Xmas Camp, Mt Buffalo Caravan Park, Porepunkah

Monday 26^th December to Monday 2^nd  January 2006

Over the past 10 years or so the Club has camped for about a week at the Mt Buffalo Caravan Park. Situated on the fork of the Ovens and Buckland Rivers it offers a fantastic range of activities including swimming, fishing and bush walking. Close by is the Smoko Trout Farm, the “Wandi Pub”, the Hedge Maze, various berry, deer and nut farms, and an alpaca ranch. The famous Milawa wineries and cheese factory are close by.

Great road and dirt riding country abounds. Mt Buffalo offers a sensational 25 km climb to the scenic Chalet and lookouts. Nearby are good half-day rides to Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Dartmouth Dam or full day rides into the Snowy Mountains and some of the best roads in the world. Who can forget Tawonga Gap? On the flip side there are lots of fire trails and mountain tracks offering spectacular views of the surrounding alps, most of which can only be reached by 4WD or dirt bike. So, bring your road and dirt bikes, the missus and kids, the 4WD, pushbikes and swim shoes and truck inner tubes or li-los to float down the river. Supermarket shopping is available at Bright, 6 km away.

The Club usually secures some unpowered sites “under the willows”. Last year a few couples rented self contained cabins for the week, another good option. Ring 03-5756-2235 to secure a cabin or a powered site. Otherwise tell Ian Payne of your intention to camp with the group. Do it now.

Australia Day Weekend January 26^th  – 29^th, 2006

As per the Melbourne Cup weekend, the Committee has booked the spectacular “Snowy Mountain Holidays (SMH)” house and two cottages accommodation package, right on the Murray River at Towong, 11 km out of Corryong.. Australia Day falls on a Thursday and hence we have made it into a 4-day weekend to take advantage of the great location. The plan would be to ride up Thursday, ride around the hills Friday and Saturday and return to Melbourne on Sunday. This means three nights accommodation. You’ll need to take annual leave for the Friday, so book your leave day now.

The SMH site accommodates about 9 people, depending on the number of couples. Given this limitation we are now expanding into the luxurious “The Ridge”, a further 1 kilometre up the road which has two cabins and one apartment. At The Ridge, prices are $80 per couple per night for the cabins, and $140 per couple per night for the luxury apartment with $20 for each extra person. We had three people in each, reducing the costs per person. One cabin has already been partially booked by us.

The SMH costs work out to about $40 person, per night. Up from $35 from the last 3 visits but still remarkably cheap. All you need is your tooth brush and a change of clothes. Note: SMH and The Ridge payment is by cash only.

Typically we organise home cooking for the first two nights minimum, last time costing $11 in total for spaghetti the first night and a BBQ the second night. Rather than chasing small amounts of money all weekend and beyond, it is now a requirement that all monies are paid up front for accommodation and food. Hence, three nights accommodation and two meals at SMH will cost $120 plus $15 for food, total $135. If you are making your own accommodation arrangements, then just the $15 is required, assuming you are eating with the main group. As per usual, this is strictly first come, first served, with any overflow into The Ridge or the Pinnibar Motel in Corryong. Preference will be given to members.

There will be two cut-off points when no more bookings can be accepted: (i) two weeks before where we must surrender unused capacity to avoid financial risk to the Club, and/or (ii) when the beds are filled. The latter depends on the make up of participants. As a rule of thumb, both SMH and the Ridge sleep nine people comfortably (assuming one couple per site), and less if more singles. The point of this paragraph is to emphasise the importance of committing early, and why it is necessary to do so. It avoids the disappointment when last minute requests for accommodation are likely refused.