School Bushwalking ideas?

[therealmono]

I am a teacher at a High Shcool in Melbournes west looking for a place to take my students on a 2 night bushwalk towards the end of June. Had planned to walk down in the Otway in Cumberland River area but they are running controlled burns down there and cannot tell me when these will be finished. I have lookd at the Gold Diggings walk from Daylesford to Castlemaine but it is closed due to flood damage and Cathedral Ranges is closed as well.

I'm investigating other option such a Grampians but I know this was severely damaged by floods too. Does anyone have any suggestion for a group of 10 year 11 students and 2 teachers? The alps are out as its winter and they have done the wilsons prom circuit last year.

Any ideas would be much appreciated, preferably not more than 3 hours from Melbourne.

Thanks

Daniel

[watercooled]

have got the same problem
need a two day hike for a group of people some of us have small kids
and with the prom not open on when we want to go
have been looking at other places
need something as well not great distances from melbourne
kids dont like to travel far
might have to do caravan park and day walks
but not the same as hiking

[MartyGwynne]

Um you guys make it hard.
The only things I can come up with are about 3.5 hrs East of Melbs just near Bairnsdale at a place called the Den of Nargon (or spelling somewhere near that) on the Mitchel River. There is a 2 day walk up beside the river which is a good walk and not too hard. You can car camp or bush camp or I think there used to be some sort of school camp set up there as well.
The other place is a bit further east at Cape Conran where you could base camp at coastal caravan park (parks vic) and do lots of day walks/night walks beach or bush.
I am not sure over west of Melbs as I have not walked it much at all. I guess you could try somewhere like the Malley/desert type of country still cold at night though.
Cheers.
Martin.

[trickos]

A couple of ideas for you....

Beeripmo Walk - a 2 day excursion of about 30 kms in Mt Cole and Langhi Ghiran State Parks. about 1.5 - 2 hours west of Melbourne.
Burchell Trail - a 3 dayer in the Brisane Ranges National Park. 1 hour south west of Melb.
Mt Difficult Walk - Grampians is still open. Could be a good option for a reasonable size group.

If you need any more info just ask.

[bmak]

I'd also suggest beeripmo although I did it on the weekend and most of the park is still closed. Langi ghiran may be good and you could fill in 2 nights there. Another good option that isn't as storm damaged as most is the Pyrenees ranges that's also around 2 hrs from Melbourne with plenty of good walking.

[Earwig]

Cathedral Ranges is open for business.

[wobbly]

Lerdederg gorge- mostly used for day walks or overnighters but easily extended for a third night. Heaps of options if its not storm damaged too.

[andrewbish]

The 3 day Lerderderg walk from O'Briens would be a good challenge.

Have the students done the nothern Prom circuit?

Also, the Gold Diggings walk may be ok a bit closer to the dates you have in mind.

There is an interesting 3-day return walk near Mt Baw Baw via the AAWT, between the Mt Erica & St Gwinear car parks that may be okay in June.

[Snowzone]

The GDT from Daylesford to Bachuss Marsh is open. And as Wobbly said the Lerderderg area is always good.

[watercooled]

thanks guys
folling up the leads now
has anyone done anything around eildon pondage?
candlebark/devil cove to mountenieer creek?

[Earwig]

not recently. lots of ups and downs and mostly on 4wd tracks. the lake has heaps of water and there is good camping at Fraser (hot showers etc) at a cost.