b'CLUB SPOTLIGHT BALLARAT DISTRICT 4WD CLUB O BY: STEVE DRUMMONDVIC HIGH COUNTRY EAST GIPPSLAND TRIP15 TO 23 FEBRUARY 2025 ur club usually tries to organize one longIcon Drive and some areas were very overgrown. trip to the high country each year andUpon reaching the helipad at the top of Bowen Track this year we decided to head further eastthe track descends steep rock ledges into a saddle than previously to take in some of thethen climbs out the other side. Unlike the rocky iconic areas in East Gippsland. It was a long day anddescent this side was red clay and the overnight 500kms to drive from Ballarat to Orbost where werain had made it extremely slippery. This resulted in fueled up and headed to a lovely campsite at Woodsmultiple winches as we set and reset the winch to Point just out of Orbost on the banks of the Snowyget one of the Discoveries to the top. The slow going River.and ambitious day resulted in an unplanned night Day 1 - Woods Point to McKillopsdrive as we pushed on and descended Deddick Trail Bridge138km in the dark to finally make camp at McKillops Bridge on the Snowy River.We had a full day planned to follow the SnowyDay 2McKillops Bridge to Native Iconic Drive to McKillops Bridge and we had beenDog Flat92kmwarned by Parks the route had deteriorated to the point it was classified as double black difficulty.We had a relatively easy day planned and we Some overnight rain didnt help and as we headedheaded back to look at McKillops Bridge which we north on Garnetts Track the challenges commencedhad driven over in the dark the previous night. It is with a rocky river crossing. We worked our wayan amazing structure and well worth the effort to north to Raymond Creek Falls then an easy driveget there. Heading west on McKillops Road we took along Moresford and Yalmy Roads took us toin the sights of the deepest gorge in Victoria, Little Monkey Top Track and the Big Tree. From here toRiver Gorge then continued along the Snowy River McKillops Bridge it proved to be very challengingroad to Suggan Buggan and the old school house. as the overnight rain had made the tracks slippery.Steve, our trip leader, discovered some brake issues There hadnt been much traffic along the Snowyon the Landcruiser so he headed along the Barry 22 TRACKWATCH| Autumn 2025'