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Track Trailer Tvan Vic High Country tag-along
Corryong – Mansfield
This is not a base camp style trip
Mount Pinnibar – Tom Groggin – Nunniong Plains – Talbotville – Blue Rag – Wonnangatta – Howitt High Plains – Lovicks hut – Bluff hut and some magic spots we’d like to keep under wraps.
Hosted by Trent Moon
Tvan owners Vic Alps trip in conjunction with Track Trailer and Moon Tours.
If you own a similar style/size Aussie-made compact camper trailer and this trip interests you please do not hesitate to get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
The Victorian High Country is quite possibly the best 4WD touring location in the country, or bloody well close to it, it is also the most underrated destination in Australia with most travellers skirting around it or simply ducking in for a weekend away. There is nothing like a weekend away in the high country, 4WDing, trail bikes, hiking, hunting, free camping and no National Park fees. But the place is so much more deserving than a weekend away. One may never travel every track in a lifetime.
This seven-night trip will scratch the surface of the Victorian High Country helping join the dots of the Davies high plains, Dargo high plains, Howitt high plains, Dinner Plain, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller, the Wonagatta Valley and the Bluff giving you some perspective of this vast wilderness area.
The high country is our backyard, we’ve spent many years in their hills. There are some spectacular areas of towing where adventure can be safely discovered for vehicles set up with the basics and good quality off-road trailers. When you head off-road into the hills you really want to know where you are going and what you are driving yourself into, most of the tracks in the mountains are understandably steep and unsafe to be towed on while turning around with a trailer is nigh on impossible and dangerous in many parts. Enter Moon Tours. We’ve mapped out some epic adventures suitable for towing.
For newbies and experienced travellers alike this will be a great trip, learning where you can go and what you can do with your off-road trailer. Not only have we been travelling around the high country for many years, as well as writing guidebooks and mapping for HEMA we’ve spent a lot of time up there especially for these trips to be sure we know a good safe route for you that also has some of the adventure and off the beaten track you crave and expect from Moon Tours. I guess you all crave it or you would have bought a caravan right? So let’s go.
*We recommend you read our terms and conditions and invest in domestic travel insurance to protect your holiday.
Track Trailer Tvan Vic High Country tag-along
Corryong – Mansfield
Mount Pinnibar – Tom Groggin – Nunniong Plains – Blue Rag – Wonnangatta – Howitt High Plains – Lovicks hut – Bluff hut and more
Hosted by Trent Moon
From Corryong we make our way to Mt Pinnibar, a great climb to one of the top five highest peaks in the high country before dropping down into Tom Groggin and camping alongside the mighty Murray River where the ‘Man from Snowy River was conjured up. The Murray is more like a big mountain stream up this here. We’ll trek across to Nunniong Plains along some dirt roads and tracks checking out the Washington Winch on our way to Omeo before taking some backtracks into Dinner Plain on Mount Hotham and onto one of our favourite camps for two nights. Unhitching the trailers we’ll take you on a 4WD loop to the historic town sites of Grant and Talbotville before climbing our way to the top of the iconic Blue Rag track.
Dropping into the Wonnangatta Valley from the north we’ll camp before climbing the only exit to the west onto the Howitt high plains and onto the Bluff and Lovick’s hut.
Using the backtracks we’ll be spending a lot of time among Snow Gums at good altitudes with great views.
It’ll be a great trip and one we have spent a long time working on to make sure everything is doable for you guys towing Tvans up here.
Please also see the ‘Our story’ tab on the main menu.
Trent Moon and his old man, Ron, known affectionately as “Fossil” on tours, along with his high school mates, Matt Gallace & Ben Crawley, are the closest of friends and have been on many adventures together around Australia and Africa.
Trent grew up in the footsteps of his parents Ron & Viv Moon, 4WD legends and modern-day explorers who made a life out of remote travel, publishing 4WD Guidebooks, mapping Australia and travel writing for the best part of 40 years. Ron was editor of 4×4 Australia Magazine for 15 years and is still an editor at large today. There is nothing they enjoy more than travelling and being involved with Moon Tours together..
Trent was lucky to spend most of his life in the outback, exploring Africa or in remote areas of our seas. He started driving at a very young age and before the age of 12 would often be found behind the wheel taking on Australia’s toughest tracks. Not something we can recommend these days. He has been fortunate to have crossed the Simpson many times and now enjoys sharing it with others.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Good aftermarket suspension and light truck construction All Terrain tyres with at least 50% tread, brakes that are in good order including and maybe especially your trailer brakes, controller and hand brake. These will be the most critical mods for this trip. You will also need a UHF radio with an external aerial. After market rated recovery points would not go astray, in saying that if you have factory recovery points (not tie down points) that will suffice.
There will be some steeper rocky sections and some water crossings but we do not expect them to be too deep this time of year. A snorkel would be good for any outback touring to feed your engine clean air instead of gasping on dust, it’s also good for water crossing but is not mandatory on this trip.
Some of the tracks are tight and you can expect to be brushing up alongside some bushes and branches, you may even get some scratches. It’s important to note at this point that 4WDing can be dangerous and that you are behind the wheel and responsible for yourself, your occupants, vehicle and trailer.
Vehicles and trailers – Pre trip service by a 4WD specialist. I’m guessing a lot of guests on this trip will be from Victoria, in which case we recommend getting into Outback 4WD in Bayswater if you can. Otherwise book well in advance at your local trusted 4WD specialist who understand what it is you are actually going to do. Trailer can be serviced at Track Trailer or your nearest dealer. Be sure to replace anything on the way out, we can deal with almost any situation that arrises but I’d prefer not to and good prep is part of that.
Recovery gear – A winch would be great insurance but it is not mandatory. We manage the order of the convoy as we go depending on the terrain, vehicle set ups and experience. You do need to carry a basic recovery kit however. Kinetic rope or snatch strap, shackles (recommend you use soft shackles these days. They are lighter and lot of safer), a tow rope or winch extension rope (same thing) and maxtrax. Really, anyone towing should carry a maxtrax for every wheel but it is not mandatory for this trip. At least one pair, at least two pairs in my opinion and preferably one for each wheel. In saying that having a single pair is totally fine for this trip.
Why do I need maxtrax and basic recovery gear when everyone else carries them? Good question. If you’ve ever bought the gear you will know they are expensive, especially the maxtrax Xtremes which are well worth the money by the way. If you get stuck you use your own gear and maxtrax, if you damage them, bend them, spin the wheels and burn rubber on them removing the lugs or tearing up a rope we’d prefer you to do that to your own gear and not someone else’s.
Weight – It’s not a desert trip but there are some big hills, try and keep the weight down. For example if you can carry 200-300 litres of water and or diesel, don’t do that. Don’t bother bringing a kayak either 😉
Fuel – You will only need enough fuel to carry you through 200-300km which won’t be a problem for anyone.
Water – Carry no more than 100L, that will be plenty and you will have lots of opportunity to fill up.
Jacks – ever tried to change a flat tyre on your trailer or 4WD with one standard or bottle jack? Generally it doesn’t work and you need two. On this trip it is not mandatory to carry two, there will be plenty to go around but it is food for thought when you travel solo.
What camping equipment do I need?
Minimum Spares Kit Recommended
*We recommend you read our terms and conditions and invest in domestic travel insurance to protect your holiday.
Non-refundable $1000 deposit on completion of the booking form.
RATES
Moon Tours will arrange all your permits for the trip and any bookings required. We will need your vehicle make, model, colour and registration number.
Have a question? Call our friendly team today on 0439044327.
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Moon Tours
Unit 13/1140 Nepean Hwy,
Mornington VIC 3931
