Late last year a Australia Day trip for 2021 needed to be planned, so with my 40th birthday also being in January I decided to plan a club trip.
Around a campfire one night the location of Mayford was decided upon, as this was a location that not many of us have been too. With a location picked, out come the maps and to found some tracks that would lead us to Mayford, with the hope of being on the river each night.
Friday 24th January
On Friday with the temperature hitting 34 degrees, Paul, Keith, Lachlan and I meet David, Angela and Karl at Bunnings Epsom and headed off at 2pm to start our trip. We made our way to the Hume fwy and pulled into the Glenrowen service station (4pm) where we enjoyed a drink and a ice cream. After 45min we continued on to Mytleford (5:20) where we topped up with diesel and then headed to Nimmo reserve where we meet Shannon C, Rebecca, Emily and Tom. With a quick hello we traveled on driving over the dam wall of Lake Buffalo and onto Abbeyard to Manna Gum campground. This where we meet Ian, he had secured a camp spot for us in the busy camp ground. We all soon had picked our spot and set up camp. Some of us went down to the river and enjoyed a swim. We all enjoyed a chat as some of us hadn’t caught up for a while due to COVID 19. Tea was then consumed and clean up done and it was time for a drink and more catching up. Around 9pm Chopper, Nathan, Bailey, Dale H, Frank and Michael arrived, they soon had camp set up and and joined us for a drink and chat.
Saturday 25th January
Saturday saw us getting up having breakfast and with another hot day forecast camp was packed up quickly and by 8:40am we where on the tracks. We turned left out of camp and traveled along the Buffalo river rd, until we reached Schultz track veering off onto this track we headed though the small creek crossing and then up the incline. Once we reached the top of one of the inclines we had a quick 5 minute stop to turn on the travel buddy’s and then went on. Short time later we turned onto Mt Selwyn track. At the turn off to the summit to Mt Selwyn we all pulled up to have morning smoko (10:25am), here Nathan, Bailey, David, Angela, Frank, Michael, Dale and Karl all went to the top of the summit to take in the views, on there return (11:05) we continued on following Tea Tree range track onto Hart spur track. At the end of this track we turned left along Wonnangatta track through a couple river crossing and pulled up near the turn off to Herne spur track (1pm). We enjoyed the cool river while we had some lunch. All refreshed and ready to go again (1:35pm) we doubled back along the track and head up the incline of Wombat range track.
Just when you think the steep inclines where done we took on Cynthia Range track. Due the fires that had previously pass through we could see views of Talbotville, Eaglevale and Billy Goat Bluff. On reaching the Heli pad we all pulled up for a break and a group photo (Thanks Bec). 20 past 3 saw us descending down Cynthia range, 15 minutes later saw us turning left onto Crooked river track, heading towards Talbotville, just pass the Collingwood spur track we found a little camp ground by the river, we decided to call this camp for the night (4pm), Camp was soon set up, a can cracked and we where all cooling off in the river. Mean while Dale had driven up to Talbotville to see if Russell was there. (On return he informed us that he wasn’t there).
After relaxing for quite a while in the river it was decided that tea should be probably cooked, as Paul and I where walking pass the cruiser we heard a call out on the UHF from Russell, upon responding to this, Russell soon find us (6pm).
As the night cooled off a small campfire was lit, music was playing in the background and laughing was heard around the fire, with the last of us getting into bed about 3am.
Sunday 23rd January
With minimal amount of sleep had by some we where a little slower getting ready. However we where on the tracks by 9am, Russell took lead turning right onto crooked river track off so he could set up the drone on the first river crossing, once set up we all filed on through, with drone collected and Paul back in lead we continued on and turned up Randells track our first steep incline of the day, we slowly transversed the track taking in the views. At the conclusion of this track we stopped for a quick break. Here Shannon informed us he had a engine light on, thinking it was a blocked air filter he quickly changed it and with light still on he continued on.
We followed Hibernia rd, then Grady’s link rd, onto Grady’s creek track.
When we first started Grady’s Creek track it was slightly overgrown and no views, but soon we started getting views and even through the track isn’t that wide we started on a downhill incline, here we met 2 4wds that we had to squeeze past, on we went taking in the views, towards the end of the last decline we meet 5 4wds, we pulled over and they all squeeze past us, we then went down through the small creek crossing and up the incline and back out onto the black top and down into Dargo.
At Dargo (10:40am) we all disperse and did our own thing, such as refueling, restocking, cool drink or ice cream etc. Here Shannon was was able to reset the engine light (and it didn’t come on again for the entire trip). Once a nice break was had we headed back up the Dargo high plains rd (11:30am) to King Spur track arriving here we headed down the track a short distance and pulled in to taking in the views over looking Mt Hotham and Dinner plains, as we arrived here at 12:35pm we decided to make this our lunch stop.
After lunch some fire wood was collected and Russell lead (1:30pm) us down into Mayford, the track started to decline and was bumpy in spots further on we crossed through the river then back up the incline and then back down a decline, through a couple river crossings then into the open plains and then take your pick of camps (2:30pm). We choose a open area shaded by some trees on the edge of the river. We all spread out choosing our own little spot, camp was soon set up, cans where cracked and we where enjoying the river. Later tea was had and we all enjoyed another nice night around the camp fire.
Monday 25th January
Today saw as all getting up when ever we felt like it as we where not traveling anywhere for the day.
Through out the morning people either relaxed around camp, sit in the river, explored the surrounding area or went fishing (with no luck).
Russell reheated the roasts that where cooked the night before and around 12:30/1pm and we all sit around enjoying Roast Pork, roast lamb, potatoes, pumpkin, peas and gravy for lunch. Thank you Russ for a beautiful birthday lunch.
The afternoon saw us mostly doing the same as in the morning, with the added extra of some having a afternoon nap and a fun game of cricket was played.
Before we knew it, it was tea time again, with tea consumed a tidy up was done to make packing easier in the morning. We then all gathered around enjoying a chat and a few drinks. Tonight saw as all off to bed about 10/10:30pm.
Tuesday 26th January
With wet weather forecast everyone was up early and ready to head back to the top of King spur track.
We had a quick morning debrief and got in our 4wds and started on the track, the closer we got to the end of the track the more the light rain fall. (8:45am) In no time at all we reached the top and pulled into take a very quick photo of the 4 wheel drives. Here Paul, Keith, Lachlan, and I said our goodbyes.
The others continued on finding a spot on the Dargo high plains rd to air up (in the rain) and found there own ways home from there.
Paul, the boys stayed a while longer taking photos of the rain and fog over the mountains, then continued onto Lankey plain hut, we had a very quick look as it was now getting cold. We went along the Dargo high plains and pulling out on the great alpine way we stopped and aired up and then continued on home.
Participants
Paul, Keith, Lach and Fiona 80 series Landcruiser
Russell 105 series Landcruiser
Nathan and Bailey Nissan patrol
Chopper Hilux
Ian Nissan patrol
David and Angela Nissan patrol
Dale H 105 series Landcruiser
Kale Landcruiser
Shannon, Bec, Tom and Emily 76 Landcruiser
Frank and Michael Nissan patrol
Schultz track 
Schultz track 
Randalls track 
Randells track 
Dargo 
King Spur track 
King Spur track 
King Spur track 
King Spur track 
King Spur track 
King Spur track 
King Spur track 
Cynthia range track 
Wombat range track 
Randells track 
Camp off Crooked River track 
Camp off Crooked River track 
Camp off Crooked River track 
Camp off Crooked River track 
Camp off Crooked River track 
Wonnangatta river 
Dargo river at Mayford 
King Spur track
