Mountain Areas of Victoria

Upper Yarra Track Summary: Cumulative Distances/Times:

NB: This is a summary. These are ‘retiree’ walking speeds. The distances are approximate. You may do the trip much faster, but what’s the hurry? The whole trip would take us (combined age 130) about ten days. Moe-Walhalla will take 2-4 days. If you are young and fit you should be able to ride that […]

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Upper Yarra Track: Section Four: Moondarra to Erica:

When you come to the end of the Wirilda Walking Track, our walk continues on East along the W18 through beautiful serene forest. The first suitable campsite, a really beautiful spot with water is when the trail crosses Jacob’s Creek on the Old Traralgon ‘Road’. 20 km – 5.5 hours Lake Moondarra   It is

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Tyers River:

Has so many magical spots. This is Peterson’s Lookout just outside the township of Tyers on the Rawson Road, a popular spot to jump! We started off Sunday afternoon to walk the East Tyers Walking Track from Tyers Junction (Carringal) to O’Shea’s Camp where it links with the Upper Yarra/Alpine Walking Tracks), but experienced car

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Four Gram Fishing Handlines:

Found these 100 mm x 12 mm screw cap aluminium canisters in the shed. Room inside each for a few hooks, sinkers, spinners, a needle etc. So I have ditched the 15 gram dental floss, and my 10 gram BCB fishing kits. This Dyneema line will suit well enough for fishing, repairs, first aid etc.

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Spot’s Hunting Adventures: Mystery River #3:

Despite having a cold developing, I decided to take a couple of days off from my weed spraying, fencing, tree planting, sheep husbandry etc and head back to the ‘Mystery River’. While I live I can yet journey on, one step after another – unlike my schoolboy friend, news of whose unpleasant death reached me

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Upper Yarra Track Mementoes:

Click on photos to enlarge: A Big Tree Nr Mt Horsefall (before the 1939 fires!) Thanks to Thomas Osburg for the wonderful photo. I love the dog. I wonder are there still a few of these hiding in the catchment somewhere? Won’t know unless I take a look! Note to camping at Mt Horsefall: Mt

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Victorian Hiking Circuits: The Bundian Way:

I have been ‘working’ on ideas for some other Victorian long distance ‘circuits’ for some time, eg see my page: http://www.finnsheep.com/THE%20UPPER%20YARRA%20WALKING%20TRACK.htm . Thomas Osburg has drawn my attention to this ‘new’ one, ‘the Bundian Way’ which travels from @ Mt Kosciusko to Eden. This ‘new’ path would fit in nicely with those ideas. For example,

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Thrilling Tales: Sir Samuel Baker:

Hunting sambar with spears/knives has been illegal in Victoria for a long time but was once the normal preferred ethical way of hunting them. Of course most such hunters used dogs as well (coursers/hounds), but such a method of hunting comes closest to how the animal evolved to be hunted, or would be hunted in

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Sambar Deer Stalking #103:

I have been a hunter for over 60 years. I still feel much more thought needs to be given to the ethics of the hunt. It never ceases to amaze me (for example) that Rene Descartes, one of the West’s pre-eminent thinkers (and someone I also recognise as an outstandingly bright hombre cf his contribution

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Upper Yarra Track Historic Photos:

Courtesy of Thomas Osberg, here are some wonderful photos of the track in bygone days. http://www.finnsheep.com/THE%20UPPER%20YARRA%20WALKING%20TRACK.htm They begin at approx McVeigh’s Hotel (now under the Upper Yarra Reservoir), and finish at Walhalla. The captions are my surmise (and might not be correct). The changes in hiking costume and gear from that day to this are

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