About The 4WD Guy and what we offer:

For Easter 2010 we will meet in Braidwood in time to set off at 10.30am on Friday April 2nd. A side trip to a local feature is done before the drive into Bendethera to set up a base camp.

On the Saturday, the adventure activity will be a visit to the caves, or a challenging 4WD circuit around the valley. This is for experienced drivers.

The Sunday will be the alternate activity and the drive out on the Monday towards Moruya will be via a little used fire trail bordering a declared wilderness area.

This 16 day trip is designed to accommodate travel out from Sydney / Canberra visiting the Mungo National Park in western NSW, skirting through the Flinders National park, travelling parts of the Oodnadatta track, Coober Pedy, before an west to east crossing of the Simpson Desert ending in Birdsville.

The return leg will pass through Innamincka and the Sturt National Park (Camerons Corner).

Meeting at Yass: 11am Saturday July 3rd (allows time from Sydney, Canberra)
Return: Sunday July 18th 2010.

Sydney, Birdsville, Simpson Desert, Great Ocean Rd, Vic High Country

In August 2010 we plan an extended trip from Sydney/Canberra to Birdsville via, Sturt National Park, Inamincka and Coongie Lakes. We will cross the Simpson Desert from East to West. A return trip will take in the Coober Pedy before heading back through Adelaide and the Great Ocean Road, Lakes Entrance, some Victorian High Country etc.

We are planning another 4WD camping trip to Tasmania in December 2010.

The tentative dates to be in Tasmania are from Saturday December 4, 2010 until the following Saturday 11th.

There will be some 4WD through the Victorian High Country as we make our way from Sydney/Canberra to the ferry in Melbourne. We will visit the Cradle Mountain region, camp along the rugged west coast, then travel down to the Lake Pedder region for at least one night.  We would then travel up the east coast, via Port Arthur before eating our way back to the ferry.

Email for further details, costs or suggest potential interest in the trip: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is in the process of being finalized (March 2010) by a group of consultants in conjunction with National Parks (Narooma Office).

It is proposed that the CMP be publicized before being adopted by June 2010. At this stage we do not have an electronic copy.

The CMP brings together in a central location much of the history of the valley and its way of life following settlement after the discovery of gold in nearby Araluen. The report also elaborates on the procedures and legislation that are in place for heritage studies and listings - these sections are about as long as the historical contributions.

The report identifies that there are historical heritage sites which need to have a more detailed management plan. These include the old homestead bakery, the water race that supplied water for the bakery, the ploughed fields of corn and the homestead itself.

The report notes the importance of the several bridle tracks into and out of the valley but these are not considered further.

There appears to be little in the way of detailed plans for the management of future use of the valley. The increasing demands on the valley especially through Xmas and Easter are not covered and it is likely that these details will be developed over time.

A copy of the report will be posted on this website when available.

There is a not for profit Association which has been concerned with maintaining access to National Parks particularly in SE NSW.

See: www.accessforall.asn.au