Croajingalong Wilderness Oct 2012

6 Days: Tuesday 9th to Sunday 14th October 2012

2 Nights: Karbeethong Lodge, Mallacoota

2 Nights: Point Hicks Lightkeepers Cottage

1 Nights: Marlo Bed and Breakfast

October is a lovely time to venture into the Croajingalong National Park. The Park comes to life in a blaze of Springtime activity as the flora enjoys renewed colour and streams bubble in the bright sunlight. Park Treks walking tour of the area known as the Wilderness Coast will have you exploring different areas of this remote coastal 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. There is also an excellent chance of seeing whales migrating south.

DAY 1

We depart Melbourne CBD 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 Entrance where we lunch and do a short walk out to the mouth of the entrance itself. Next we make our way to Marlo, where the Snowy River meets the sea. It's here that we have the chance to explore the Cape Conran Coastal Park.

5 kilometres walking

DAY 2

We'll get this mornings walk underway with a wander along the coastal foreshore of Cape Conran down to the mouth of the Yering River. It's a pleasant way to get your experience of the Wilderness Coast underway as the area typically boasts a very colourful display of wildflowers and we may even spot a pod of whales off in the distance. Once we've reached the end of our walk the coach will be waiting to take us further up the Princess Highway stopping for a coffee (Own Expense) in the small village of Cann River. Then it's another hours drive to the township of Mallacoota. Time permitting we typically get dropped off at Double Creek Arm and walk our way through the forested surrounds to find ourselves beside the shores of the Middle Lake. The trail continues through to the Bottom lake where the coach is waiting to take us to our place of stay at the Karbeethong Lodge in the township of Mallacoota.

Karbeethong Lodge sits above the shoreline of Mallacoota's Bottom lake and boasts the best views in the area. The rooms here are all with their own ensuite and there is the option of having your own room.

Day 3

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. While the walk is easy there are short 100 metre sections that maybe underwater, enough to mean tat we may walk in sandals for a brief while. Once we are out on the coast there are 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, should the temperature permit. 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. Tonight’s dinner (OE) is very much a local affair with a meal at the local pub.

14 kilometres walking

DAY 4

Today we head off for a morning walk down to Shipwreck Creek. It’s an easy return walk of around 6 kilometres and gives us the opportunity to get into Mallacoota for a morning cuppa (OE). Then we make tracks out of town for Genoa Peak. This gives us the most commanding view of the surrounding area . Leaving our packs behind we’ll complete the ascent and cast our eyes over Croajingalong in its entirety. By late afternoon we’ll be in the coach and on our way back down the highway and completing our day’s journey arriving at the lovely Point Hicks. After our arrival in the late afternoon you’ll have time to explore your new surrounds on your own terms as your hosts set about organising the night’s dinner.

17 kilometres walking

The Point Hicks Lightkeepers Cottages are constantly being updated and improved. Nonetheless the accommodation here is simple. None of the rooms have their own bathroom, instead there is one bathroom to three rooms. There maybe the option of having a room to yourself but you would need to enquire as such an option may not be available if the trip is well patronised.

DAY 5

Today’s walk is another terrific representation of the wild side of the Wilderness Coast. If you are looking for a remote walking experience that has us back at our place of stay by mid-afternoon then this walk fits the bill. We depart after breakfast for the Thurra River and walk over Victoria’s largest coastal sand dunes. After we’ve headed inland to the Thurra River we continue our journey either in the river itself (if it is warm enough) or else we continue along the sand dunes and return to our place of stay via the coast. 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.

DAY 6

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 time for a trek to Muellers Inlet following the coastline. Who knows what’s been washed ashore as our beachcombing senses come to life! Then it’s time to make tracks for the small Gippsland town of Bruthen. Here a variety of bakeries and other eateries present us with options for lunch (Own Expense) before we continue on to the town of Sale for a coffee (OE). Finally it is back into Melbourne, usually arriving back 6.30 - 7.00pm.