Grampians NP Basecamp Exploratory Recce #1

This is the first of perhaps at least three trips to the Grampians over the next 12 months to explore different areas (north/central/south/outlying).

These exploratory trips will only include day walks, but some of the walks will be rated medium-hard, and will include visits to peaks such as Briggs Bluff. Expect conditions such as: steep hills; exposed rocky paths; light rock scrambling; cliffs; no shelter; poor visibility; sustained ascent; walking along steep exposed ridge. Please of course consider your ability before booking. 

For this first trip I am thinking of perhaps including walks in the northern Grampians. This would include a selection from: Mt Zero; Mt Stapylton; Hollow Mountain; Briggs Bluff; Mount Arapiles (to the north outside park).

A second exploratory trip would include the central Grampians. This would perhaps include: Wonderland Loop; Mt Rosea Loop; Tower Hill; Victoria Ranges (to the west outside park).

A third exploratory trip would include the southern Grampians. This would perhaps include: Mt Sturgeon; Signal Peak; Mt Abrupt; The Chimney Pots.

More details to follow. Final choice of walks to be decided. No doubt easier walks will be mixed in.

The main Grampians Basecamp will be from Monday 10th - Sunday 16th November, 2025. Walking grades are expected to be more moderate.

For the first two exploratory basecamps, and the main basecamp, accommodation will be at Breeze Holiday Park, Halls Gap. There is cabin and site accommodation available, but due to the excellent location, it can get booked quickly. I have tried to avoid peak times and other clashes with the existing club programme. For the third exploratory basecamp, I am considering perhaps Dunkeld, due to the distance from Halls Gap. Please refer to the booking page for this trip for more info. For all trips, please arrange your own accommodation.

Meeting to be held via zoom

Bistro Dinner at Greensborough Hotel - Easy Social Lunch all welcome 

Starting from Kanes Bridge we walk along narrow rough foot tracks along both sides of the Yarra. Look at one of the biggest fruitbat colonies in the Southern Hemisphere. Lovely bushland in our urban environment. Morning tea in picnic area near Fairfield boathouse and lunch at Bellbird Picnic area.

 Wear sturdy boots and walking poles if you use them due to condition of track. 10km

 Please note: If conditions too wet, we start from same spot but meander along Yarra and Merry creek.

Grandparent's walks are restricted to members accompanied by grandchildren. When booking please add a note in the Comments Box advising the name and age of each child accompanying you.

The 100 Acres Nature Trail is a walk along narrow bush tracks beside waterways, amongst enormous gum trees and provides an opportunity to see bush inhabitants.The distance walked will be about 5 km and we will finish for  lunch at another challenging playground!

The car park is accessed off Knees Road, Park Orchards. Turn left into Domeny Reserve, then right and follow the road beside the football ground to the end.

Chris and Heather

Meet at 8.45 at the Eltham Community Centre car park Melway Map 21 J6, this walk also offers an alernative starting point at Eltham Lower Park's new public toilets Melways 21 H10 at 9.30, for those walkers that would prefer a 7 kms walk rather than 11 kms. Please indicate if choosing the shorter walk when making your booking. The walk is mostly flat on paths, no poles required unless you normally use them, morning tea will be provided at Petty's Orchard where Coffee can be purchased from the cafe, there are also toilets available. We will return to Eltham Lower Park at 11.30 and then walk via the Eltham Cemetery back to the Eltham Community Centre car park. Points of interest are Barak Wetland, Eltham Lower Park redevelopment, Petty's Heritage Orchard, Eltham Cemetery including an interesting talk by Melissa of the Eltham Cementery Trust, Wingrove Cottage and the Old Eltham Courthouse. 

A walk in the Dandenong Ranges, including RJ Hamer Arboretum and the National Rhododendron Gardens, in spring. The distance will be about 10km which will include some rough tracks and a long ascent from the Valley Picnic Ground to Olinda where we will have lunch in the gardens. 

Lunch at Greensborough Hotel  Bistro - Easy Social event all welcome  

BALNARRING BEACH BASECAMP 2024

Friday November 8th 12 noon - Tuesday November 12th 1pm

Walk details to follow. Short easy walks on the Friday and Tuesday, with a longer easy-medium walk on the Sunday, and even longer medium walks on the Saturday and Monday. All on the glorious Mornington Peninsula.

Walks will generally be graded EASY-MEDIUM to MEDIUM.

Club Bistro Dinner at Greensborough Hotel- All wecome 

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Our Club's Christmas dinner will be held in the Walter Withers Gallery at the Eltham Community & Reception centre. Ample parking is available off Pitt Street Eltham.

More details to follow.

Our Christmas picnic will be a combination event with a short walk, a ramble and a bike ride and/or simply enjoying a picnic.

More details to follow

Grampians NP Basecamp Exploratory Recce #2

This is the second of perhaps at least three trips to the Grampians over the next 12 months to explore different areas (north/central/south/outlying).

These exploratory trips will only include day walks, but some of the walks will be rated medium-hard, and will include visits to peaks such as Briggs Bluff. Expect conditions such as: steep hills; exposed rocky paths; light rock scrambling; cliffs; no shelter; poor visibility; sustained ascent; walking along steep exposed ridge. Please of course consider your ability before booking. 

For this first trip I am thinking of perhaps including walks in the northern Grampians. This would include a selection from: Mt Zero; Mt Stapylton; Hollow Mountain; Briggs Bluff; Mount Arapiles (to the north outside park).

A second exploratory trip would include the central Grampians. This would perhaps include: Wonderland Loop; Mt Rosea Loop; Tower Hill; Victoria Ranges (to the west outside park).

A third exploratory trip would include the southern Grampians. This would perhaps include: Mt Sturgeon; Signal Peak; Mt Abrupt; The Chimney Pots.

More details to follow. Final choice of walks to be decided. No doubt easier walks will be mixed in.

The main Grampians Basecamp will be from Monday 10th - Sunday 16th November, 2025. Walking grades are expected to be more moderate.

For the first two exploratory basecamps, and the main basecamp, accommodation will be at Breeze Holiday Park, Halls Gap. There is cabin and site accommodation available, but due to the excellent location, it can get booked quickly. I have tried to avoid peak times and other clashes with the existing club programme. For the third exploratory basecamp, I am considering perhaps Dunkeld, due to the distance from Halls Gap. Please refer to the booking page for this trip for more info. For all trips, please arrange your own accommodation.

This popular base camp offers five night’s accommodation including 3 meals per day in the YMCA Lodge near Falls Creek. You can choose each day from a variety of walks with different grades of difficulty. It is a fun and relaxing time with the chance to make new friends.

There will be people from Diamond Valley, Koonung, Waverley, Essendon and Bayside Bushwalking clubs with combined walks and activities including a New Years Eve celebration.

Accommodation is in bunk rooms and we generally only use the bottom bunks. The cost is $555 per person with a $200 deposit due by the end of August to confirm your booking.

Diamond Valley has 28 guaranteed places and bookings are now open online.

If you have questions please contact Darylene Bell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0425 771 497.

This camp will include an 18 km walk at Cape Woolamai on Friday, a 15km walk from The Nobbies past the penguins, bird hide and circuit back along the northern beach on Saturday and Sunday consists of two shorter walks - one at Churchill Island and then along the George Bass Coastal Walk to Kilcunda.

We are staying at the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island - https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/vic/phillip-island/ingenia-holidays-phillip-island/accommodation?accommodationtype=cabins. Please organise with friends to book your cabin or camp site. Prices will increase as we get closer to the date and cabins may not be available, so please book your accommodation ASAP.

More information will be provided as we get closer to the camp.

If you have any questions contact Julie Gatenby on 0401864421 or Darylene Bell on 0425771497.

Grampians NP Basecamp Exploratory Recce #3

This is the third of perhaps at least three trips to the Grampians over the next 12 months to explore different areas (north/central/south/outlying).

These exploratory trips will only include day walks, but some of the walks will be rated medium-hard, and will include visits to peaks such as Briggs Bluff. Expect conditions such as: steep hills; exposed rocky paths; light rock scrambling; cliffs; no shelter; poor visibility; sustained ascent; walking along steep exposed ridge. Please of course consider your ability before booking. 

For this first trip I am thinking of perhaps including walks in the northern Grampians. This would include a selection from: Mt Zero; Mt Stapylton; Hollow Mountain; Briggs Bluff; Mount Arapiles (to the north outside park).

A second exploratory trip would include the central Grampians. This would perhaps include: Wonderland Loop; Mt Rosea Loop; Tower Hill; Victoria Ranges (to the west outside park).

A third exploratory trip would include the southern Grampians. This would perhaps include: Mt Sturgeon; Signal Peak; Mt Abrupt; The Chimney Pots.

More details to follow. Final choice of walks to be decided. No doubt easier walks will be mixed in.

The main Grampians Basecamp will be from Monday 10th - Sunday 16th November, 2025. Walking grades are expected to be more moderate.

For the third exploratory basecamp, I am considering perhaps Dunkeld, due to the distance from Halls Gap. For all trips, please arrange your own accommodation.

Walks will include Two Towns Trail (easy), Mt Worth (medium) and rail trails (easy) north of Warragul.  Poles are strongly recommended for the Mt Worth walk.

The Friends of Mt Worth secured funding to produce the following videos which provide interesting viewing about the Mt Worth State Park.

A Year in the Life of Mount Worth State Park 

• History- https://youtu.be/HOxneK00NEI?si=hTCcPIwIqG0fTJYP

• Friends Activities- https://youtu.be/k6sDdy2VLow?si=BjqSCJweuWA7fwd2

• Birds- https://youtu.be/AqQstDwL3bI?si=f4SifWV00-lM-4sa

• Fungi- https://youtu.be/FfKsQsYblFM?si=joKO13CPekT-QI6y

• Ferns- https://youtu.be/XWU8TvGq0wQ?si=S5tmPjL2fvqsZthk

Walkers are encouraged to be in Warragul by 3:00pm on the Friday afternoon.  This will ensure you beat the Friday night traffic out of the city and, more importantly, are ready for a walk to Drouin along the Two Towns Trail and dinner at the Drouin Family Hotel.  We will return to Warragul by V-Line train so please bring your Myki card.

Dinner on the Saturday night will be pizza's at a local farm.  Bring food for breakfast, morning tea, lunches and happy hour on Saturday night.

Accommodation will be at the Warragul Gardens Holiday Park, 44 Burke Street, Warragul.  There are Superior Cabins and Family Cabins with everything provided. 1 nights' accommodation is required as a deposit and needs to be paid by 1 September 2024.  Payments are to be made directly to Warragul Gardens Holiday Park and they can be contacted on (03) 5623 2707 - please quote Diamond Valley Bushwalking Club. The final balance is due on arrival.  

Castlemaine Base Camp – Mon 5 May 2025 to Thu 8 May 2025 for 3 nights

Staying at the BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/vic/goldfields/castlemaine-gardens-holiday-park

Walks over four days have been selected to provide the most interest/best walking/views etc of the area – There will be localised walks on the arrival and departure days (Mon &Thur) and a medium 11.5km (325m) ascent 5hr partially technical walk (Tue) and a contrasting flat (100m) but longer 18km walk ‘with a twist’ (Wed). There will also be time for some sightseeing in Castlemaine and the nearby town of Maldon.

Three 3BR (Sleep 4 – 2 double beds & 2 lower bunks) Villas have been secured under the name of Diamond Valley Bushwalking Club. Please gather four per cabin to sleep in each villa and book direct with the park.

Those wanting smaller studio-type cabins or camping sites can inform the park of our group name (DVBC) and they will assign sites nearest to the three villas.

For further information, contact the below via email/text (see member details at Members Information – List):

Stephen, Sandy, Catherine, or Darylene