australia:vic:murrindindi
Table of Contents
Murrindindi Scenic Reserve
see also:
Introduction
- Murrindindi Scenic Reserve is a very popular camp ground for long weekends, public holidays and school holidays - although many of the camp grounds are not great for kids as there is little for them to do
- 260-340m elevation, and being inland, the nights are generally quite cold even in early Autumn or Spring
- firearms and pets are not permitted
- WARNING: purchase permits online BEFORE YOU GO as no internet there - $7/n for cars - undated HOWEVER this booking system is more like an online honesty box system and long weekends in good weather in summer/autumn are likely to see these grounds over-subscribed so you may need to get there a day prior to the long weekend and assume that you will be breathing camp fire smoke most of the weekend if weather allows camp fires - there will be a LOT of them!
- First in First served and note in peak periods many sites are pre-reserved by those arriving early to reserve sites for their friends!
- Take your rubbish home!
- Bring plenty of drinking water
- Fires can ONLY be used in Fire Danger Periods (usually Dec to end April) if all conditions are met INCLUDING wind being < 10kph!
Location
- the fast flowing stream flows from the south northwards along this north-south oriented valley
- generally accessed from the north end as that gives the least amount of gravel roads to drive
- 1hr 40mins from NW subs via Yarra Glen and Glenburn;
- 1hr 50min from NW subs via Hume fwy, Broadford, Flowerdale;
- 28km 25min Sth of Yea
Activities
- have a walk or dip in the fast flowing river at its wider and shallower spots (some wider areas are only about 1 foot deep max which makes walking around possible on the generally rounded but slippery rocks - bring neoprene boots to make it more pleasant)
- fishing
- bird watching - lots of birds in the forests near the camp sites including kookaburras, bower birds, fairy wrens, azure kingfisher (spotted at Ferns) and many others
- other nature activities - interesting insects such as stick insects can be found (easier when they land on your tent - bit hard to see them otherwise)
- walk to the cascading Wilhelmina water falls
- 2-2.5hr return rather strenuous walk up to Lower and Upper Wilhelmina Falls with lots of steps and rocks with ~250m elevation (or you can drive to Jackson's carpark at the top)
- 3hr 12km one way Murrundindi River walk - connects the various campgrounds
- camp fires
- it seems generally you can collect firewood from fallen trees in the forest and you can use chainsaws
- drive further south on the gravel road to Murrindindi Cascades
- 500m walk down steps - quite impressive cascades when there is good water flow especially after rain but check for leaches when finished walk
- can do a long 4-5hr one way walk to these cascades “along the river” from Suspension Bridge
Camp grounds from north to south
- 100 camp sites in 6 areas;
- flushing toilets are located at Suspension Bridge, Ferns and ? Bull Creek campsites (which are the best sites for children as more open spaces for playing), the others have drop toilets but these do seem to be fairly well maintained
- most of the sites have their own fireplace - hence the valley tends to be filled with smoke and dust from the gravel road traffic during peak periods
- campgrounds have some picnic tables
- adjacent to a stream but water needs to be boiled for drinking;
- no dogs allowed - as with most streamside campgrounds, snakes are common (usually black snakes)
- Testra 4G is only available at the Suspension Bridge area (Blackwood 1bar 4H=G if cloudy else 3G)
- Optus is generally not available
- sites have wire fences on 3 sides which helps to prevent over-crowding on a site by strangers and keeps each site more private by reducing foot traffic through the site by strangers
- ranger drives through in peak periods
Suspension Bridge / Blackwood camp
- the first camp ground and the most spacious one with large open areas for kids to play (especially if you get site 1) and great views of the night skies
- some minimal Telstra 4G reception (2023)
- flush toilets ONLY at the Day use entrance - remainder are drop toilets
Cassinia Camp
- drop toilets
- good amount of shade from tall eucalypts
- ~6 bollarded off relatively large sites so only for tents or campervans - often used for school or scout groups
- no mobile phone access
- can walk to Blackwood or SEC camp
SEC Camp
- SEC camp is ~100m from car park - need to walk in but otherwise it is a nice camp ground
- drop toilets
- open spaces for kids to play
- no mobile phone access
Water Gauge
- 30min drive south of Yea
- ~18 sites, many could fit two caravans or tents and this will probably be needed to accommodate groups in peak periods
- picnic area, drop toilets day car park, suspension bridge to access the walks
- mainly for adult groups as very little for children to do there - no areas for ball games, no internet, no mobile phone reception, and very dusty.
- sites are set amongst tall gums so very limited view of the night skies
- no mobile phone access
- the tall trees block much of the sun so your solar panels will struggle and your tents / awnings will take some time to dry out in the morning when packing up
- very dusty as every site is adjacent a relatively busy gravel road and many are sandwiched between both the gravel roads (the main road and the camp ground access road)
Ferns
- ?flush toilets
- no mobile phone access
- nice large camp ground wit varied sites away from road dust
- ~50m walk to river
Bull Creek
- 23 sites
- drop toilets
- no mobile phone access
Dindi Mill Camp
- small very remote camp amongst tall eucalypt forest recovering from fire, not part of the reserve but is further down south near Toolangi
- drop toilets
- no mobile phone access
- only for 1 small tent or a campervan
australia/vic/murrindindi.txt · Last modified: 2023/11/25 18:01 by gary1