OZ - Let’s Plunder the Land Down Under

Struth mate it's a trip to Australia, a huge country with vastly different landscapes covering an area of 2.9 million square miles! From deserts to rainforests and huge urban areas located along its coasts. Sometimes called OZ or the Land Down Under, it houses approximately 27 million people in an area roughly the size of the contiguous US!  

Join us for an epic 2 week adventure exploring the differing landscapes of Victoria and New South Wales including climbing to the top of Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko .  We will travel in 3 rental cars and have maximum group size of 12. We will visit Melbourne for some urban exploring including some of its great restaurants, visit Jindabyne which sits on the outskirts of Kosciuszko National Park and is very close to the Snowy Mountains, plus the many different and unique places across these two states.  

Our trip will encompass some easy and not so easy hiking as well as some excellent cycling with a primary focus on enjoying ourselves and taking the opportunity to take many photographs in this rich and diverse country.

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE DETAILS CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP. THIS IS A WAIT LIST ONLY EVENT, THIS IS WHY THE MAX NUMBER IS 1, THERE WILL BE A MAX OF 12 PEOPLE WHO CAN ATTEND THIS EVENT.

The maximum group size for this event is 12. Given the daily elevation gains achieved during this hike, along with the challenge of multiple back to back hikes, only intermediate and advanced hikers with at least D4 experience should register.  All registrants MUST be recommended by an AOC trip leader and shall initially be placed on the wait list so that the Trip Leaders can evaluate the registrant’s fitness and experience level. See Registration Requirements below.

We will spend 14 nights in hotels and houses. Our scenic 1,000-mile journey will start in Melbourne, Victoria and end in Melbourne, Victoria and along the way we will see spectacular rainforest waterfalls, soaring mountains above alpine valleys, lakes, and climb Australia’s highest mountain.

Yes! Australia has some of the most deadly animals in the world, making it all the more awesome, but don't let that turn you off this spectacular country!!

By jingo, by crikey this handy chart from Australian Geographic lists the top 10 dangerous animals in OZ (actually 30, but 10 is enough!!):

Danger rating: 10/10 

1. Box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) 

Danger rating: 9/10

2. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) 
3. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi) 

Danger rating: 8/10

4. Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) 
5. Eastern brown snake  (Pseudonaja textilis) 
6. Saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
7. Sydney funnel web spider  (Atrax robustus)

Danger rating: 7/10

8. Blue-ringed octopus (Genus Hapalochlaena) 
9. Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) 
10.Common death adder (Acanthopis antarticus)

ITINERARY DETAILS - This itinerary is subject to change depending on transport and accommodation availability, if you sign up please be prepared to be flexible.

Day 1: Melbourne Intro to City Walk & Exploring

9am: Discover what locals love about Melbourne by taking a free two to four-hour walking orientation of the city, conducted by our trained and enthusiastic volunteers.

Hike:  Difficulty:  D1; Elevation Gain: 0;   Distance:  3-5 miles; PACE: Easy to Moderate

2pm: Free Time Exploring Central Melbourne

Day 2: Mornington Peninsula Bike Ride & Wine Tasting

9am: Bicycling/Hiking in Mornington Peninsula National Park (Good area for views of Melbourne & Bay)

We will hire a bike from the Mornington Peninsula National Park Visitor Centre and cycle to Fort Pearce, where bikes are left to begin a walk to the military installations at the tip of Point Nepean.

Traverse a large slice of the peninsula on the Frankston to Flinders shared trail. Pass mudflats and mangroves between Somerville and Balnarring on the Westernport Bay Trail, and celebrate the end of your journey with some boutique wines from the Balnarring micro-climate.

You then cycle along Defence Road to Fort Nepean. Here you have time to explore the tunnels, forts and gun emplacements from which the first allied shots of both World War l and World War ll were fired. After some refreshments you return to the bikes

Bike Ride:  Difficulty: D4  Elevation Gain:   1000Ft; Distance:  20 miles PACE: Moderate

2-4pm: Crittended Wines – Mornington Pennisula Wine Tasting & Tour

Situated on the Crittenden Family’s 30 year old vineyard at the foot of Mornington Peninsula’s Hinterland The Cittenden Wine Centre is a purpose built venue that caters specifically to wine tourism and the boutique conference markets alike. The centre itself has uninterrupted views over the property’s picturesque lake which is enriched with aquatic and bird life. Seated comfortably in either our light filled tasting centre or our private tasting room your group will be guided through a unique and informative wine experience.

http://www.crittendenwines.com.au/Cellar- Door/temp

Cost: $10/person

Day 3:  Port Melbourne / St Kilda Walking Tours (Self Guided)

9am Hiking Port Phillip Shoreline & St Kilda Neighborhood (Historic Areas of Melbourne)

Foreshore Trail - Promenade along the foreshore as it traces the coastline of Hobson's Bay from Sandridge to Elwood

Immigrants Trail - Celebrate the contribution to the City of Port Phillip by immigrants and settlers

Clarondon Street History - A highlight of the architectural diversity and history

St Kilda Sense of Place - Explore St Kilda and Port Melbourne on an audio tour that brings history alive through narration, dramatization and sound effects.

https://heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Whats_on/Walks_In_Port_Philli p/Self_guided_walks_rides

Hike:  Difficulty:  D2; Elevation Gain: 0ft;  Distance:  3-5 miles PACE: Easy to Moderate

2pm: Free Time Exploring

 

Day 4: Bike Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail

9am Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail (Scenic views & parks on Port Phillip Bay)

This 24 kilometre trail is for both cyclists and pedestrians, and includes wetlands, lakes, piers, beaches, and remarkable historic buildings. It runs from Skeleton Creek in Altona, to Stony Creek under the Westgate Bridge.

http://www.visithobsonsbay.com.au/activities/the-hobsons-bay- coastal-trail.aspx

Bike:  Difficulty: D3;  Elevation Gain: 0ft;  Distance: 20 miles  PACE: Easy to Moderate 

Registration Requirements

Given the daily elevation gains achieved during this hike, along with the challenge of multiple back to back hikes, only intermediate and advanced hikers with at least D4 experience should register.  All registrants shall initially be placed on the wait list so that the TLs can evaluate the registrant’s fitness and experience level.

Any registrant who does not have a recent resume of D4 hikes in the AOC likely will not be placed on the event list unless the registrant can demonstrate to the TLs an appropriate fitness and experience level gained outside the Club.  All registrants must be recommended by an AOC trip leader.  The TLs also reserve the right to consider any registrant’s social history within the AOC and to make the final determination as to whether the registrant is an appropriate candidate for this event.   

All images are copyright and licence free and provided by Pixabay.
https://pixabay.com/en/

1. Transportation in 3 rental cars from 23rd May, 2019 and to all designated points on the itinerary, with transportation back to Melbourne by 7:00 p.m. on 01st June, 2019.  

2. 14 nights accommodation in group lodging facilities or hotels. Some group lodging facilities may include communal showers and group cooking facilities.  Depending on the availability of beds in the lodging facilities, you may expect to share a queen bed with another member of our travel group.  If this is a problem, you may reconsider whether you are suited for this trip.

3. Some meals during the housing stays, including some Breakfasts/Lunches and some group dinners. Dietary requirements will be requested prior to the event starting.  We will try and book hotels that provide free breakfast. During the parts of the trip we stay in hotels we will getting grab and go food not included in the costs i.e out of pocket. 

Cost does not include: Airfare from Atlanta to Melbourne and Return (up to $1800); some food and/or meals for the duration of the trip; additional paid activities during the trip; personal expenses and incidentals, such as laundry or internet; cell phone service; any additional nights stay in Australia.  Our itinerary will include time to shop for provisions at the beginning and during the 14 days.  Plan to spend approximately $80 USD per day for food and other items. Melbourne Tranist cards, the myfi exlporer: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/buy-a-myki/myki- explorer/

Price changes:  The price of this event is based upon the current fuel prices and currency exchange rate at the time of this write-up.  Further, the price is also based upon a minimum number of participants sharing transportation costs.  We will attempt to lock in costs as quickly as possible.  However, fuel prices and/or currency fluctuations in the interim, or a smaller group than expected, can create a slight increase in price.  Please do not register if you are unable to pay a small price increase, should it become necessary.  Your TLs will make every effort to avoid a price increase, and, if one is necessary, to keep it as small as possible.

Additional Payment Information:   Payment in full is due 14 days after you signup or by JUne 1st, 2018 - whichever comes first.   You will be moved to the waiting list if you fail to meet this deadline.

If you cancel on or before June 1st, 2018, you will receive a full refund less a $55 administrative fee.  There will be no refunds for cancellations after June 01st, unless someone (approved by the trip leaders) replaces you from the wait list and pays in full. If you are replaced, you will receive a full refund less the $55.00 administrative fee. 

There is no partial payment for partial attendance.