Falls Creek, Bright region day trips

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

Hi,

First week of March my wife and I will be staying for a couple of nights each in Falls Creek and Bright in Vic. One trip I had planned to do was the Blue Rag Range Track, but from the news reports the Dargo High Plains Rd and Alpine Way are closed in sections due to the fires raging and I'm assuming that the local damage will see the tracks closed for a while.

I have the HEMA High Plains Map and there's a shiteload of tracks in all directions from either spot. Could anyone recommend some day trips that aren't just forest drives using the above as a base? Despite the colour coding on the map I'm a wee bit confused as to the track standards etc.

I have a 120 D4D with the usual lift, lockers, winch etc but will have a TLD on board and I don't consider myself hugely experienced, more quietly confident

Any advice is appreciated!

Cheers,

Dave

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

Hi Dave. At the moment they tracks you will want to do will be closed as you stated and I know that they will probably be closed for a little while to come. I have a contact in forest service up at Bright and will find out for you when they think they will be open. At this stage from the maps I have access too Blue Rag has not impacted yet.

There's an easy dirt road to Mount Porepunkah which is worth a look (360 degree views near the fire tower) but ill find out whats possibly open for the labour day weekend.

Nema

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

Hi Dave, Just an update. I had a look at the internal fire maps today and the fire has just crossed the Great Alpine road and heading toward Blue Rag. The National Park south of Bright is still closed and I have no idea when it will open again. I will keep you updated over the next few week if you like.
Nema

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

Yes it is a bit sad, we need rain. The NE of Vic is as dry as a chip (drier than any time during the 7 year drought. For the first two weeks the fire was burning north of the Great Alpine Rd in country inaccessable to 4wd. A few days ago it crossed GA rd and is somewhere around Mayford Spur running south and east of Mt Hotham. In its path to the south is Blue Rag Range and then all the magnificent 4WD country north, northeast and northwest of Dargo. This fire is curently consuming 10 sq km a day in warm dry weather without much wind. Pray for a decent drop of rain.

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

Thanks for the update guys. Just have to hope that you get a bit of rain, we're happy to send some South!

Cheers,

Dave

[devsadv Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close devsadv]

Yes it is a bit sad, we need rain. The NE of Vic is as dry as a chip (drier than any time during the 7 year drought. For the first two weeks the fire was burning north of the Great Alpine Rd in country inaccessable to 4wd. A few days ago it crossed GA rd and is somewhere around Mayford Spur running south and east of Mt Hotham. In its path to the south is Blue Rag Range and then all the magnificent 4WD country north, northeast and northwest of Dargo. This fire is curently consuming 10 sq km a day in warm dry weather without much wind. Pray for a decent drop of rain.

Gutted as I was planning to head up there in 2 weeks. Here's hoping everyone & everything in its path is as safe as possible and most of all that we get rain asap!

Appreciate the updates too. If you hear anything else, post away! Cheers

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

Back on subject - there is not much you can do with a 4wd that needs 4wd around Falls Creek, there are a few tracks south of the Fall creek rd but hardly worth the effort. On the drive over the hill from Tawonga to Bright, turn left at the main lookout (2nd one) up the dirt track. About a km up there is a lookout under the power lines. This offers a brilliant view of Mt Beauty and you can watch the planes takeoff and land below you. If you follow the track on and keep left you can get back to Mt beauty via the tracks.
From Tawonga you can head down Mountain Creek Rd and on to Mt Emu or out the back of Mt Bogong or along Little Snowy Creek to Eskdale. All worthwhile. If you don't mind a walk but not to much if you keep right once you hit the dirt on Mountain Creek Rd you will finish up at a carpark from where you can walk to the top of Mt Bogong (3 hrs return).
From Bright head to Wondiligong and up into the pines (heading south) you can parallel the highway to Harietville up on the ridgetop. Do wait for some rain to put the fires out first as at the farthest south you can go up here is very close to were the fires are at the moment (sw of Mt St Bernardor is that meant to be Burn Hard) sorry, could not help myself.
From Bright you can also drive to Popunkah and head down the Buckland Valley. More tracks going more places than I can write about in a post down this way. Take a chainsaw and preferably another vehicle with you.