Essendon Bushwalking Club

Sunday - option to camp in Nelson at Kywong Caravan Park, North Nelson Road.

Monday - Leave a car at the caravan park.  Drive to Moleside Picnic Area. Walk to Battersbys Camp, 19km Easy-Medium

Tuesday - Walk from Battersbys to Patterson Camp - 13.5km, Easy.

Wednesday - Patterson's Camp  to Nelson 20.9km, Easy.  Suggestion to stay at Dartmoor Hotel/Motel and have a pub meal, or free camping nearby at nearby Fort O'Hare (no showers!)

Members are invited to join together at Woodlands Park Essendon to enjoy a Christmas Get Together which will include a delicious lunch. (More details to follow)

Cowombat Flat is a beautiful grassy flat near the source of the Murray, where the Australian Alps Walking Track crosses from Victoria into NSW. It has a multitude of highlights (see below) and can only be visited by walkers - unless you're a ranger, etc. It's also a VERY long way from Melbourne, so this is a six-day trip - days 1 and 6 are essentially driving ...

Day 1: Drive to Native Dog Flat; car-based camping overnight (so a few luxuries permitted).

Day 2: Short drive to the start of the walking track, then packs on for the 12.5km (reasonably flat) walk in to Cowombat Flat. Set up our camp - the next two days are "day-walks" returning to the same campsite.

Day 3: Loop walk taking in the nearby highlights - Cowombat Flat itself (Plane Crash remains, farmhouse ruins, wildlife - native and feral, etc); the Absolute Official source of the Murray, marked with a pipe in the ground; the far end of the "straight-line" bit of the Victorian Border and the huge cairn marking it; and a walk back to the Flat along the baby Murray River. Probably less than 10km for the day, but full of interest, and a lot "off-track".

Day 4: A longer and harder loop walk, along 4WD tracks. (Pilot Creek Firetrail, Snowgum Firetrail, Cowombat Flat Track). A long climb initially, then undulating - about 19km. Good views of the Main Range (Kosciusko etc) in the distance. Possible off-track climb of Mt Pilot (alpine ash regrowth probably makes this too difficult).

Day 5: Pack up camp, walk the 12.5km back to the car(s). Drive to Omeo for camping at the caravan park (or accommodation). Celebratory Dinner!

Day6: Return to Melbourne

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds

Meeting Held at Moonee Ponds Bowling Club, Mt Alexandra Road, Moonee Ponds