I left my house at 6am on the Friday for the 4 hour drive to Bright.
Where I met up with the lovely Stephen and Fran, the Wondering Hedgehog, global overlanders!
As they were nearing the end of their year long adventure on this continent and had made their way down to Melbourne I wanted to give them a tour of my favourite 4wd destination on the planet, the stunning Victorian High Country!
I made the decision on the previous trip that on this trip we wouldnt be just driving 4wd tracks but would drive all the high lights and use some of the faster dirt roads in between, in order for us to cover more distance and be able to see lots of different areas.
I also wanted this trip to be a more relaxing trip than the normal ones where we drive for 9-10 hours off road for 3 days and then return home knackered. I wanted it to be a more chilled out trip with lots of time at camp socialising.
So we left Bright and headed for one of the most famous tracks in the High Country and one of the ones with the most amazing ridge tracks, Blue Rag Range track.
We stopped to grab some pics on the way, in one of the chain fitting bays on the main dirt road that people use to get to the Mount Hotham ski resort.
We soon reached the turn off for the dirt road to Dargo and then the turn off for Blue Rag Range, where we aired down.
We followed another group up.
And when we got to the top were rewarded with stunning 360 degree views!
Stephen reaching the top and driving past the Trig point.
We didnt stay too long as I had Lexi with me and as this area was national park (where dogs arnt allowed) she had to stay in the car, but I wanted to let her out for a break.
So we headed back down the way we had come.
Then continued on the main dirt road to Dargo where we all went into the iconic pub (Lex included) for a well deserved beer.
Before traveling a few k's North West to the old gold mining area of Crooked River.
Where we had to negotiate lots of river crossings.
We set up camp next to the track between 2 of the river crossings, surrounded by abandoned gold mines shafts and slag heaps.
Today this area is idyllic and peaceful but 200 years ago it would have been a very busy, noisy place as gold fever gripped the country!
After a lovely evening around the fire chatting, eating and drinking, the next morning we continued with the track to drive the rest of the many river crossings on the Crooked River track.
Some of the crossings had really rocky, washed out entrances and exits, which required rear lockers to be engaged.
At the end of the track there is a very steep climb from the bottom of the valley to the top.
Where the views were just stunning.
We stopped for some pics and Lex stretched her legs.
Then we were dropping right down to the bottom of the valley again, on the Collingwood Spur track.
Through a few more river crossings.
Across one huge one.
To the high light of the day, the infamous Billy Goat Bluff track.
The High Country covers a vast area of thousands of square miles and out of the thousands of tracks that criss cross it, Billy Goat Bluff and Blue Rag Range are 2 of the most famous and iconic
out of them all!
Billy Goat Bluff is steep, rocky and technical but the views are out of this world!
We climbed up steeply from the valley below.
Up to the helipad where we briefly stopped for a pic as the track turns 90 degrees to the left.
And then we started the long steep climb to the top.
View looking back towards the helipad we came from.
There was a bit of traffic at the top and a few guys with car troubles who had decided to turn around.
This pleased me immensely as it meant we could jump out and grab some pics without feeling guilty for holding all the traffic up.
This top section is a very narrow ridge line drive with almost sheer drops off the side and the views are incredible!
I look forward to seeing Stephens pics as I'm sure they are far superior to my Iphone pics!
We reached the forest at the top and dropped down the easy dirt road.
To the junction where we turned left to go up to the pinacles.
As this area is also national park I waited with the cars and Lexi and Stepehen and Fran headed up to the fire tower. As it was a hot day there was a guy in the tower watching for bush fires who Stephen had a chat with.
Again I look forward to seeing their pics as I know the view from up there on such a clear sunny day would have been spectacular.
We headed South to the town (hamlet) of Licola where we stopped for lunch, ice creams and fuel.
We then headed North West a few k's to a camp site for the night.
The track to the campsite was very steep and didnt look well used at all.
