Victorian High Country

CMF Track Trip

May 2011
Gu Nissan standard, Pagero front lockers, Navara D22 standard.

Travelled up past the Thomson Dam, turned right at Walhalla road and then left down CMF Track.
Arrived after dark at the Aberfeldy River crossing at the start of 'North East Track' and set up an overnight camp.

The CMF track would be rated as 'easy' on this and at most times of the year and as I've done this track several times, the night drive didn't present any issues.
Trig Track crosses around half way down CMF and is an interesting track for those looking for something more challenging. - there's a 'seasonal' gate at this point of Trig Track.

At the CMF river crossing on the Aberfeldy River there is ample room for 6 or 8 vehicles and being a popular spot there is no firewood.

Day 1 - North East Track - Williamson Spur Track - Army Track
The start of North East Track from the river is relatively steep with loose boulders and ledges - rated as 'moderate' on the day.

From memory a small amount of moisture wouldn't add to the difficulty on this section as the track is fairly well covered, but the gradient does make for some interesting driving.
Dream Creek track joins in from the left after about a 400 meter altitude climb and then One Speck Track from the right about 2 km further along.
This section follows along the ridge line through to the Williamson Spur Track intersection and is an easy high range drive.
Turned right into Williamsons and then left down Army Track heading for Store Point on the Donnelly Creek Track.
Williamson Spur Track, in this section, is an easy run where you could give the front hubs a rest.
Army Track on the day was 'easy' to 'moderate' with some deep wash outs requiring some slow pace and good vehicle positioning. Coming up on a wet day could be a different story.

Store Point Hut on Donnelly Creek Track

Had a half-hearted look for the cemetery in behind Store Point Hut along the McKean Creek but turned back after encountering a deep washout.
Decided to do a run part way up Morning Star Track, partly to see if there were any more windscreens and body parts but primarily as one of the group hadn't climbed it before.

Morning Star Track

On this particular trip due to the dry conditions it would be rated as 'moderate' to 'difficult' but on previous trips we've had 'extreme' conditions.
I can only speak of the first 2 or 3km's as on each trip we've turned around where the track starts to level out to head back towards O'Tooles Flat.
Back towards the start of the track (about 200 meters from the Donnelly Creek crossing) there's a walking track into the 'Water Wheel' on Morning Star Creek.
At the crossing there's room for 5 or 6 vehicles to set up camp beside the creek.
Back around the bend opposite Store Point Hut on Donnelly Creek Track, directly before you start the climb towards 'Edwards Hill', there's a similar area that could accomodate 3 or 4 hehicles.
Both locations are good for water, small brown trout and a distinct lack of firewood.
Travelled west along Donnelly Creek Track to set up an overnight camp at O'Tooles Flat stopping along the way to look at a few of the old shafts that are littered along Donnelly Creek.
About half way to S Track, before Clear Creek, theres a 2 vehicle campsite on the Donnelly Creek (approx. 37.45.06S 146.28.44E).

O'Tooles

Day 2 - Jorgenson Flat, Merringtons, Dream Creek Track.Left O'Tooles early morning and travelled through to the 'Junction' stopping off at Jorgensons to make use of the DSE toilets.
All of the Donnelly Creek track is rated as 'Easy'. Possibly the hardest driving is looking out for oncoming traffic as this entire area is usually busy even on a normal weekend.
This particular trip the main track was pretty well cut up, especially on the Store Point end, due to traffic and a load of rain the week before.
Just immediately past Jorgensons there's a short track to the left leading down to a small camp area - but you've got to be lucky to find it vacant.
North of Jorgensons Hut there's the Toombon area with the Toombon Mine and Toombon Cemetery - well woth the drive - and Jorgensons Track that loops around and comes back to the hut area.
The hut on the escarpment above the junction of Donnelly Creek and the Aberfeldy is worth a visit (toilets a hundred odd meters further along from the hut) even if it's just to cross it off the list.

Aberfeldy crossing at the Junction

The views are good and it's a good spot to bring out the cameras. Plenty of campsites for those who don't mind company.

The hut overlooking the Junction

At the Junction below the hut looking back towards Donnelly Creek Track

Ended up back on the Walhalla Road and as it was only late morning decided to go down Dream Creek Track and then loop back retracing CMF Track from the previous day.
Dream Creek Track down to the Aberfeldy was reasonably broken up but with reasonable ground clearance would be rated as 'Moderate'.
At the river there is only campsite room for 2 vehicles.
The climb up, to the right hand turnoff into CMF, is long and reasonably steep but is (was) smooth with no ledges.

Top of the climb up Dream Creek Track from the Aberfeldy River

Recrossed the Aberfeldy and stopped off along CMF at the Trig Track intersection to take some more pictures of the 'switchbacks' on Trig.

Not a very good picture but the switchbacks on Trig in centre of frame.

Turned left down the Aberfeldy Road, passing Beardmores, with the thought of returning home via Walhalla.
Managed to get as far as the Aberfeldy River Crossing and then not long after had to turn back due to a landslide blocking the road.
Did the short stint back to the Thompson Dam wall and then home.

Camping area Walhalla Road - Aberfeldy crossing.