Mac Springs - water

[Mr Bean]

Just wondering what the water flow is like at the Spring. Heading up there this weekend for a few days. This time last year, it was a trickle out of a piece of poly pipe which worked fine for us.

[JonesyAu]

It's a very small steady trickle....

I'm interested to hear how camp creek is in comparison?

[roughnecks]

is there water in hellfire campsite this season? I'm about to plan a 2 days hiking to finish off howiit and helicopter spur so that it's been told hellfire is the only water supply spot?

[Mr Bean]

Got back from Mac Springs. It was about the same flow as last year (running at about 1L per min). The camp was busy, lots of folk had come in via Licola. We came in up Howitt Spur and back down via Stanley Named Spur. Great weather and conditions.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Did you see or hear water on the Stanley name spur ? The campsite on the SN spur 1 km below the cliff scrambles to the top has a spring .

[Mr Bean]

We didn't look or hear water. There's a spring north of the camp site (I think?) along a faint footpad. Does it normally flow year round?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

That Spring is a source of the King River. I have been informed that the said spring flows most of the year round. Yes it is down that foot pad to the north of the SN camp site.

[Canadianeh]

1 liter per hour doesn't sound very promising for Easter weekend when mac springs campground will probably be very busy! I believe heavy rain is expected this weekend? Would this water source be reliable enough to camp at mac springs over the weekend?

[Lophophaps]

Canadianeh, welcome to the forum,

Easter at Mac Springs will be clagged with tents.

Mac Springs has always been a small creek, and there's no certainty that it will be running. Precipitation over summer and autumn will determine if the creek is running, and if so how much. Problem is that this is the only water for some distance.

I've been there when the creek was dry, and word had spread. My party met a person about 200 metres from the Howitt car par lugging perhaps 20 litres of water in a drum to Mac Springs. There was also a pack being carried, so the load would vary from 20 to 40 kilograms. Lift the drum, swing it 50 cm, step, pant, rest for a few seconds, repeat. This was about noon, and the person was looking wrecked in 200 metres downhill with 5 km to go. I persuaded the walker to go where there was running water.

As others have suggested, this may be advised. Go there in spring.

[Canadianeh]

Thanks for the advice lophophap... May be time to rethink my long weekend plans...

[Lophophaps]

If you give an idea what you are after it may be possible to suggest something. The Snowy and Bogong High Plains have water, many walks. Given that it's four days, in my view driving to the Bogong High Plains is acceptable. Being more or less flat it's possible to camp nearly anywhere with water next to camp or close by.

[Canadianeh]

Certainly open to suggestions! Like you mentioned, a longer drive from Melbourne is bearable seeing as it is a long weekend. Bogong area had definitely occurred to me..

[Lophophaps]

There's a lot of very pretty country west of the High Plains Road. Place to visit include:
Mount Cope
SE of here, above the aqueduct
Ryders Huts.
High Plains Creek - nice waterfalls and pools.
The ridge west of here on the south side of High Plains Creek is nice.
Youngs Hut.
Side-trip to McNamaras hut.
Jaithmathang. Veer off the poles just below 333, then approach from the saddle, where packs can be left for a side-trip to the summit.
If time, go over Jaithmathang to Fainters, a pleasant open ridge, water in a few places, notable Little Plain.
Tawonga Huts will probably be crowded, suggest avoid for camping.
Rocky Knobs, good sheltered camping and water in many places.
Maisie's Patch, just off the high Plains Road.

Make a list of desired objectives and see how you go for time and weather. In my case sloth is also a major factor. With a plan and menu of options it should be possible to be flexible.

[rjtedge]

Has anyone got any updates on water up this way?

We are planning are fairly easy paced hike this week:
Day 1: Upper Howqua Camping Area to Mt Speculation via Queens Spurs
Day 2: Mt Speculation to Macalister Springs (Crosscut saw)
Day 3: Macalister Springs back to Upper Howqua Camping via Stanley Name Spur

Does anyone know if Camp Creek and Macalister Springs are still running?

Alternative suggestions for 2 or 3 night hikes with better water access would be also appreciated. Not looking for anything too taxing and prefer circuits.

Thanks!

[J M]

I was up on the bluff on the weekend and it's still pretty dry (saw only one creek flowing) despite the rain earlier last week. I'd err on the side of caution and carry plenty of water! I'm sure others will have been up to mac springs and around over the weekend and can give more specific advice though.

[Mr Bean]

Has anyone got any updates on water up this way?

We are planning are fairly easy paced hike this week:
Day 1: Upper Howqua Camping Area to Mt Speculation via Queens Spurs
Day 2: Mt Speculation to Macalister Springs (Crosscut saw)
Day 3: Macalister Springs back to Upper Howqua Camping via Stanley Name Spur

Does anyone know if Camp Creek and Macalister Springs are still running?

Alternative suggestions for 2 or 3 night hikes with better water access would be also appreciated. Not looking for anything too taxing and prefer circuits.

Thanks!

For March long weekend (3 weeks ago), we did Upper Howqua Camp ground -> Howitt Spur -> Mac Springs -> Stanley Name Spur -> Upper Howqua Camp ground. Mac Springs was flowing at about 1L per min (via a plastic pipe, and good clear water). Camp Creek, from what we heard at the time, was a wet soak, which you could get water from (but could be difficult now).

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Upper Howqua to Mt. Spec. via Queen Spur is a long tough scrub bash after you leave the Stanley Name spur junction and there is very little H2O after you leave the Howqua.The shorter daylight hours may also work against you. I don't think the Timbertop students use the Queen spur anymore. They do walk the SNS track and there still could be water along that route on the north side of the spur a bout 1 kms down from the top of the Crosscut saw.

[rjtedge]

Thanks for the replies! We ended up heading over to Hotham and had a walk to Dibbins Hut and then back via Machinery Spur and Mt Loch. Plenty of water during this walk!