Maldon caravan park, Maldon Vic

Location:

Maldon is located 135km northwest of Melbourne in the heart of the Victorian Goldfields. The town is nestled on the slopes of Mt. Tarrangower in an agricultural, pastoral and mining district. It has retained an authentic pioneer-like appearance with history of the gold-mining era being preserved. Maldon was declared Australia's First Notable Town in 1966 by the National Trust.

The town itself was once a thriving metropolis. Maldon's reputation as a picturesque historic town, known for its intact 19th century commercial center is well established. One of the most important late 19th and early 20th century townscapes in Victoria, Maldon began as a gold rush town in 1854 with the discovery of alluvial gold at the base of Mt Tarrangower. It developed as an industrial mining town during the later years of the 1800s. As one of Victoria's richest quartz mining centers, various mines at various times recorded the highest returns in the State. Mining declined in the first years of the 20th century, the last mine of the era closed in 1926, and the town's population and fortunes similarly declined....

Set off for another long weekend (GF weekend) to Maldon Vic, about 2 hrs 15min from home again camping with the “Myswag” group all up about 20+ camper trailers a number we have done weekends anyway with previously and some new people we had not met.

Arriving early Thursday we were one of the first to arrive so setting up was quick and orgnised a far cry from our early days were it took us 5hrs to set up. Linda went missing for some time only to rock up back and camp after sharing some Keith’s homemade Sambuca( she cert a dinner of pizzas made by Keith on his electric pizza maker then a few lazy drinks around the camp fire.

Woke to the birds Friday morning. A breakfast of bacon and eggs were cooked and shared with our neighbors Hutchie and Wendy on our newly acquired ozpig, the morning was spent making/eating scones and damper when Linda returned looking for her iphone, a quick search and backtracking her movements she found the phone ringing (as I was dialing her from my phone) in the bottom of the campground toilets, thankfully they were flushing toilets not a long-drop!!!!! She retrieved the phone placed in rice but unfortunately the phone never lived to tell the story word spread across the group and jokes and one liners were plentiful.

That afternoon/evening we cooked a roast and veg in the camp oven (first time), perfecto!! Absolutely stunning a few more drinks around the fire with our 40+ friends old and new

Saturday spent to morning with everyone inquiring about the “phone” only to have a few understand Linda’s devastation so  they made a number of alternatives she could use (pics below) Afternoon spent in the beer garden watching the GF to return to camp for a quick dinner of toast for Linda and Crownies for me

A quick pack up, good bys and arrived home just after lunch time, another stunning weekend with old and new friends now planning for Melb cup weekend in 4 weeks

 



Camping area

Camping area

More



Set up ready for the weekend




The lovely!



Breakfast on the ozpig



Our little camp



getting ready for dinner

cant keep away from FB !!!!

Delicious, absoutley delicious

Kangaroo Hotel beer garden watching the GF

The nightly fire

 

Bindaree Hut, Vic High Country

A weekend swaging up in the Vic High Country with some fellow Myswages (Jason, Julie and there son Tait, David and his son Sam and Craig) headed out to Howqua Hills Road to Sheepyard Flat.

Then it was on to Brocks Rd which we followed to Bluff Track.  Bluff Track is at approx. 1500 metres and so was quite fresh.  It had plenty of water laying around, which at 1pm still had ice from the puddles sitting on the ground. 

Lunch time stop was at Lovicks Hut before heading to Bluff Hut then made camp at Bindaree Hut campground.  We all quickly got the fire going, because the chill was already setting in at 4pm

An enjoyable evening was had around the campfire (dinner was sausage's in rolls) Linda had thermals, woolen socks X2 pair, scarf, beanie, gloves and a thick coat but was still a little cold and actually went to bed dressed like this with ug-boots on and not forgetting the 2 hot water bottles. Everyone was up early however Linda was last to rise ( I thought rigamortis had set in) but she woke to her normal self, complaining about the cold

The next morning we woke to find the grass had frozen over as well as our 20litres of water from the jerry can sitting outside overnight which some 4 hrs latter was still frozen. The temp @11am was -2 deg so god knows what it was overnight

At 11am we headed up Bindaree Rd stopping at Bindaree falls and then drove the Monument Track to Craig's Hut ( while engaging low range I lost sight of Jason and while reversing to line up with the track reversed into a sign post which made a all mighty noise but checking latter no damage)

Arrived at Craig's Hut to a stunning view with a clear sky another "bucket list destination" completed would like to be here in the mist so another trip in the wind.

The time and temp say it all !!! COLD

making camp

 

Camp area

Camp

 

Craig's tent still icy at 10am

 

  

Bindaree Hut

Linda all rugged up



The Hut

 

The river crossing to camp

Our sleeping accommodation for the night

Inside the jerry can, 4 hrs to melt in front of the fire

Bourchiers Beach, Koonoomoo

Location:
Goulbourn Valley Highway to Koonoomoo. Head north from Koonoomoo towards Tocumwal after approx 5km take a right turn (east) onto Greens Lane. once on Greens Lane (heading east), after approx. 1km, you'll go through the first of 2 cattle grids where you then turn left through the 2nd cattle grid and follow the track alongside the levee wall. 

Approx. 400m after going through the 2nd cattle grid the track swings up over the levee wall and continues through the forest for approx. 1km where the track opens out onto a large cleared area of sandy beach and shady camping spots. The track now follows along the back of the beach for nearly 1km and there are camping spots all the way along. 

Left home early Friday only around an hour’s drive to camp arrived to find 2 others already set up on the sand bar a little apprehensive towing the camper onto the sand as never driven on sand before, aired down tyres and set off to camp spot right along the river had mini jam donuts cooked in our new $18 Dick Smith 12v portable stove  

By late afternoon a lot more of the group had arrived and more into the night. Set of to find some wood and nearby a number of large trees had fallen down so these became the fuel or the next 2 nights, a lot of wood was burnt. Quick dinner of pizzas on the Webber then off to the fire for hours of laughter and drinks

Saturday we had to travel back home or Kirstie’s 22^nd birthday at a pub in town so we took the opportunity for a shower and the use of a flushing toilet, life’s little luxuries!!

Arrived back at camp for another night of fire and drinks where another couple of cubic metres of timber had been collected by those in camp for another great night around the camp fire for more laughs and drinks in bed around midnight

Woke Sunday morning to a great day where we packed up at a leisurely pace only to have the handle of the jockey wheel come off so had to get some help to lift the drawbar to engage in the hitch on the car, the trailer is now in the garage on bricks

A brilliant weekend !!!!

 

 

 

Neighbor's "Ozpig" we need one of these !!!,

 

Getting dinner ready

 

 

View from annex

 

 



Dave (future son-in-law) Lexi and the lovely Linda



 

The camp

 



The camp



 

 

The view

 

Linda and her farking phone

  

Getting ready for the night

 

The night, a great time again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talbotville camp area, Talbotville

We set of or our 2nd attempt to drive the Blue Rag Track and camped overnight at Talbortville arrived at camp mid afternoon on the Friday meeting up with 4 other's from Myswag (we meet 2 at our previous attempt at Dargo Pub)

Left earyish Friday and while driving somehow the subject go onto alcohol (Linda favorite subject BTW) and that I forgot to pack her Scotch !!!! quick stop at Bright to get her a bottle then we decided to go have a look at Mt Hotham quick look then back on to Dargo / High Plains Rd heading towards Talbotville

Arrived at camp where Tim and Sara had already set up and we unpacked our swags and set up camp for the night, the others arrived (Adam, Geof and David) and proceeded to set up there swags a few hours around the camp fire with drinks then off to bed.

Woke to a clear morning sunrise was after 7am so a little sleep in. The weather had cleared a fair bit from the previous day where back burning was occurring in the surrounding areas which could have put a downer on the drive as the views from the Trig point is supposed to be the highlight

Left camp for the drive arrived at Blue Rag Track fortunately a group had just been up (not a lot of room to stop and let other past along the track)

Arrived at the Trig point quite windy and cool but the views certainly made up for that. Spent a good 1/2 hour up top the noticed others coming up along the track so we headed back and fortunately was able to find some room to let other past. Once back on the Main Rd we headed home and the others headed back to camp



About Talbotville

Camp area

Behind our swags

Camp area, "burn of under way" 

 

Our camp + Tim and Sara

Camp area

View from swags

 

Camp area



Linda setting up camp

Our camp for the night

 

Our night under the stars

No 1 camp, Mt Dissapointment

Another overnight in the swags at Camp#1 @ Mt Disapointment camped with Hutchie + Wendy friends we met at previous Myswag camps the intent was to camp overnight and go fro a 4WD around Mt Disappointment with some other's


Arrived late afternoon and set up camp for the night with a nice fire, a few well quite a few drinks lots of laughs a little rain and a good sleep ready for the drive in the morning. Met up Sunday with another 8 cars for the drive around Mt Disappointment which was our 3rd 4wd and probably our most enjoyable lunch at another camp are called Andersons garden for lunch stopped at Murchison Gap lookout for a snack then the drive home, unpacked and set the camper up for our next camper trip in 3 weeks.

View into camping ground

Getting ready for drinks



Setting up for the night

Camp

another nice fire, many hours of laughs

Linda pi$$ed taking selfies in swag

Morning

morning sun rise, woken by Linda snoring

Our little camp area