arrange these ‘as you go’.
We will organise a group dinner on at least one night. However, our experience is that people like to visit bars and restaurants fairly often on these trips!
We will not wait for latecomers. Therefore, if you aren’t ready to leave for the day’s walk at the specified departure time and place for that day, we will assume you are having a rest day, and will simply move on without you.
Transport
Transport to and from the walk location is by car. 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.
Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please discuss the preferred method of payment with your driver.
Booking
Booking is required for this trip.
This event is aimed at adults, both in terms of the hikes, the lodges and the dinner and drinks venues selected. Over 18s only please.
Please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this one. Refer to Walking Grades which, in conjunction with the walk description, will help you assess whether you have the required walking fitness and experience to do this walk.
The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the walk, or not, via email. The leader will provide details of where and when to meet.
Trip Fees:
Members: $380 + Booking fee (nil) = $380.
Non-members: $380 + Booking fee ($10) = $390.
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.
What to Bring
• All the equipment, clothing, food and water you will need for the walks and overnight stays (refer Trip details above).
• To help manage the Covid risk, the following is useful: Hand Sanitiser, Face Mask(s), RAT test(s).
Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details, or discuss with the leader. If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.
COVID-19 Requirements
We need to follow all state government requirements regarding COVID-19 as explained here: Coronavirus Victoria: How we live
- You should not be attending this walk if you are Covid-19 positive and/or are required to be in quarantine or isolation.
- If you have any Covid-19 symptoms, you should get tested and follow the instructions in the Coronavirus Victoria website.
- If you are a Household Contact (Close Contact) or a Social or Workplace Contact, you must follow the instructions in the Coronavirus Victoria website.
Check out our Covid-19 status.
Safety and Ambulance Insurance
We strongly recommend that you have Ambulance cover. For more details refer to: Joining a walk and your safety
Still have questions?
Check out What happens on a walk.
Check out Weekend and extended walks.
Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.
Activity Date(s) |
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|---|---|
Start: |
January 20, 2023 9:00 pm |
End: |
January 29, 2023 10:00 am |
Information |
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Type: |
Accommodated |
Grade: |
Med-hard |
Leader: |
Craig B |