Trip Report - Talbotville and Wonnangatta - ANZAC Day weekend 2014

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

You hear so much about Talbotville, Wonnangatta and the surrounding area. It seems to almost be the Holy Grail of the High Country.
This was my first time in the area, and the following is my report.

Friday, 25th April
Our plan was Dawn service in Benalla, followed by last minute preparation and an 830 meet at a Bakery in town (For bread and Coffee!!)
Our crew, from Benalla, consisted of a Pajero, a Cruiser, a Hummer (yep, we had a Hummer) a Pathfinder and me in the Prado. We were to meet a few others in at Talbotville, but that comes later.

We set off at about 9 and headed for the Great Alpine Road. The guy driving the Pathfinder stopped off in Myrtleford to grab some of the tastiest salami we've all ever had. We all stopped in Bright for a refuel (well some did...).

We hit the Dargo High Plains road at about 1130 and stopped to let a little air out of the tyres.


Following this stop and a bit of a leg stretch, our next stop was Dargo.
The High Plains Road was a pleasant drive, with much pretty scenery. We covered the 65ish kms in next to no time and before you knew it we arrived in Dargo (for yet another fuel stop and a feed). The obligatory "photo in front of the pub" was taken.


Once everyone was set, we decided to head south out of Dargo and find the Crooked River Track for our entrance into Talbotville. This track was relatively straight forward with some cruisy river crossings. The Prado did feel a little low through one of them though.


We got into Talbotville at about 3-330ish where we met up with another 2 vehicles to join our convoy. A second Cruiser and a Patrol. A few blokes set out for the gathering of firewood, which of course we couldn't have had enough.


Later that evening, we were joined by the last vehicle for our convoy...a 120 Prado!
We had a bit of a fancy finger food, cheesey kabana type dinner where everyone pitched in with a bit of something something.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Saturday, 26th April
Saturday was my introduction to Billy Goats and Zeka Spur...I may have had a few reservations.
We packed up and headed off at about 930, back along the Crooked River Track toward Wonnangatta Road. We were 8 vehicles in total.
We pulled up prior to the Billy Goats turn off as the lead Cruiser lost an apparently optional piece of plastic. It did make for a good photo op though!


To be blunt, I was more scared than ever before while climbing Billy Goats. The Prado got hung up in a couple of places, but that was just me picking the wrong line. In hindsight, I thoroughly enjoyed the climb, it was challenging but the Prado held its own and got me up.

I have a dicey video of me on a part of the track, but I'll have to upload it later when I can be bothered.

Once at the top, we stopped and regrouped and told a few yarns about our climb. It was great fun watching the Pathfinder - sans traction control or any lockable diffs - slip and slide its way up. Unfortunately the front of it took a bit of a beating and required a rope and cable tie fix to reposition a bash plate.



Our next stop was the Pinnacles for lunch. Bloody Hell it was cold!!! (I may have only been in shorts though)
The Pinnacles provided some great photos. The next image is just an example of a Panorama I pieced together.


The rigs parked up for lunch (except the Patrol Ute, that wasn't ours!)


And given its only going to let me do 5 photos, this is where I shall stop the report for now. The rest will follow soon!!

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

Definitely a great part of the world, good to see the weather gods allowed photography at the pinnacles, the last two times I've been there this year it's been covered in sea fog. Billy goats is a great track, you just need to pick your line, it claimed a few tyres on the gtg.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Great trip report so far Spilsy! Have to agree on your Billy Goats comments, we got hung up there too thanks to a wayward dirt bike rider. Don't know if anyone got photos or video, you had to be there to understand. The shiny new front bash plate took a beating too, will need some percussive maintenance for sure.

Love that Pinnacles panorama, really must learn how to do those. It's a fantastic part of the world, we are blessed to have it so relatively close to home.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Nice report Spilsy - I didn't mind Billy Goats too much, but my Father in law kept shouting at me to watch the road, especially going up and back down across the saddle

Our 120 with no traction aids wasn't too bad up there, but it was very dry.

Love that Pinnacles panorama, really must learn how to do those. It's a fantastic part of the world, we are blessed to have it so relatively close to home.

I just use my iPhone or for photos taken on the SLR use the Microsoft free ICE software - http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/...roups/ivm/ICE/

(don't have photoshop)

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I just use my iPhone or for photos taken on the SLR use the Microsoft free ICE software - http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/...roups/ivm/ICE/

Thanks for the link r4ndll, will check it out.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I use a piece of software called autostitch http://autostitch.en.softonic.com/
I'll have to have a look at the Microsoft software.
Autostich pretty much does everything for you, you just add the photos.
You just need a series of photos, overlapping by about 20-30% and the software does the rest.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Thankx for sharing.
Yes billy goats is a little fun at the moment.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Saturday, 26th April Continued
From the Pinnacles, we cruised (at about 60 km/h) along Howitt High Plains Road. We encountered a few brave people in their sedans and hatchbacks. I was glad I was riding high on soft tyres!!!
There was a smashing spot for a photo about 2/3s of the way to Zeka Spur.


This of course wasn't before the Pajero needed its awning re-attached (I reckon I've mentioned that from our last trip to Davies Plain...)
Really, nothing exciting happened before Zeka Spur. Once there though - we had a bit of a peep and it looked quite muddy.


No issues though, the top surface was damp, but it was generally in really good nick.
This track is a piece of cake compared to Billy Goats. I had been told that Zeka would be as difficult, if not more. Really not the case. It was slow going, a lot of 1st and 2nd low range, but nothing too bad. The Prado got air on one of the erosion "Speed Humps". The gears didnt quite slow me enough and apparently I had a good 150-200mm of air between the rear tyres and the track.
The view of my behind from the Hummer down Zeka Spur:


The bottom of Zeka Spur landed us in valley containing Wonnangatta Station. What a lovely place. The DEPI..(S6YRT78Z) - whoever they are these days - had been burning off the area for some stupid reason.
We managed to set up camp alone at the Elms. More firewood was collected...LOTS of firewood.


The evening included a spotlight run (No, a rifle was not carried), and many a ridiculous yarn over a few quiet beverage.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Sunday, 27th April
Sunday morning had me, and others up nice and early to pack up for the trip back to Benalla.
First stop was the site of the old Homestead.


Then the Cemetery


After all the history, and boy isn't there a bit for Wonnangatta Station, we took the Wonnangatta track toward, as the sign pointed out, Myrtleford.
I have another (better quality video) of a river crossing to upload later.

When we reached the Van Damme Helipad, we shot left and up Van Damme track. There was a bit of bush pin striping on the car after that.


Once the road opened up, we stopped for lunch, aired up the tyres and cruised home.
Somewhere between the re-inflation and home, the clamp on my passenger side CV boot came loose and spread grease under the car. I hit it somewhere on the tracks, but it stayed attached till late in the piece.


And that brings to a conclusion the Australian Munitions High Country Trip for 2014...well the first half of 2014 anyway.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Just added a couple of videos for those who like watching stuff!!