Category: Information

Lots of interesting, varied walks, fine wines, delicious food, comfortable accommodation, camping and picnic grounds, cycling trails, stunning vistas and tracks to explore with a 4WD or SUV: this is the beautiful Pyrenees region. Located between Ballarat and Ararat, north of the Western Highway, it’s a little too far from Melbourne for a simple day trip. As you plan post-lockdown activities, why not spend at least a few days exploring and sampling the activities the Pyrenees has to offer? The Pyrenees Touring Guide is an excellent map of the area which will suit all types of visitors.

The map, which is packed with information, is a large double-sided sheet scaled at 1:50,000. While this scale does not allow every walking track to be marked, the main ones are there and, with contours at an interval of 10 meters, there is plenty of detail for walkers. The more-detailed 1:35,000 inset of the southern part of Mount Cole and Mount Buangor areas will be of particular interest to bushwalkers.

There are a variety of walking opportunities in the Pyrenees, including short walks (1 to 3 km) to features such as waterfalls. Longer day walks include the Sugarloaf Circuit in the Mount Buangor State Park and the Langi Ghiran-Hidden Lagoon Circuit in the Langi Ghiran State Park; both of these involve some steep, rocky tracks, so would suit energetic walkers. Experienced walkers may like to try an overnight pack-carry such as the Beeripmo Walk, which winds through both the Mount Cole State Forest and the Mount Buangor State Park. There are also opportunities for longer walks in the large Pyrenees Range State Forest: the one-way Pyrenees Endurance Walk (marked on the map) runs east to west. The forest’s extensive track network is shared with trail bikes, 4WDs and other campers. Many of these walks provide panoramic views, changing vegetation, and abundant birdlife.

Printed copies of The Pyrenees Touring Guide can be purchased from local and online retailers and through Meridian Maps; both sides of the paper map are also available in georeferenced electronic form through the phone app Avenza. It is worth noting that the inset map (Mt Cole/Mt Buangor) is not georeferenced. Having the electronic version of these maps and using the GPS capability of the phone means you always know exactly where you are. This is the beauty of having the maps available both as paper and on a phone app that has full navigational ability.

This publication is ideal for all types of visitors to the wonderful Pyrenees region – from families that enjoy short walks during their holidays, to serious bushwalkers who’d like to try a more challenging overnight pack-carry. The Pyrenees Touring Guide is certainly a welcome new guide to this fascinating region.

Written by Andrew Robinson (Bushwalker, Camper, Mapping and Navigation trainer)

The Great Dividing Trail Association (GDTA) has produced another excellent publication following on from the success of its earlier “Goldfields Track –Walk or Ride Guide” (2017 2^nd edition).“Central Victorian Highlands Walk and Ride Circuits”(2021) is a guidebook with a difference because it is a comprehensive guide to a series of both bushwalks and mountain bike rides which are all circuits and which are all intended to be completed within about four hours. They are all within a 25km radius of Daylesford.

No car shuttles would be required to complete any of the walks or rides. Many of the circuits have been designed specifically for this guide and do not appear in other guidebooks.

The trails are all in the heart of the Victorian goldfields region with its rich gold rush history and its varied landscapes on display. This is one of the most interesting parts of Victoria to explore and enjoy and walking and bike riding are two of the best ways to do this.

The three authors Bill Casey, Ken Dowling and Ed Butler have combined their extensive local knowledge and experience to produce a compact booklet that contains a detailed guide to twenty different walk circuits and ten ride circuits. Other members of the GDTA have also contributed to the publication. The walks vary from 6 to 13 km and the rides vary from 15 to 26km.

Each walk or ride has the route description, including highlights and circuit elevation, on one side of the page and a corresponding large-scale contour map on the opposite side. The track notes and contour map are therefore side by side. Colour photographs and maps are used throughout. The walks are graded from easy to hard whilst most of the rides are graded easy except for two which are graded intermediate.

At the start of the booklet, there is a page of interesting information about the GDTA itself including its long association with the Goldfields Track (Ballarat to Bendigo) and the Lerderderg Track (Daylesford to Bacchus Marsh) which together are known as the Great Dividing Trail Network. This network covers over 300km of tracks in Central Victoria.

A spiral map shows the location of each walk and ride circuit in relation to Daylesford. A useful explanation of how to use the guide is included followed by detailed information about navigating the walks and rides.

The GDTA is to be congratulated for the work it does and for producing this new guidebook. It is designed to appeal to anyone who enjoys outdoor activities and wishes to explore this special part of Victoria. The fact that all of these walks and rides are intended to be completed as half-day circuits within a 25km radius of Daylesford should make this guidebook popular with many bushwalkers and mountain bike riders.

The booklet is available for purchase from the GDTA at a RRP of $24.99 by visiting www. gdt.org.au. The website also contains updates on current track conditions.

Written by Trevor Rosen, President of the Melbourne Walking Club

Buying a GPS is a bit like purchasing a car: there are SO many considerations! Am I best suited with a bubble car just for shopping, or a people mover that will fit the kids’ friends, or a 4WD to tow the caravan? When purchasing a GPS, the first question you should ask yourself is the same as when buying a vehicle: “What do I intend to use it for?” Do you primarily want a GPS to backup paper maps, or as a major navigational tool? One user or several?

Generally, you get what you pay for. More GPS features = more cost; greater position accuracy = greater cost; larger screen = larger cost; better maps = yep, higher cost. If you want a device that will connect you with emergency services in a crisis, you’ll pay more and a subscription to a satellite service is also required. If a walking club wants to purchase GPS’s for walk leaders to borrow, then cost and ease of use will be important considerations.

This series of questions is a good place to start:

Do I need a GPS at all?

If you only want to confirm your location, a good navigation app on a smartphone will do what you want.

Is a smartphone or a handheld GPS better for navigating in difficult conditions (e.g. dense canopy; bad weather)?

A high-quality GPS with good maps will trump a good smartphone app with good downloaded maps. A smartphone is made to be a smartphone; a GPS is made to be a rugged outdoors navigation device.
Personally, I get the best of both worlds and carry both devices, as well as a paper map and compass.

I do want a GPS, but how do I research which features I really need?

There is an excellent, detailed article referenced in the Bushwalking Manual: Beginners guide to choosing a GPS device. It is written by the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain and explains all the various features of a GPS in detail. As it’s designed for the British market, there are a few minor differences to the devices available in Australia.

What GPS brands and models are available in Australia?

Garmin is really the only brand relevant to bushwalkers, as Magellan devices now seem to be off the market. Garmin has numerous options: you can compare all the models and their features on the Garmin Australia website. There’s also a recent, good review on GearLab.

So many models! How do I choose?

We are back to our very first question: “What do I intend to use this GPS for?” What features are essential to you? Who will use it? If you only need a GPS to check your position occasionally, then a Garmin eTrex 10 (about $120 at Anaconda) would be fine. At the other end of the scale, if you want a full-featured GPS to plot routes, track your walk, with a detailed mapset and which can communicate in emergencies, then a Garmin GPSMAP 66i ($729 at Johnny Appleseed GPS) may be what you want. There are lots of models in between.

I’ve heard that GPS maps are poor. Is that true?

All GPS units come with base maps. These are not very helpful to the bushwalker who likes detailed topographical maps. Garmin offers three different mapsets for Australia: ‘TOPO’, ‘TOPO Light and ‘TopoActive’. The ‘TOPO’ version is equivalent to maps of about 1:24,000 scale ($199); the ‘TOPO Light’ version, at half the price, is equivalent to maps of about 1:100,000 scale. Of these two, the ‘TOPO’ version is preferable. Some GPS models come with pre-loaded ‘TopoActive’ maps which are based on OpenStreetMap data; currently, ‘TopoActive’ maps are not available to be purchased separately. ‘TOPO’ and ‘TOPO Light’ mapsets can be purchased and added later, but it’s always cheaper to purchase your GPS with your preferred maps pre-loaded. It’s useful to note that good, free maps – also based on OpenStreetMap data – are available from the third-party site OpenTopoMap for Garmin. These maps are updated regularly and an optional contour layer is also available. Installation instructions are provided on the website.

Who can I talk to about purchasing a GPS?

Chat with a walker who regularly uses a GPS on bushwalks. The sales staff in large outdoor stores seldom know enough about these devices; you may do better at a specialist outdoor store like Bogong or The Wilderness Shop. The staff at specialist GPS stores like Johnny Appleseed GPS are usually friendly and extremely knowledgeable.

OK, I have chosen the features, mapset and model that’s best for me/my club: where can I purchase?

if you know exactly what you want, shop around. There are plenty of discounts available. Some outdoors stores, including GPS specialists, will price-match.

Thanks to Ian Mair of Melbourne Bushwalkers for the info on free OpenTopo maps.

Written by Andrew Robinson (September 2021)

Now that you have consulted our list of 5 short bushwalks in Victoria with spectacular views, it is time to think about food and drinks. Here are a few foodie ideas to toss into your backpack. They are effortless, nutritious and delicious. Sometimes those special little touches just add to that spectacular view! Do remember zero waste and safety when you plan what to pack. 

Blueberry and Chia Seeds Fruit Roll-ups
With only four ingredients and four simple steps, you can delight your bushwalking companions with your culinary skills! 

No-bake Energy Bites
With chocolate, peanut butter, honey and coconut mixed with oats, flax seeds and chia seeds, what can possibly go wrong?!

Salted Caramel Bliss Balls
These delicious morsels are vegan, paleo and gluten-free. 

Meals in a Jar
How easy, delicious and transportable is this! Whether you are planning for breakfast, lunch or snacks, these ideas will have you covered!

Now what about something celebratory to drink, I hear you say … Water is a must of course, but if you want to add some sparkle, below are some options:

Mocktails

Now here you have the opportunity to show off some skill! Mix up some of these, add ice, pour into flask and pack. Once you reach your beautiful view, you can show off your knowledge of the local flora and garnish your drinks with wild herbs … but only if you know what you are doing! 

Have fun and let us know what your go-to recipes for a bushwalk with a gourmet touch.  

Image: dirtygourmet.com

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancake recipe here.  

Walking the Australian Alps Walking Track in Winter

Well done Mark and Andy Oates!

Brothers, Mark and Andy Oates are both members of our Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR) Team and their story of how they set out in the middle of the 2018 winter to complete the 660km, south to north, winter traverse of the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) can be found here – it filled with beautiful images and a fantastic account of their adventure.