2018 Victorian High Country Adventure

[Gnu]

Cracking write up Mick, you’ve reminded me of some of the smaller details I completely forgot about haha, great trip, great people, look forward to doing it again

[G60michael]

G'day all, thanks a lot for the kind works, glad you all are enjoying it so Far.

Not Wrong GNU Wont be long till we will be doing it all again, what a Bloody Trip of a lifetime it was for me, Having none of us ever met anyone before the trip, we didn't know what would happen safe to say was the best bunch of bloke you couldn't of asked for any better, the friendships built will last a life time, and the memories will last a bloody life time too.

Here's to next trip

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

With the other Fellas of the convoy on there way, me GNU and Ross decided to keep on trucking into the Wonnangatta Station



We allowed a Quick Stop into Riley's Hut, a fairly modern style of hut for this area, however still worthy of a look




Arriving around lunch time in the Wonnangatta Station, a lovely scenic drive into there, we even came across an old bloke in a relative new Ford Ranger, was super stoked to see the old g60s out and about, he even kept asking if we would swap him as he had already broken down several times that day we had Lunch under the Elm Trees, The BBQ was fired up before we decided to help Ross Get his drivers Door Closing better. Coming down into the Gatta Ross's door had a date with disaster in a fairly off camber bank got caught in a tree root sticking out, got it straightened out enough to close with minimal effort.



A Quick look around the Remains of where the old Wonnangatta homestead once stood, we originally planned to spend 2 Days exploring this particular area, but over the last couple of days we had some setbacks as mentioned above, the Diff Studs, Broken Landcruiser Recovery, and gearbox issue, so we seen what we could, very interesting area for anyone looking to do some research, plenty of history on google.



We Began the drive out, heading up the Zeka Spur Track, Nice fun track pretty easy going, some good wheel lifting action and some good lines to pick, making it to the top with not much day light left, we drove on to find a camp which the Mount Howitt carpark became that. We got the Fire Going, not to mention ross's hair catching on fire in the process however with the smell of singed hair lucking around, no one was hurt

Next morning we headed to check out Lovick's Hut, Bluff Hut and Craig's Hut, Down King Billy Track we headed. We soon came across the Unique Rock Scree, never seen a formation like it, for about a KM this rock formation travels down the side of the mountain, which you drive across several times as the track winds it way down the mountain.

With the Creeks almost barely running we were lucky to spot a few small trout lurking in the waterholes

This log doesn't look to big, its a lot bigger in the flesh, so some careful guidance for me and ross's rig to make sure the low slung Thomas PTO Drive Box's don't get smashed, all good with about an inch of clearance to spare


We got to the top of King Billy and the Boys Had to pull up the Pies were ready, Cooked Thanks to the Mighty P motor, while the boy's got the pies into them it was out with the maps for a run over where we had just come from and where we would soon be heading



We Stopped at this Ripper lookout along the way, the scenery and lookouts at this area are indescribable, ill let the pictures do the talking

Moving on we soon come to Lovick's Hut, Cummo Beat me inside to the visitors Book, and filled it out for us, bloody decent hut this one, could camp an army inside it, out in the carpark Clayton was talking to a bloke who was up here in the High country with his family who happened to have an old G60 Sitting at home in his Paddock, bloody should of got his number, I haven't owned enough yet



Next stop Bluff Hut, another Gem up here, these huts have stood the test of time, bit like the old g60s were, built to last.


After stopping at Bluff hut, we became to make way to Craig's Hut, the day was pretty crisp, so for the first time ever GNU turned the heater on in his 75 G60 not long after something got blown out of the vents, turns out that some time in its heyday this old g60 must of been a "Love Bus" a "ticket for 2" from a Drive in theatre in Melbourne, the day's of drive-in's are long gone, straight to the Glovebox with these one


Nearly at Craig's Hut



We soon arrived at Craig's Hut, Originally Built for the Film "The Man From Snowy River" it has been rebuilt two times in the previous years and today is a Popular Place for Tourist/4wders and High country Cattleman, Back in the Craig's Hut Carpark having a Bite for lunch we get yarning to once again another old G60 Owner coming from Melbourne. We had a Great time listening to old mates Ripper stories from his back in the day, He even brought a fibreglass hardtop for it from a Melbourne wreckers 30 years back and drove down the freeway home with it with nothing other then a bit of rope holding the roof of, he still doesn't know how it made it the trip home without flying off apparently it surprised everyone where his old g60 would go, apparently many a time left folk needing to change there undies

Craig's Hut, Ross Collins Posing for a Pic



We headed on to Find a Camp, Passing Buy Mount Buller Alpine Resort, and called Carters Mill Campground camp for the night, about 30km out from Mansfield, with no firewood close buy, clay and cummo had that sorted and went in the g60 to fetch some, Ross then attacked it with a chainsaw and we set in for the night. Up Early next morning, mean feed for breaky , then off we headed, we passed a old Farmer who was clearly impressed to see the old G60s, Flashing headlights and waving frantically to all 3 of us , think we made his day

20Km out of Mansfield we Said out Goodbye to Mr Ross Collins, had been a bloody great trip But he was due to be home for work in a couple of days, while ross headed to Mansfield to fuel up for the long haul back to Sydney, me and GNU turned off and took some back roads before hitting the main road and heading into Jamieson for fuel. It wasn't long and we were passing the Kevington Pub and soon hit the Dirt for the Last 100km of dirt we would be seeing this trip, Stopping in at Woods Point for some photos of the icon old Servo, what a awesome place this is, we then headed down over Thompson Dam, back on the blacktop for another 150km back to GNU's Place, the Trip had come to an End.



What a Bloody Good trip it had been, the Mates and Friendships and memories made will last a life time, I still laugh at some of the stuff we got up to and said along the way and the jokes we had all shared with some shit stirring along the way, Life's to short to take it seriously, you only live once, get out there and enjoy it like its your last, so once again thanks for Coming along and making it happen GNU, REDDOG, LIMITEDSLIP, ROSS COLLINS, COSMO, DAVE C and good Old Cummo, your all true blue genuine guys who, now get them rigs ready fellas, as for the other guys coming next year who couldn't make it for the 2018 trip, you know who you are, get them ready, were down to counting the Months left, Wont be long and it'll be Weeks and then well be doing it all again, See you all in 2020

[RED DOG]

Great post mate, well written!
Can't wait for the next trip! Will be bigger and better i rekon, cheers!

[Johnny Roadkill]

Thanks g60michael, great writeup of an awesome adventure

Used to spend a week or two in the VIC high country every year snowboarding and mountain biking, and did a few dirtbike tours too always thinking about getting the G60 over there - magical place and so good to see you guys out there doing just that !

It's all about the adventure over there - one thing that sticks with me is a rickety suspended footbridge in Bright...where I live they'd just close it to everyone but over there they've just put up a little sign warning mountain bikers about the missing planks - choose your own adventure !

Not sure if life will offer the time to get my Patrol ready this coming year but I'm pretty inspired now having read this - thanks again and all the best planning your next high country rumble

Cheers,
D

[limited slip]

Fantastic post to round out the trip report Mick. I'm definitely pumped for the next trip now....

[L60Boerne]

What an awesome trip with great pictures and story. Five vintage Patrols on Patrol...what a great picture. I hope we can get five Patrols on our ascent of Engineer's Pass this fall. Thank you so much for documenting the trip so we can enjoy your journey.

Patrolling when possible,
L60Boerne

[Esteban]

What an awesome trip with great pictures and story. Five vintage Patrols on Patrol...what a great picture. I hope we can get five Patrols on our ascent of Engineer's Pass this fall. Thank you so much for documenting the trip so we can enjoy your journey.

Patrolling when possible,
L60Boerne

I second Dave’s words!

What a fantastic write up, beautiful pictures to match, and best of all, the friendship developed in this adventure.

Really inspirational!

Thanks!

[G60michael]

Thanks to all members for the Great Feedback, and Glad you all enjoyed the Write Up.

We Actually made 2 DVD's about an hour Long Each of footage from Both Dave and Clay, bloody Good Watch and I'm starting to think ill Wear my DVD Player out shortly From watching it to many times, Bloody Good Watch and some of the stuff on there is better then Funniest home Video's.

Next Trip we will hopefully have around 8-10 G60's, We have Kept it invitational within the same group as last time with the exception of a few extra mates of both David's, Cosmo and Myself who they also own G60s.

We figured last trip was the best blokes you'd ever ask for, No Drama Queens, No Party Poopers, and No Jealous Folk, Just a Bunch of Genuine down to earth Like Minded G60 Lovers, why would you want it any differently.

See You Boy's in 2020.

To the other Forum members Both from Aus and International who have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Journey of our Trip, I Glad to announce, that another Trip Write up will be done after the next trip.

I Would like to take the chance now to Wish you and Your Families all the Very Best for 2020 and wish you all a Safe and Happy New Year.

All the Best and Take Care
G60mick

[ratpatrol66]

Thanks for posting all these great pictures and the story of your epic adventure!!!

[mdawg4x4]

That was totally awesome. Thanks for sharing.