Short trips in and around Melbourne

[jbjames Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jbjames]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the 4x4 world and I'm looking for some places to go within a couple of hours of Melbourne, I live in the outer eastern suburbs, that are easy enough for an amateur, or a couple of us, but worth while doing to cut our teeth on.

Headed up to Toolangi State Park up (and Down) Pauls creek track, was good, but my mate in his series two Disco got stuck halfway up a hill.

Any tips on places and Maps to get of the various areas?

Cheers,

James

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Short trips in and around Melbourne

Narbethong, Warburton etc.

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Short trips in and around Melbourne

http://www.guidebooks.com.au/bushvic.htm

http://shop.boilingbilly.com.au/store/v ... Product=12

I have them both - very good to get you started.

[humphrey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close humphrey]

Re: Short trips in and around Melbourne

Wombat State Forest

Tallarook State Forest

Noojee/Neerim South/Tanjil area

Bunyip State Forest

Cobaw State Forest (Near Lancefield)

http://www.4x4earth.com.au/tracklisttest/

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Short trips in and around Melbourne

We are so lucky in Melbourne that we still have good 4WD tracks to practice on within 1 - 2 hrs drive of home, although many tracks are being permanently closed because of a few reckless and thoughtless hoons.
The areas mentioned above are all good, especially the Yarra Ranges and Bunyip State Park and even as far down as Walhalla, Erica, Woods Point etc if you live out East.
I find that the Rooftop series of maps are the best for touring and 4WDing around Melbourne/Vic, and for down the Walhalla Woods Point area there's also Rudi Poleitti's Adventrue Maps - so go pick up a few of those from the Melbourne Map Centre ( there is one in Waverley ). They are accurate and as the cartographers have driven most of the tracks there are good notes on local points of interest and the difficulty of the tracks, although you can still get caught out.

It's worthwhile for doing these areas to get a set of decent AT tyres and maybe a suspension lift - if you don't already have these. And don't be afraid to lower tyre pressures - it's probably the main reason your Disco mate got stuck

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Short trips in and around Melbourne

On our recent trip from Adl to Mel, we decided to make a stop to the lookout at Ararat. Google maps says that it is 2.5 hours out of Mel. At the top of Pioneer Lookout is One tree Hill Trk. We only did a very short drive as we weren't expecting to be 4WDriving on the way to Mel. We'll go back again and go further in. We did manage to get a wheel to lift off the ground. Not sure what the rest is like.

Here is a link to the map