Snowy Plains and Paradise Valley

Hello all,
I slipped away for a couple of nights before the 40C temperatures hit that are forecast later in the week. I headed to Licola, then up the Tamboritha Road to Bennison Plains. There is a beautiful Alpine stream that flows over Bennison, called Shaws Creek which has cascades and small falls right along it's length, which is very pretty.

Shaws Creek

  I headed along kelly's Lane entering from the top end, with thoughts of spending the night at McMichaels Hut. With the camper on this track was a little bit of a challenge, it's normally fairly easy when dry, but once you put probably around 650kg on the back of a low slung ute it changes how you look at it.
The cross drains are now about 60-80mm lower thanks to my low slung undercarriage. A keen eye needed to be kept of clearance with trees also.

McMichaels Hut

With a few grey clouds starting to appear, and having an appointment in Melbourne in a day's time I decided discretion was the better part of valor. If it rained I would not get back out that track with the camper on, so onwards I pressed. that night was spent at Guy's Hut Camping Area. Snowy Range Trail Rides had 16 horses in the paddock opposite, these made a good photo subject late afternoon in amongst the snow gums.

 

 Further along the Howitt Road is Howitt Hut, built around 1900 and is one of the oldest remaining huts in the High Country.

Howitt Hut

The weather was superb, with a breeze during the day, calm at night and low 20's temperatures.

1580metres Howitt Plains (that is a fly in the pic not a UFO)

Howitt Road

On the run back down off the High Plains, I did a quick stop a Bennison Lookout.

Bennison Lookout

I stayed a night at a little bit of paradise, called Paradise Valley. I have been staying there occasionally since I was about 13 years old. It is still run by the Gell Family, who have welcomed campers for about 50 years. Unfortunately age is catching up with the Gell's and the place is for sale. I hope whoever buys this place keeps it open to campers. A lovely grassy flat right on the Macalister River.

Paradise Valley Camping Park

Well, that's it for this trip, it's off to Melbourne tomorrow to get my snorkel fitted.
Over the New Years period I plan to do a trip up through the Snowy Mountains, so stay tuned....

Bye for now.