Please find below details of the Walhalla Cruise: (hopefully there might be a bit of sunshine for this one), cheers - Margaret and Mark Pellegrino.
DATE: 7th (SUNDAY) NOV 2010
Cruise to Gippsland Walhalla, a small picturesque and historic mountain township in the Gippsland district's Baw Baw Ranges in Victoria, in the south-eastern corner of mainland Australia. At its peak, some 5,000 people lived in and around Walhalla, the centre of a pioneer gold field that extended to the nearby towns of Aberfeldy, Toombon, Donnelly's Creek, Red Jacket and Jericho to the north and west, and Cooper's Creek, Happy Go Lucky and Jubilee to the south and east.
Only a handful of permanent residents live there today, but in the last decades of the 19th century, it was the heart of one of the most vibrant gold mining districts in the world, and a major influence in shaping the prosperity of a newly founded state.
ROADS: All sealed & good …. The last half hour is winding and narrow. So I suggest if members are sharing the driving then the last bit would be for the one that enjoys a harder level of Cruising !!
COMMUNICATIONS: two way radios on 18 …. Or mobiles but range can be a little sparse as we head to the hills!!
PREPARATION: Please wear comfortable & enclosed shoes especially if you are going on the mine tour and make sure U have at least 3/4 tank of fuel as there is NO servo at Walhalla. There is a BP at Long worry on both sides of freeway LET US know if this is required on the outbound trip as it will not be a designated stop but can be organized.
LUNCH:BYO picnic, there is a wood BBQ area but we can’t guarantee they would be available .. general store & Café (we have few flyer's for a coffee & pie deal) or pub meal booking required … 51566226 speak to Bob & were told meals are up to $25 & HUGE!!
MEET: at Krispy Kreme Narre Warren 8.00 for 8.30 departure Melways 110 E4
CRUISE: It is a good TWO hour drive to our final stop ….. We stay on Hwy 1 & freeway for about an hour ... until Moe where we will head North for approx 50kms. A driver swap (& quick pit stop) can be done at the MacDonald's there If required ( Walhalla has facilities too) .. We head through central Gippsland towards the mountains through ERICA & Rawson over the Thompson River to Walhalla. We will cruise all the way through town straight to the gold mine.
EXPLORING: The town: has a lot of history to see and explore mostly on foot but if it is not busy you could re park the Pt's a few times. Main street is VERY narrow!!
The gold mine.: An early tour has been organized for the club at 11am. The tour of the mine is for about an hour. Booking is for 15-20 Cost (I think) is $24.00 per adult sorry didn't get all the details They did say if we get 20 & up to 30 they could maybe work out a discount??
The train: is an hour return trip $18 adult ..
www.walhallarail.com/site2/fares_timetable.html there are trains at 1pm & 3pm and you can do a one way trip $12 cheaper for kids. This was considered for our trip into town but we would not have been able to do the mine tour at 11am.
PARKING: Will be limited especially IF it is busy BUT At the mine should be OK as we are there for a early tour. LOWERED Pt's may be best parking at the lower (gravely but compacted) area & walking the short trek up the hill (or catching a ride with a STD Pt) as the "Lip" of the drive at the top was quite acute. We may be able to leave the Pt's parked where they are and foot it down into the town .. later move them to the train station?? .. that will depend on weather and our fitness. And how busy it is. On an off season visit there was plenty of FLAT parking behind the café and through out the town.
TIMING: Suggest we aim for the train at 3pm giving us three hours to explore & have lunch …. Head home at 4pm or after … For those that want to head home earlier, best have lunch first ( or on the train??) and head for the train at 1.00pm head home as you wish or give the train a miss? .. that would be up to you.
Please contact Vic. Cruise Controller Mark Pellegrino (0408 360 401) (
mpellegrino4@bigpond.com) or Dorothy (planner for this one) for further details
Forum
and might have BEE along too ... looking forward to exploring the place a little better this time round !
Sorry PTGT will have to pull out for this one, things have just got too busy and Matt isn't well again, and he is going into hospital again next week, hope you all enjoy the day, catch up in December for the AGM and Xmas party, cheers, PTGT 
