Crooked River
Overview
If you would like to tackle some of the most challenging tracks in Victoria’s High Country, while still enjoying the comfort and convenience of your off-road trailer, camper trailer or caravan, this is the tour for you! We will establish a couple of basecamps from which we will complete day trips. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest, protecting the state’s highest peaks and diverse alpine environment. The Crooked River area in the southern section of the Alpine National Park is central to some of the best mountain tracks in the country. It provides a demanding 4WD adventure playground with steep ascents and descents, significant water crossings and plenty of low-range work as we traverse some of the best known and iconic “must do” 4WD tracks of the high country. We will tackle tracks such as Blue Rag Range, Cynthia Range, Herne Spur, Crooked River, Bulltown Spur, Collingwood Spur, and the ‘not for the faint hearted’ Billy Goat Bluff. This tour offers a 4WD challenge complemented by spectacular scenery, breathtaking views from cliff-top lookouts, crystal clear mountain streams, diverse wildlife, clear night skies, high country huts, and the ruins and mines of gold mining towns, in a true high country setting.
Duration: 5 days, 5 nights
Start: Bright, Vic | Finish: Dargo, Vic
Drivers: Suitable for all levels of off-road driving experience. The high country tracks will challenge and excite experienced off-road drivers. For those new to off-road driving, the advice and tuition provided by our experienced guides will ensure you are progressively prepared to safely tackle even the most difficult sections of the tour.
Vehicles: Vehicles require a raised clearance, dual range and all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres. An extended breather kit for critical drivetrain components is highly recommended due to potentially deep water crossings. A snorkel is recommended. You will need to carry enough fuel for 425km range (factor in some towing, low range and the terrain) as it will be at least 385km between fuel stops.
Camping: All 4x4 Explore tours are suitable for tents, swags, etc. This tour is designed for most off-road trailers, camper trailers and caravans. Towed items must be built for off-road towing, have suitable clearance and all-terrain tyres.
Having done this tour, you will want to expand your 4WD experience from mountains to desert. Take a look at our Simpson Desert tours, some of which are also suitable for towing.
Overview
If you would like to tackle some of the most challenging tracks in Victoria’s High Country, while still enjoying the comfort and convenience of your off-road trailer, camper trailer or caravan, this is the tour for you! We will establish a couple of basecamps from which we will complete day trips. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest, protecting the state’s highest peaks and diverse alpine environment. The Crooked River area in the southern section of the Alpine National Park is central to some of the best mountain tracks in the country. It provides a demanding 4WD adventure playground with steep ascents and descents, significant water crossings and plenty of low-range work as we traverse some of the best known and iconic “must do” 4WD tracks of the high country. We will tackle tracks such as Blue Rag Range, Cynthia Range, Herne Spur, Crooked River, Bulltown Spur, Collingwood Spur, and the ‘not for the faint hearted’ Billy Goat Bluff. This tour offers a 4WD challenge complemented by spectacular scenery, breathtaking views from cliff-top lookouts, crystal clear mountain streams, diverse wildlife, clear night skies, high country huts, and the ruins and mines of gold mining towns, in a true high country setting.
Duration: 5 days, 5 nights
Start: Bright, Vic | Finish: Dargo, Vic
Drivers: Suitable for all levels of off-road driving experience. The high country tracks will challenge and excite experienced off-road drivers. For those new to off-road driving, the advice and tuition provided by our experienced guides will ensure you are progressively prepared to safely tackle even the most difficult sections of the tour.
Vehicles: Vehicles require a raised clearance, dual range and all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres. An extended breather kit for critical drivetrain components is highly recommended due to potentially deep water crossings. A snorkel is recommended. You will need to carry enough fuel for 425km range (factor in some towing, low range and the terrain) as it will be at least 385km between fuel stops.
Camping: All 4x4 Explore tours are suitable for tents, swags, etc. This tour is designed for most off-road trailers, camper trailers and caravans. Towed items must be built for off-road towing, have suitable clearance and all-terrain tyres.
Having done this tour, you will want to expand your 4WD experience from mountains to desert. Take a look at our Simpson Desert tours, some of which are also suitable for towing.
Overview
If you would like to tackle some of the most challenging tracks in Victoria’s High Country, while still enjoying the comfort and convenience of your off-road trailer, camper trailer or caravan, this is the tour for you! We will establish a couple of basecamps from which we will complete day trips. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest, protecting the state’s highest peaks and diverse alpine environment. The Crooked River area in the southern section of the Alpine National Park is central to some of the best mountain tracks in the country. It provides a demanding 4WD adventure playground with steep ascents and descents, significant water crossings and plenty of low-range work as we traverse some of the best known and iconic “must do” 4WD tracks of the high country. We will tackle tracks such as Blue Rag Range, Cynthia Range, Herne Spur, Crooked River, Bulltown Spur, Collingwood Spur, and the ‘not for the faint hearted’ Billy Goat Bluff. This tour offers a 4WD challenge complemented by spectacular scenery, breathtaking views from cliff-top lookouts, crystal clear mountain streams, diverse wildlife, clear night skies, high country huts, and the ruins and mines of gold mining towns, in a true high country setting.
Duration: 5 days, 5 nights
Start: Bright, Vic | Finish: Dargo, Vic
Drivers: Suitable for all levels of off-road driving experience. The high country tracks will challenge and excite experienced off-road drivers. For those new to off-road driving, the advice and tuition provided by our experienced guides will ensure you are progressively prepared to safely tackle even the most difficult sections of the tour.
Vehicles: Vehicles require a raised clearance, dual range and all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres. An extended breather kit for critical drivetrain components is highly recommended due to potentially deep water crossings. A snorkel is recommended. You will need to carry enough fuel for 425km range (factor in some towing, low range and the terrain) as it will be at least 385km between fuel stops.
Camping: All 4x4 Explore tours are suitable for tents, swags, etc. This tour is designed for most off-road trailers, camper trailers and caravans. Towed items must be built for off-road towing, have suitable clearance and all-terrain tyres.
Having done this tour, you will want to expand your 4WD experience from mountains to desert. Take a look at our Simpson Desert tours, some of which are also suitable for towing.
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After a tour brief in Bright, we will head to the Dargo High Plains area and establish our first basecamp. After lunch we will tackle the well-known Blue Rag Range Track as a warm up for the greater challenges to come.
We will next move to the Crooked River area and establish our basecamp for the next few days. We will practise some of our technical skills on Basalt South, Bulltown Spur and Collingwood Spur tracks. Crooked River Track provides a lot of fun as we cross the river some 25 times. We will traverse Cynthia Range and Herne Spur tracks on our visit to Wonnangatta Station. Having advanced our technical skills over a few days, we will be ready to tackle the iconic Billy Goat Bluff Track.
As we make the more sedate climb out of the Crooked River area, we will visit the historic Grant precinct and there will be time to explore an old gold mine, the old town and cemetery. Our last camp is at the Dargo Hotel.
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The tour commences linking up in Bright, Victoria at 9:00am on Day 1. Make sure you have refueled before link up as straight after the tour brief we will head up the Great Alpine Road towards Mt Hotham. We will establish our first basecamp at a little known gem with spectacular views, and after lunch we will tackle Blue Rag Range Track as our first challenge.
The next morning, we will relocate our basecamp south to the Crooked River area. The route in is simple but steep, so we will be able to practise some of those off-road towing skills. Over the next 2 ½ days, we will conduct three separate trips. We will practise some of our technical skills on Basalt South, Bulltown Spur and Collingwood Spur tracks; and Crooked River Track provides a lot of fun as we cross the river some 25 times. There will be a day trip traversing Cynthia Range, Wombat Range and Herne Spur tracks on our visit to Wonnangatta Station. When it was operating, this was the most remote station in Victoria, and we will explore the homestead ruins and cemetery, and have lunch by the Wonnangatta River. Having advanced our technical skills over the previous days, we will be ready to tackle the iconic Billy Goat Bluff Track. This is arguably the most technical track in the high country, and the 10km, steep, rocky ascent is rewarded with spectacular views from The Pinnacles. And there is still several exciting 4WD tracks as we make our way back to camp.
On the morning of Day 5, we will break camp and climb back out of the Crooked River area. We will visit the historic Grant precinct which flourished with the gold rush in the 1860s, and there will be time to explore an old gold mine, the old town and cemetery. We will arrive at our last camp that afternoon; the Dargo Hotel. After a debrief and welcome shower, we will conclude the tour with a group dinner at the Dargo Hotel (not included in your tour price) where we will relive our adventure and farewell new friends.
Before you start your journey home the next morning, there is the opportunity to refuel in Dargo.
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Mon 2 - Fri 6 December 2024: book by 24 November 2024
Mon 16 December - Fri 20 December 2024: book by 8 December 2024
Mon 6 January - Fri 10 January 2025: book by 29 December 2024
Mon 3 February - Fri 7 February 2025: book by 27 January 2025
Bookings
Book and pay online now, or contact us if you wish to pay by bank transfer or arrange to pay a deposit now to reserve your place and the balance six weeks before your tour departs.
You may also contact us to discuss a group booking, to propose alternate tour arrangements if our scheduled tours are not quite what you are after, or to discuss a custom private or corporate tour.
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