Friday 5th July 2019
Nathan, Steve and I met in McIvor Road on Friday afternoon, and we headed for Mansfield. Brett, Simeon and Alan caught up with us at the Mansfield BP where we fuelled up and had a feed. We then drove to Picnic Point on the Mansfield-Woods Point Road, arriving around 7.30pm. I’d chucked some firewood in my camper so while people were setting up camp, I got a fire going. Mitchell and his mate arrived a little later and we sat around the fire chatting and having a couple of drinks.
Saturday 6th July
On Saturday morning we headed back towards Jamieson, through Kevington, and turned left onto Polletti Track, where we all aired down. We then drove up to the Mount Terrible Track and turned south to Mount Terrible. We took a couple of side tracks on the way, and just before the summit, Nathan, Alan and I took a side track to the left of the main track, while the others stayed on the main track. The side track was rough and rocky, and I attempted the left side of it and finished up not being able to get over some pretty big rock steps. Nathan and Alan kept to the right and made it up easily, so I backed down about 150m until I could get across to the right side and drove up to the hut at the summit, where we all had smoko and enjoyed the views.
We then continued on the Mount Terrible Track, finding some cut firewood which someone had left at a campsite. The track has some steep sections but is pretty easy. We then turned onto Ryan Spur Track which is an easy drive through some very pretty country. We had lunch at the hut on that track and were lucky enough to find some more firewood nearby which had been cut into foot blocks.
Next we turned onto the Cambarville Logging Road, which winds around and is an easy drive. As we were making pretty good time, I decided to add a bit to the day’s driving and headed down the Big River Track, which is fairly rough but not hard. Then we turned back onto Matlock Track which climbs back up to Mount Terrible Track. It’s an interesting drive with plenty of ruts to negotiate but isn’t difficult.
Then we turned down Moonlight Spur which has some steep sections but is well graded. Again, if it had been any wetter it might have been challenging. There are two creek crossings at the bottom which weren’t too deep.
We got back to camp a bit before 4pm, unloaded the firewood and got a nice fire going, and enjoyed each other’s company around the fire.
Sunday 7th July
On Sunday morning we headed towards Woods Point, and turned off onto German Spur Track. It immediately climbs straight up the spur and is very steep. The steep climb goes on for a couple of kilometres without any respite. Everyone got up okay, but again it would be a different story if it was wet. Once we got to the top of the first big climb, the track flattened out and varied from reasonably flat sections with the odd bog-hole, to little climbs and descents. We found a couple of historical markers up there which tell of a hotel and a settlement which used to be there. It was a great track, probably the favourite for the weekend.
We then turned left onto the Mansfield-Woods Point Road, and drove to Woods Point for smoko, and to buy some ‘Tear Arse Gully’ port from the Woods Point pub. After smoko we headed back towards Kevington and turned left onto Dear Love Track, then Pheasant Creek Track, crossing Pheasant Creek. It was fairly steep and slippery and would have been basically impossible if really wet.
We then turned sharp right onto Corn Hill Track, up to the summit of Mount Matlock. Continuing north on Corn Hill Track was good fun with a few steep sections and plenty of ruts to keep things interesting. We then turned down Gaffneys Creek Track which is a little overgrown, with lots of small bog holes and a few steep sections. We had lunch on the track and then continued on and got back to camp. Steve, Mitchell, Nathan and Brett all packed up and headed for home. Alan, Simeon and I then went for a little drive to between Gaffneys Creek and the A1 Mine and found a disused mine drive which Alan had told us about. We then headed back towards camp, taking a detour up Flourbag Track to look for firewood. We managed to find some which had been cut and left behind by some kind souls, so the chainsaw remained where it had been all weekend, on my roof-rack, and we headed back to camp and got a nice fire going. As the evening wore on, it started to rain a bit, so I positioned my car near the fire and deployed the awning, and Simeon, myself, Alan, Ace and Parker sat out of the rain and enjoyed the fire.
Monday 8th July
On Monday morning it was fairly wet so we decided not to bother attempting any more tracks. Alan and I took our time packing up, had a leisurely breakfast, and bid Simeon farewell and headed for home. Simeon decided to stay another night and enjoy the peace and quiet on his own (and to burn the rest of the firewood!)
Andrew Mertens.
Trip Participants
Andrew – Triton
Brett – Hilux
Simeon – Hilux
Nathan and Bailey – Patrol
Steve – Ranger
Mitchell – Ranger
Alan, Ace and Parker – Hilux
