Hisham wrote:I haven't been up but recently asked on this forum whether that road all the way up to Jamieson was 2wd friendly and the answer was a yes, noting it'd be rocky and bumpy.
For others who have been up recently and want to answer the OP's question, can you also advise how long it takes from Licola. I'm planning to do same on Monday, and wondering whether to do the long drive from Northern suburbs or perhaps go to upper Howqua and start from there (would be a tougher start to the walk, but quicker - just not sure by how much).
paidal_chalne_vala wrote:The ascent from The Upper Howqua camp site up the Howqua track is relentless and adds more taxation of energy reserves to your plans. If you are looking at trekking the Viking circuit then start high and come in from Licola.
I got an email from the ranger at Heyfield.
He said "no go for 2WD on the Howitt road "
. I would say that is a mixture of good advice and backside covering.
The road at the Wellington River bridge has had a 4WD/ AWD only sign up there since I was last in the area in March 2021. The Licola to Jamieson road is ROUGH once you hit Mt. Skene. It would be very slow going in a street sedan with highway tyres. I could not imagine it would be comfortable travelling that way.
The sign at Mt. Sunday road junction says the next >>>>> ........<<<<<< kms. are for 4 WD drive only. I have driven it twice in my RAV 4 with A/ T tyres and it was still very bumpy with big stones to look out for. If the weather is clear then it is a very scenic drive and there are some picnic tables along the way for a road trip lunch stop. Carry extra water just in case.
yourhikingbuddy wrote:Thanks this help, so I guess no go for Viking Circuit for 2WD (was looking at 27th of Dec - 30th of Dec, so will avoid wet weather)? Any other multiday hike recommend for someone with a 2WD up around that area that is pretty remote? lol.
Baeng72 wrote:yourhikingbuddy wrote:Thanks this help, so I guess no go for Viking Circuit for 2WD (was looking at 27th of Dec - 30th of Dec, so will avoid wet weather)? Any other multiday hike recommend for someone with a 2WD up around that area that is pretty remote? lol.
Maybe come in from Upper Howqua campsite.
It's 2WD accessible. There's extra hours to get to the Crosscut and then on the way out, but you have to drive extra hours to get to Howitt Carpark.
yourhikingbuddy wrote:Baeng72 wrote:yourhikingbuddy wrote:Thanks this help, so I guess no go for Viking Circuit for 2WD (was looking at 27th of Dec - 30th of Dec, so will avoid wet weather)? Any other multiday hike recommend for someone with a 2WD up around that area that is pretty remote? lol.
Maybe come in from Upper Howqua campsite.
It's 2WD accessible. There's extra hours to get to the Crosscut and then on the way out, but you have to drive extra hours to get to Howitt Carpark.
Thanks baeng,
So just confirming this route is 2WD friendly? https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Heyfiel ... 173439!3e0
CraigVIC wrote:Bulla + circuit is definitely 2wd. Take the bindaree falls/bindaree rd turn off.
yourhikingbuddy wrote:CraigVIC wrote:Bulla + circuit is definitely 2wd. Take the bindaree falls/bindaree rd turn off.
great thanks. wil probably start from upper howqua to do viking circuit instead of dirving up howitt hut.
yourhikingbuddy wrote:Baeng72 wrote:yourhikingbuddy wrote:Thanks this help, so I guess no go for Viking Circuit for 2WD (was looking at 27th of Dec - 30th of Dec, so will avoid wet weather)? Any other multiday hike recommend for someone with a 2WD up around that area that is pretty remote? lol.
Maybe come in from Upper Howqua campsite.
It's 2WD accessible. There's extra hours to get to the Crosscut and then on the way out, but you have to drive extra hours to get to Howitt Carpark.
Thanks baeng,
So just confirming this route is 2WD friendly? https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Heyfiel ... 173439!3e0
or via Mount Bueller & Circuit Rd?
paidal_chalne_vala wrote:just came back from driving up and down the Howitt Rd. from Arbuckle junction to/ from the intersection with King Billy Track( just past The Howitt Plains car park ). Sections of it are definitely 4 x 4 / AWD with off road/All Terrain tyres stuff.
The deep pot holes and loose washed out sections are the worst I have seen it in my 10+ years of driving up there.
:-0.
paidal_chalne_vala wrote:just came back from driving up and down the Howitt Rd. from Arbuckle junction to/ from the intersection with King Billy Track( just past The Howitt Plains car park ). Sections of it are definitely 4 x 4 / AWD with off road/All Terrain tyres stuff.
The deep pot holes and loose washed out sections are the worst I have seen it in my 10+ years of driving up there.
:-0.
paidal_chalne_vala wrote:Obviously comparing the present Howitt road surface with a bona fide 4 WD track such as the No. 3 road from the Mt. No. 3 Refuge hut down to Carter's road is another ball game . Having driven my RAV 4 SUV down that track :-0
I can say in comparison The Howitt road was easy to drive on. Put it this way. I did not have to get out and walk the road to find the best line on the Howitt road in order to avoid getting into bother. Not once was that necessary.
The same can be said about the Keppel's hut track ascending from Lady Talbot Drive. Sections of that track required multiple attempts to reverse and then stunt drive in low gear to get up some of the worst deeply rutted washed out sections.
So while the Howitt road, the Dargo H.P. rd. and the Jamieson to Licola roads are not 2 WD street sedan roads at all they are not places where the driver of an SUV AWD with AT tyres is sorely tested to the limits of the their own abilities and the also that of the said vehicles.
badd0g wrote:I'm not debating any of that, I was referring to your assertion that it was the worst you've seen it. I've certainly seen it worse in the last 5 years - particularly just before it's been graded - and in those situations even an AWD would have been tested. In its current condition, I'd not hesitate to take an 2wd up there myself - but as noted, I'd not suggest anyone else do so based just on my experience. Some 2wds are quite capable provided the driver is also knowledgeable, skilled and aware of current conditions (and also willing to shake a few bits loose!), Unlike the driver of the Corolla we came across in May who had lost it on the poorly cambered section just before Arbuckle Junction in 20cm of snow and ended up down the embankment
paidal_chalne_vala wrote:I have said that I saw a low slung sports car at the Howitt Plains car park just after Xmas 2021. They made it up there but I was not sure they would make it out esp. if it rained.
paidal_chalne_vala wrote: As a XC skier 20 cms of snow is totally Nordic skiable and as soon as I can find somewhere to park I will be skiing on it and not driving through it, if possible!
Tom43 wrote:As an aside, is there a simple way to find out what huts and campsites have drop toilets
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests