Little desert trip Queens birthday weekend

The camping restrictions where being lifted so Paul and I pulled out the maps and a trip plan was quickly underway, a few ideas where thrown around, with the final destination decide upon. We decided on exploring the Little desert National park near Dimboola Victoria. This was the second club trip planned for the weekend as there was also one being run by Russell in the Victorian high country.

Friday
With everything packed and ready to go Paul, Keith, Lachlan and I left home and went down to the Bridgewater service station refuelled the cruiser and waited for Narelle to arrive.
We greeted Narelle and had a quick chat then headed off (6:30pm). From Inglewood through to St Arnaud we had we watch out for multiple Kangaroos, then around one of the bends there on the edge of the road was a Owl. Continuing on we reached St Arnaud where Paul did a mandatory checked of the wheel nuts on the Cruiser, as we had only had just purchased new tyres just prior to the trip. About 7:30pm we departed St Arnaud heading towards Dimboola. A short time later I received a message from David and Angela Dole with the location of where they had set up camp. On reaching Dimboola we went down Coker dam rd, onto Kiata south rd, then left on to northern break veering off onto campground track. At the Kiata campground we found David and Angela who had a nice campfire going which was greatly appreciated as it was a little chilli when we got out. We said our hellos to David (As Angela was already in bed) and set up camp and enjoyed the fire, going off to bed at 11:45pm.

Saturday

In the morning we got a campfire going to take away the morning chill, A group of Emus then walk through the campground (7:30am).
As it was a little cold and this was a base camp and we needed to sort our belongings out, so things where secured for the day we decided to have a late start.
By 9:40am we where ready to hit the tracks, we pulled out of camp with us being leader, followed by Narelle with Lachlan as her passenger for the day and then David and Angela, we headed out of the campground and then pretty much straight away we turned left onto Salt Lake track, after a few metres we turned left again onto Pump Jack track. Stopping at Albrechts Mill to read the sign and took some photos, returning to the 4wds we continued on down the track for several kilometres then turn right on a unknown track cutting across to northern break track. Reaching this we turned right following the fence line, there was another right turn but this continues on the northern break track, then left on Pomponderoo track, then one more left into the small township of Dimboola, we found a service station and refuelled.
We drove back to the Wimmera river where we had morning smoko (11:35am) after a 10 minute break we headed back out of Dimboola (the same way we came in), past the intersection that we had came out of earlier and continued on to Horseshoe bend where we had a quick toilet stop then went along Ackle track, then veered onto River track we followed this around and then did a left hand turn where we stopped the convoy because the track turned to sand and it was a little bit soft, so instead of ruining the tracks and pushing our way through we decided to air down. Angela and I took this opportunity to get some photos of the bees landing on the Banksia flowers.
All aired down on we went at the end of river track we turned left onto a unknown track and at a v intersection we went right, then right through a gate, trying to locate the Wimmera river. We found a little bit of water and stopped here for lunch (12:55pm). While here we found some red gum wood, so we cut it up and put into the vehicles for our campfire that night. By 1:25pm we left, shortly after 2 wedge tail Eagles where spotted sitting in a dead tree, as we approached they flew off, while following the track we watched the Eagles soaring through the sky.
From here we followed the fence line through River heritage park then took numerous roads towards Mt Arapiles. Views of Mt Arapiles where appearing in the distance, everyone was excited that we where going closer to this large Rocky Mountain range in the middle of nowhere we finally turned left along Centenary park rd, where we finally where driving along side the rock formations. At the end of rd we veered right through the park entrance and drove the 4.5km to the summit. We reached the car park and exited the vehicles and walked the short 50m uphill to the viewing platform and fire tower. Photos where taken and the views enjoyed we headed back down and back into our vehicles and drove back down to the Bluff lookout, here taking in more views and getting more photos. We drove back onto centenary park rd, back along where we came from and turned into Centenary park campground stopping at the toilets.
Following the track through the campground we saw numerous rock climbers, snapping a few photos along the way, we reached the end of the track, we turn heading toward the main rd. Here we turned left on Natimuk-Francis, at Mitre grass flat track we turned right and took a couple more tracks and we made our way back into the little desert, with tracks going everywhere we ended up on Southern break track gliding along the sand we went left on Charcoal flat track, reaching another turn this one was a tight left corner through the soft sand onto Mccabes hut track. Onto Pump jack track, then Salt lake, rolling back into camp at 5:30pm.
We did 160km for the day, the firewood was unloaded, awnings where set up and a campfire was lit, tea was soon cooked and consumed, some cold beverages where enjoyed around a very warm fire, some campfire dessert parcels of fruit and nut chocolate, Banana and Marshmellows where also enjoyed by some of us. With the last of us going to bed around midnight.

Sunday

We got up and where greeted by a group of Emus wondering through the campsites again, we had some breakfast and by 9:25am we where pulling out from our campsite and once again turning left down Salt lake track, we traveled this until we reached Matthews track. At the next intersection we bounced our way through and kept to Matthews track, then turned left following the fence line on a unnamed track, back on the Nhill-Harrow rd we turned left for a short distance then right on another unnamed track then left down another fence line this track lead us to a couple of WW2 Bunkers, we got out and had a quick look as the wind was blowing across the open plains was quite cold. We continued along the track which run into a old Quarry, thinking there was no way out but we finally found the track. At the old Nhill rd we turned left, then right Crater track, the track conditions changed this time we started to slowly climb and the track was getting rocky, we reached the high peak of 211m high it was 11:15am so with some nice views and the wind not as bad we had morning smoko. By 11:45am we where back on track descending the slight incline, then Right on Whimpys track here we got to drive through mud. We then took Phillips track, Brown dams track, Northern break track and Stans camp track. We checked out the campsite here we saw scattered tin where Stans Hut used to be. After checking this campsite we continue on Stans camp track, then Mc Donalds highway onto Brooks track, arriving at Brooks dam (1pm) we had some lunch, 1:30pm saw us on the tracks again this time traveling Southern break track and Lawloit track, turning left on Sister Hill track here we stopped at the Three Sister hill walk, we walked the short distance up to the viewing platform and took some photos. Traveling on we took Sambells track, which passed a camp area, we then headed up the track to Mt turner. We reached the car park and walked up 100m to a orange coloured rocky hill, we where all surprised to see this formation in the desert. We all climbed to the top and took in the views.
Back in the 4wd we went back down Mt turner track, then McDonald hwy, the Main rd, Mahers hut track, Beekeepers track, Southern break track, then finally back along Salt lake track, passing the Salt lake (we didn’t stop as there where a few 4wds there) arriving back at camp at 5:30pm. Campfire was lit and another quite night was enjoyed, before Keith and Lachlan went to bed we had a possum come close to camp, photos where taken then the boys warm up by the fire then head off to bed with the rest of us heading off to bed about 11:30pm.

Monday

We all got up and was starting to prepare breakfast when a couple of groups of Emus once again wondered through the camp area. Photos taken and Emus walking away we all had breakfast and started packing up camp.
At 10am we where all packed, we headed out of camp and back down Salt Lake track, this time we stopped at the Salt lake to get some photos we even got to see some animal prints on the soft water edges.
We then went along Dahlenburgs track, Mallee track, Mccabes hut track, Eagle swamp track, Pomponderoo track, Stringybark rd and Pine ave reaching Dimboola here we refuelled and aired up. Then went back near the Wimmera river for lunch, with lunch consumed (1:25pm) we where ready to hit the roads home. We stopped off at St Arnaud for a quick break, then continued on to Bridgewater arriving here at 3:40pm to say our goodbyes.

A great trip was had by all we had multiple terrains to drive on there was sand driving, rocky terrain, small inclines and descents, normal dirt roads, main roads and last but not least mud. But the thing that surprised us the most with every turn of the tracks, track conditions changed so did the vegetation.

Participants
Paul, Fiona Keith and Lachlan 80 series Landcruiser
Narelle Nissan Patrol
David and Angela Nissan Patrol