As trip leader for the first time we decide to offer the club a different experience, as much as we love the Victorian high country we decided to organise a trip to the Mallee – Wyperfeld / Big Desert National Park so the club could gain some sand driving experience.
Day 1 – Bridgewater to Western Beach Lake Albacutya
Thursday 10th May 2018
With all plans in place and the Cruiser packed ready to go Paul, Keith, Lachlan and I headed to the Bridgewater service station where we meet up with Russell, Seb, Steve, Narelle, Andrew, Tim and Pippa.
Watching the clouds rolling through and the sun slowly setting we headed north west along the Calder Highway (Left at 5:40pm). With a couple hours of driving down we arrived at a very chilly Birchip (current temp 6 deg) for a quick tea/toilet stop. With no convincing everyone got back into there 4wd’s and we headed towards Rainbow.
With one wrong turn which resulted in a quick u turn we arrived in Rainbow to where we all topped up our fuel tanks and then continued on to camp.
Arriving at Western beach camp at 8:40 we all set up camp and got a nice little fire going.
Day 2 – Western Beach Lake Albacutya to Big Billy Bore Campground
Friday 11th May 2018
By 9:00am everyone’s camp where all packed up and the fire put out, we headed left out of Western beach and followed the edge of Lake Albacutya (watching the Kangaroos out on the dry lake bed).
With an intersection in front of us we continued on straight ahead and went over our first sand dune. You could hear the excitement over the UHF, this is when we realised we where heading the wrong way, and with a quick u turn we headed back over the sand dune and back to intersection where we turned on to Milmed rock track. (A eagle flew over head and some crazy Emus didn’t know what direction to go in).
Up ahead we saw the sign to Hermies Straussee garden and we took this turn which leads to an open space. There is very little information on this area but this bloke used to grow vegetables there. How and why someone would do this all the way out there and in sand country had as all beat. (On the way out Keith spotted a old piece of machinery amongst the bushes)
Back on the main track we spotted the turn off to Lookout Dune, with the track being narrow Paul and I went up the track to explore it while the others waited. Reaching the base of the sand dune we tried a couple times to drive it but didn’t succeed. So we called the others through, Steve and Narelle tried next followed by Russell, Tim and then Seb but no one could conquer it (Tim got the furthest). Sand dune 1 Sandhurst 4wd club 0
All back on the main track it was time for smoko. It was now 11:05am and we continued on down Milmed Rock track which is a nice sandy drive over minor sand dunes, we did eventually get to a sand dune which had two options to choose from, with a track in mind Paul had a attempt but didn’t make it so we reversed back down and aired down some more than attempted it again and this time we succeeded.
Milmed Rock (A rock in the middle of sand country) was where we enjoyed some lunch and a group vehicle photo was taken.
Continuing along Milmed Rock track things were going along well until Seb came over the UHF saying he had a alternator issue. After assessing the situation, Seb was still ok to drive his 4wd, so we continued on for 8 more kilometres until we reached the Murrayville track. With no phone coverage Seb continued on down to Nhill to see if he could get his 4wd fixed. Thank you heaps Steve and Narelle who travelled with him to make sure he got there safely (220km round trip).
The rest of us turned right and headed 10kms to Big Billy Bore camp (arriving 2:40pm) this was a nice camp with new long drop toilets, picnic tables, open spaces and fire pits. Everyone found there own little spot and set up camp. Once Paul had the roof rack unloaded, Paul, Lachlan and I went off to found some firewood. Upon returning Russell was lighting the fire, the wood was then unloaded and we set up our swags.
Later in the afternoon Tim’s friend Adam and 3 year daughter Amelia arrived. Paul didn’t want to waste a good fire so he made a Apple cake. As the cake was ready to come off the fire Steve and Narelle arrived back at camp (6:30pm), the apple cake was served with custard and cream and enjoyed by all.
Day 3 – Brushcutters Track, White Springs and Big K Dune
Saturday 12th May 2018
Saturday morning everyone was up and ready to hit the tracks just after 9am, we headed left out of camp on to Murrayville track then left into Brushcutters track. Not far down the track and being lead vehicle Paul, the kids and I got to see a rare Mallee fowl running down the track. By around 10:30am we found a spot on the side of the track for smoko, and 20 mins later we where off to White Springs lookout.
On approach to the sand dune we all wondering if anyone will conquer this sand dune. Everyone had multiple attempts but no one could reach the top. Paul and I saw a chicken track so we decide to attempt this thinking it will be easier but we where wrong, the track was narrow and very very bumpy. We called everyone up to try it, once we all took in the views we then travelled along the ridge line then descended back down the track—we couldn’t make it up. With the sand now flattened out a bit a couple of people tried the track again but with no luck.
Sand Dune: 2, Sandhurst 4wd Club: 0
Along White Springs track we found a nice open area called Sand Bucket and thought this was a nice spot for lunch. With lunch consumed we continued on and turned left into Big Dune track, sighting the Big K dune over in the distance—I was wondering if anyone will conquer this one. On arrival we saw 4 tracks over this dune, we all had multiple attempts on all tracks, with different tyre pressures but no one could reach the summit. (Steve got the furthest, and the most sand in the vehicle with Russell as passenger).
Sand Dune: 3, Sandhurst 4wd Club: 0
We travelled along Delisio track and then back onto Murrayville track; another sand dune was spotted and we had to try and conquer the last sand dune of the day. This one had 2 options with all of choosing an option; one at a time we went up and we all made it too the summit.
Sand Dune: 3, Sandhurst 4wd Club: 1
With photos taken and all happy we had made it to the summit, Andrew headed down followed by Adam who made a small error, so the recovery boards come out and a quick recovery was made. We all then continued to descend the hill and then headed 8kms back to base camp.
On return the fire was relit, nibbles and cold beers (shaken beers) where enjoyed and at around 6:30pm, Seb arrived back at camp informing us there was a alternator available at Nhill and a drive belt har been flown from Bendigo to get him back on the tracks again.
Paul and Fiona made a pizza damper and cooked it on the camp fire and it was enjoyed by all. Followed by a late night around the nice warm fire.
Day 4 – Big Billy Bore to Bridgewater
Sunday 13th May 2018
Up and packed and on the tracks by 9:15am we headed down the Murrayville track until we reached Chinaman Well track, turning into this track we discovered the track had a lot of soft sand so we had to keep our momentum up to get through some spots.
30 min smoko was enjoyed on the side of the track then we continued on. Once at Chinaman Well we viewed the well and gathered for a group photo.
The last 15km over a very wavey track was loved by Steve (not), Much to everyone’s relieve we arrived at the end of the track and we all aired up and travelled the short distance into Rainbow for a counter meal.
After lunch Adam and Amelia headed back to Swan Hill, Tim and Pippa headed off and the rest of us went to the service station where we said good bye to Steve and Narelle. While the rest of us travelled back to Bridgewater together. With a quick stop at Birchip we arrived back at Bridgewater Service station at 4:40pm and said our goodbyes.
Participants
- Paul and Fiona (80 Series Land Cruiser)
- Russell (105 Series Land Cruiser)
- Tim (Nissan Patrol)
- Steve and Narelle (Toyota Prado)
- Andrew (Mitsubishi Triton)
- Seb (Holden Colorado)
- Adam (Toyota Hilux)
-Fiona
