Rivers in Victoria

Pack Rafting the Wonnangatta-Mitchell:

We took a day off today, it being 30C and there being enough water, to revisit one of our favourite spots when our kids were little over 20 years ago…Hot summers then (they were hotter) and there was plenty of water (before the ‘noughty’ fires) we used to camp at one particular spot and either […]

Pack Rafting the Wonnangatta-Mitchell: Read More »

Ultralight Pack Rafting Life Vest:

PFDs are often pretty heavy. Alpacka have this one http://www.alpackaraft.com/product/astral-v-eight-pfd/ at 554 grams which is (I imagine) about as light as they get. I discovered that inflatable PFDs you buy from boating supplies shops have an airline PFD inside them. When I stripped one down it weighed 282 grams as shown and should be adequate

Ultralight Pack Rafting Life Vest: Read More »

Gippsland Pack Rafting Routes:

It’s summer already, so time to get out and about and get wet all over. I want to suggest some interesting pack rafting that you can do by public transport (eg from Melbourne). Some of the following you can mix and match a bit, but I hope they give you some ideas. I need to

Gippsland Pack Rafting Routes: Read More »

Upper Yarra Track Side Trip: Poverty Point:

From the Thomson River Bridge/s (‘Thomson Station’) you can walk a lovely 8 km circuit up along the West bank of the river then down along the East bank. If I were walking the entire UYT I would come down to Thomson Station as soon as it joined the Mormon Town Track and walk up

Upper Yarra Track Side Trip: Poverty Point: Read More »

Upper Yarra Track Section Eight: Baw Baw to Newlands Rd

Della: Steve and I, with Tiny and Spot, spent the last 2 days walking over the Baw Baw Plateau from Baw Baw across to Newlands Road on the Upper Yarra Walking Track. It was a delightful walk and we selected good weather for it (which is needed!). One section on the first day was particularly

Upper Yarra Track Section Eight: Baw Baw to Newlands Rd Read More »

Upper Yarra Track Sidetrip: Horseshoe Tunnel/Coopers Creek

Only a bit over a km from Platina Station on the walk from Erica to Walhalla you can take this lovely walk down to the historic Horseshoe Tunnel. The tunnel was created over a century ago to divert the river so the dry river bed could be sluiced for gold. The sidetrip takes about 1.5

Upper Yarra Track Sidetrip: Horseshoe Tunnel/Coopers Creek Read More »

Upper Yarra Track: Section Five: Erica to Walhalla:

This is a delightful easy section following historic tramways linking two of the most beautiful small towns in the world. It perambulates gently through majestic mountain ash and tree fern gullies with splendid views of the awesome Thomson River. It offers numerous opportunities to sightsee, sidetrack or camp. 12 km – @ 4 hours. NB:

Upper Yarra Track: Section Five: Erica to Walhalla: Read More »

Canoe clearing:

When clearing trails or small rivers such as the Tanjil and Latrobe, Fiskars Xtract Pruning Saw (available Bunnings: http://www.bunnings.com.au/fiskars-xtract-garden-saw-_p3360611) 120 grams & Fiskars/Gerber Brush Thinner Machete are excellent tools. The carabiner clip on the saw makes for very convenient stowage. The Gerber model of the machete has a cordura sheath which may be more convenient

Canoe clearing: Read More »