4WD Days out of Melbourne

This page is for updates of tracks used in the book 4wd Days out of Melbourne

 Note: There is an Updated Edition of  the book due out early in 2008 .
            This will have all latest modifications to the trip notes as well as some new trips.

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 Trip 1: Beenak to Gembrook ---- checked 09/11/06

There are a lot of track closures since last surveyed in 2005

(1) Locked Barrier at bottom of Tower Tk West preventing access to Mt Beenack

(2) Locked Gate at top of SEC TK preventing access to under Powerlines

 TL onto East Beenak Rd and follow for about a 1.5 km .Turn right into Ash Landing Rd and follow for 3.4 km until Blacksnake Ck Rd (see  new trip notes below)

 (3) All tracks South of Blacksnake Creek Rd are now closed  this includes Helmet TK , Lawless Tk  and Burgess Rd .Therefore you cannot access The 4 Brothers Rocks by car

New trip notes

Turn left from Ash Landing Rd into Blacksnake Ck Rd

1.4km turn left into Link Rd 

Follow Link  Rd  (ignore side tracks ) 

5.15 Km Track Closure on Right (Triangle Rd) Turn right on Link Rd

1.3 km  Tee Junction with Tonimbuk Rd

Turn Right to Gembrook  and keep following signs to Gembrook

 

Trip 2 : Powelltown---- checked 16/03/06

Tracks are in good condition

Monett Rd -- minor track on Left ( at 3.09km ) has been upgraded to a 2wd road and is now     called   " Blackwood Gull Forest Drive ":  KSO Monett Rd

  Black Sands Rd   --- There has been Logging operations  along this road ,ignore numerous logging tracks on RHS of road

Crusher Track  has just been graded and has some deep water run offs -- track could be very slippery if wet ,particularly the steep downhill section. 

A new fire access track has been made which joins into Crusher Track and could cause some confusion .

See Powelltown update

 

Trip 3:Powelltown to Noojee ----- checked 26/10/06

Main tracks are in good condition

Extensive logging operations on Kobiolke Rd since last surveyed ( 2002)  ,ignore minor tracks into logging areas

Large rut in Boys Camp Tk  200m from start of track use by pass track on RHS just before rut .This track is a dry weather track and would be difficult in the wet

The Poplars camping area is now closed from June to October but you can use the small camping area on LHS about 1 km before the Poplars

Keep a look out for Logging Trucks particularly on Loch Valley Rd

 

Trip 4 : Mt Margaret --------- checked 19/10/06

Yanks Folley Track has a couple of very steep ,rocky hills as well as some very deep water run offs.It is only suitable in the dry as it would be very difficult if wet

Keep a look out for Logging Trucks  along Blue Range Rd

Top end of Cathedral Lane (from Chitty Range Track ) is very rough  with deep ruts,take care to avoid panel damage

All other tracks in good condition

 Trip 5 : Narbethong to Strickland ----checked 08/02/07

                        Grantons Rd closed due logging operations

 

Trip 6 :Toolangi ---Black Range === checked 28/09/06

                 Downies Spur Tk (optional hard track in notes ) now closed  ---- dirt across track and locked gate                         
              Downies Spur Rd very rough so take care to avoid suspension damage.

 

 Trip 7 : Kinglake /Mt Robertson ---- checked  19/11/06

All major tracks are open and are in good condition

The walking track into Wombelano Falls is closed until work is done to the Viewing platform which was damaged in the fires.

Minor tracks off Boggy Ck Rd into Kinglake National Park are closed 

Glenburn Tk and Boggy Ck Spur Tk are open but are very rough in some spots.They would be very slippery if wet. Candlebark Tk is in good condition

The Mt Robertson Tk is in good condition

 Trip 8 : Tallarook ------ update 14/04/05

Please Note: Warragul Rocks are on private property and the new owner has banned all access to Warragul Rocks (4wds as well as walkers) due to problems with the dumping of stolen cars and possible insurance problems

Please respect his signs and do not tresspass on his property

see Tallarook update page

 

Trip 9: Mt Disappointment ------- update 23/11/06

 Tracks are all in good condition and are opened .

Steep descent on Phone Tk (Wpt 9G) has been graded and is in good condition but still could be slippery if wet .Minor tracks on RHS of track are now closed

NoteHilliers Rd & Lords Rd are closed due to logging operations between the 10.00am and 3pm Weekdays until Late December 2006. If closed (as we found out ) you will have to retrace your route back to Phone Tk and turn right into phone Tk (downhill ).Follow for about 2.5 km  until you exit the forest ,past the houses and turn left into Bruces Ck Rd.Follow for another few Kms until the Wallan/Whittlesea Rd.Turn left to Whittlesea.

Trip 10 :Cobaw State Forest ----update  17/03/07

  Minor track off Ashworths Rd  has some very deep ruts which would make it impassable to a standard   4wd.To by pass this keep on the main Bayton Rd for 7.15 km past the Asworth Rd junction and turn  left into Reillys Rd. Keep following for 2.5 km until Camp Tk  junction to rejoin trip notes.

 Camp Tk has some very deep ruts and would be impassable to a standard 4wd. Continue on Ridge Rd  for 1.5km to Ellis Rd ,turn right for 0.65km until Reillys Rd. Turn left for 0.8 km until main rd (Burk  & Wills Rd )

 Trip 12: Blackwood to Bacchus Marsh --------update 03/09/06

                Tracks are all in good condition  

                Ignore side tracks into logging area  on Old Blackwood Rd south of Yankee Rd

                Take care with some of the bog holes  as they can be deeper than what they look

                 Chettle Rd has been graded  and is good condition

Pictures from survey trips

 

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Page Updated :March 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

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