Croajingalong National Park
5 days
2 nights
2 nights |
Monday 12th to Friday 16th October 2009
accommodation at Point Hicks Lighthouse
accommodation at Karbeethong Lodge Mallacoota |
October and spring, when the days are bright and sunny, is a lovely time to venture into the Croajingalong National Park. The Park becomes ablaze with spring colour and streams bubble with fresh life. We explore different areas of this national park with the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of the Mallacoota Lakes, the surging ocean around Point Hicks, and to visit a popular area during its quiet time. It's also the ideal time of the year to see whales migrating south to Antarctica.
DAY 1
We depart Melbourne at 8.00am and head straight for the small town of Yaragon where we have a very welcome and filling morning tea. Then it’s off to Lakes Enterance where we lunch and do a short walk out to the mouth of the enterance itself. Next we make our way to the Point Hicks Lightstation, our place of stay right in the heart of the Croajingalong National Park. From the back verandah of our accommodation we’ll be gazing across the open expanse of Bass Strait.
5 kilometres walking
DAY 2
Today’s walk is one of the best in the Park. We depart after breakfast for Mueller’s Inlet following the coastline. Who knows what’s been washed ashore as our beachcombing senses come to life! Then we head inland to the Thurra River and walk out onto the largest sand dunes found anywhere in Victoria. It’s an amazing moonscape, eerie but starkly beautiful. Then it’s back to our place of stay and a cuppa out on the verandah.
14 kilometres walking
DAY 3
Before departing this morning we’ll embark upon a tour of the lighthouse with our hosts who have great stories of the history and other anecdotes to share with us. Then it’s off to Mallacoota and a delightful walk of eight kilometres that follows the shoreline of the Top Lake and lands us right at the front door of our place of stay for the next two nights, the Karbeethong Lodge. The verandah of our lodge affords us excellent views across Mallacoota Lake, the scene of tomorrow’s great experience.
DAY 4
We have a very special days trekking lined up for you today. This morning we walk from our lodge down to the nearby jetty and board a small boat to take us across the Mallacoota Lake and drop us off at the edge of the Cape Howe Wilderness area. We then head out to a gorgeous location right at the foot of the surrounding peaks at Lake Barracoota. The walk is easy and with views over to Gabo Island and in such a dramatic location you’ll enjoy every minute of today’s walk. As well the lake being freshwater makes it ideal for a refreshing swim. Then it’s back to our rendezvous with our boat and a cuppa while we ply the waters looking out for sea eagles nests and enjoying the local knowledge of our helmsman. Our final night’s dinner (OE) is very much a local affair with a meal at the local pub.
14 kilometres walking
DAY 5
We’ll make tracks for Melbourne but along the way we’ll pull into the beautiful Bemms River Scenic Reserve for one last stroll before arriving into the charming Gippsland town of Bruthen for lunch (OE). We continue our journey with a stop in Sale before arriving back into Melbourne around 6.00pm.
5 kilometres walking
PRICE
Cost: $1100.00 (inc. GST)
(OE) denotes Own Expense
