Butcher Country Trip
December 20092 GU Nissan Patrols standard running gear.
A quick 2 day trip up Butcher Country Track, down into Wonnangatta and out to Dargo via Talbotville.
Drove into the Macalister from Bull Plain Spur just on dark on the Friday night and set up camp at the 'Sisters' - junction of the Macalister and Caladonia rivers.
There used to be a hut in this clearing in the late 70's early 80's which was affectionately called 'Honeymoon Hotel'. Hut is possibly overstating its grandeur. Shack is more fitting to its status when I last saw it.
 |
| Campsite at the Sisters. |
There had been a major land slip up along the Caladonia just prior to our trip and the water coming down was chocolate compared to the crystal clear water in the Macalister.
Bit hard to see in the pic. but the Macalister is in the foreground running left to right and the Caladonia (that looks like a sandbank) at the rear.
 |
| Junction of the Macalaster and Caladonia |
Left early Saturday morning and travelled the 8 odd kilometers up to the Butcher Country turnoff.
The track with 9 crossings along this section of the Macalister is 'easy' with several campsites for 2 or 3 vehicles and some good holes and runs for those after small brown trout.
Even though there's a lot of wattle regrowth along the valley after the fires, there's plenty of spots to pull over and enjoy the scenery.
 |
| Macalaster River around the 3rd crossing |
Somewhere along the way we missed seeing the Caladonia turnoff. From memory it's about 9 or 10 km up from the Macalister, but someone must have shifted it that particular day.
The track is reasonably steep in sections but unless it's seriously wet it doesn't cause too many heart pulpitations.
It's rating is single diamond but as with any track, especially at higher altitudes, this can change hourly.
We heard a convoy of 10 vehicles over the UHF coming down Butcher Country so decided to pull over and spend an hour reaching into the esky and taking in the views. This track, for scenery, has got to be up there with the top 5 tracks on this side of the high country.
 |
| About halfway up Butcher Country looking back towards the Macalster Valley |
Towards the top where it flattens off onto the plains there can be a lot of surface water. Even then, in December, there was a fair amount of mud stretches and evidence of vehicles winching.
Not being righteous or up myself but it's important not to deviate too far from the track to avoid mud stretches and obstacles in these areas. The ground is fragile enough without vehicles fanning out across the plains.
Turned right at the Howitt road, had a quick stop at Howitt Hut and then went down Zeka Spur Track into Wonnangatta Valley.
Zeka is rated at 'moderate' with no real issues except for the need to be alert to other vehicles coming at you. On a 'normal' weekend it can get quite busy - on a long weekend it can rival city link.
At some stage, in the mid 80's I think, this track used to extend (again I think) further to the north and encompass what we used to refer to as the Devils Staircase.
It was re-routed to the Zeka creek valley at some point and then re-aligned again to it's present location.
The lower sections of the Zeka Creek Track could be a challenge in its time with some of the mud holes capable of swollowing vehicles.
At the time of the Devils Staircase route, the track from the head of the valley to the homestead area was out on the flats. It now follows along and partly up the side of the valley until near Zeka Creek when coming in.
I can recall, in '84 or '85, being held up for around 4 hours trying to leave the valley on the original track after a bucket load of rain. Virtually everyone in the valley at the time had the same thought as our group - to get out before the track got cut up. Ended up a bottle-neck with about 2km of axle deep mud.
Once you've reached the valley floor and passed the turn-off to Rileys Creek Track then it's around a 7km easy drive to the homestead area.
 |
| The original homestead site. |
The original homestead burn down in the mid 1950's and the hut close by was built in 1957 by Arthur and Jack Guy, Alec Traill and George Annand.
The pick of the campsites for shade during hot weather is in the 'horse paddock' on the southern side of Conglomorate Creek. This area was where the homestead horses were kept.
 |
| Horse Paddock - the original station horses were kept in this area. |
The tree canopy gives excellent shade, water is handy and the toilets are just across the main track heading south.
Firewood is extremely limited but can usually be sourced from further down the track heading for the lower end of the valley.
Day 2 - Talbotville - Dargo
To climb to the Cynthia Range You can either take the right fork after the river crossing towards Hernes Spur Track - there are several good campsites along the Wonnangatta before you start the proper climb up - or head left with 3 more crossings and up Wombat Spur Track.
Water levels can get high with these crossings so if your unsure it may pay to get the feet wet unless you've got all the holes plugged.
 |
| Wonnangatta River crossing |
Wombat meets up with Hernes at the top and the start (or end) of Cynthia Range Track.
Cynthia Range Track is an easy high range drive for most of it's length.
 |
| Top of Wombat Spur Track looking back to the north. |
 |
| Driving west into rain along the Cynthia Range Track |
On this trip we opted to turn left down Station Track, which due to it's clay base can get greasy in the wet and can vary from moderate to difficult depending upon moisture. It's the more direct route if heading out towards Talbotville and then to Dargo.
At the bottom of Station Track you meet with Pioneer Track at 'Pioneer Racecourse'.
 |
| Pioneer Racecourse at the bottom of Station Track |
 |
| Near the bottom of Station Track |
There are several campsites in this area beside the Wongungarra River - one directly ahead at the intersection, which can accomodate a number of vehicles. Once again firewood can be a challenge.
The run from here through to Talbotville flats is uneventful. High range easy track with some gates that may need opening or closing.
From Talbotville climbed up McMillan Spur Track towards the bitumen and then the down to Dargo
Stopped in at Grant township site and the Grant Cemetery again this trip to show the 2 'newbies' the area and to take in some of the history.
No comments:
Post a Comment