Mt Buffalo Weekend Walking - accommodation at Porepunkah

** This event is now fully booked **. We will maintain a wait-list for those wanting to join the weekend, in the event of cancellations or other changes. Offers will be made in date-order of wait-list requests. Please email the leader if you wish to join the wait-list, specifying if you will join on Thursday 18th Feb or Friday 19th Feb; number of people; and include your email and mobile phone number. 

Booking and full payment by Thursday 3rd December is essential to participate in this popular February 2021 Nomads weekend of walking on Mt Buffalo, socialising and exclusive-use accommodation in Porepunkah. Mt Buffalo National Park offers spectacular scenery, moderately challenging walks through varying terrain, and rich diversity of flora and fauna, as well as unique geological formations. This popular Nomads weekend in Victoria's North-East is now in its sixth year, and David R. will head up the walk leaders' team. Bookings are limited to 30, and it always sells out; bookings are managed on a first in - first served basis!

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Each day we will drive from our group accommodation in Porepunkah to Mt Buffalo, enjoy the walk, and return in the late afternoon.

• (Optional) Friday 19th February walk: Hard; approx 6-8 hrs;
• Saturday 20th February walk: Medium-Hard; approx 5-6 hrs; probable circuit walk. Booking includes the BBQ communal dinner (you will be asked to bring something for dinner) at our accommodation.
• Sunday 21st February walk: Easy; approx 2 hrs; After departing Restaway, a circuit walk ending with lunch at Lake Catani and opportunity for a swim. This enables a drive back to Melbourne after lunch on Sunday.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:

The weekend will follow the successful model used in previous years. The walking and social weekend is based on accommodation at Restaway Holiday Units in Porepunkah (we will make a pre-paid block booking for Nomads exclusive use) for the nights of Friday 18th and Saturday 19th February 2021 (individuals may choose to extend their booking). The maximum number of people for the walks is 30; depending on room options selected, Restaway accommodates about 24 people, so there is only limited capacity for off-site campers. (Those wanting the limited camping off-site places, please email the Leader on the link below - managed on a first-come basis.)

There will be a one-day walk on Mt Buffalo on the Saturday, the communal BBQ on Saturday evening, and a shorter half-day walk on Mt Buffalo on the Sunday. Following Sunday's walk we will have a picnic lunch at Lake Catani, with the opportunity for a swim (bring towel) before you leave. This schedule enables people to drive up after work on Friday and return Sunday afternoon or evening.

In addition, for those who wish to arrive a day earlier, on Thursday 18th February, the Nomads will book your accomodation for Thursday night at Restaway too, and there will be a one-day walk (rated hard) on Friday 19th February. Some people might want to stay at Restaway for Sunday evening or longer.  If you stay in your weekend room, the owners are giving us a "special rate of $121 per Unit". Please contact the event Leader (below) for details of how to book.

We expect to book out all of Restaway again, so we will have exclusive use of the swimming pool, large garden and BBQ area. Each holiday unit has a small kitchen, living room, bathroom and 2 bedrooms - one bedroom has a queen bed, the other has 2 single beds (some have bunks, but to keep walk numbers at a manageable level of 30, the top bunk will generally not be used).

It is a big big task organising this weekend, so the roles are being split again this year. David is organising leadership of the walks, and Ian Gould is organising the accommodation and communal Saturday dinner. Bookings can only be made through the Nomads website; if you find it is fully booked and you wish to be put on a 'wait list' in the event of a cancellation, please contact the Leader. 

To join this weekend you need to book and pay by Thursday 3rd December 2020; this enables the Nomads to secure the booking. The Restaway owners have indicated that their cancellation policy is more flexible than normal, should you/we need to cancel due to COVID-19.

Please note:
(i) This is a popular event; in previous years the event has been fully booked.
(ii) A booking must include full payment for accommodation and be via our website.
(iii) Maximum walking group size is 30, limited to ensure a quality environmental experience and individual and group safety.
(iv) The event is based on accommodation at Restaway and walks on Mt Buffalo. Please contact the Leader (email below) if you wish to register or discuss staying elsewhere; only a small number can camp or stay off-site.

This event is generally not open to Visitors. Please contact the Leader (below) if you are a Visitor and would like to attend.

BOOKING: By Thursday 3rd December if not sold out prior. To register, click on Get Tickets. Your payment will be fully refunded if it becomes necessary to cancel due to COVID-19.

• Firstly, choose if you wish to arrive Friday 19th or Thursday 18th February 2021.
• Secondly choose if you want 'Shared room' accommodation, in which you will share the room with one other person (separate beds, or share a queen bed with your partner), OR, want a 'Single occupancy room' which gives you a room for your use only. The Ticket includes the cost of accommodation, Saturday night's BBQ (you will also be asked to contribute some food too) and participation in the walks.
• Buy the Ticket you want, noting: if you and your partner wish to share a booking, you will need to buy two 'Shared room' tickets (see below); please indicate if you prefer vegetarian or non-vegetarian communal BBQ; and, if you are wanting to 'hitch a ride' with a Nomad for the drive up.
• If buying Shared accommodation and you wish to share with a particular person, it is necessary to email the Leader using the link below to advise him of the name of the person you will be sharing with, and preferred room sharing arrangements. i.e. (i) are you wanting to share a Queen bed with your partner (who needs to buy a Ticket too), OR (ii) have a preference to share a twin room with a particular person. If you buy Shared accommodation and do not send the Leader an email, he will allocate you with another person in a shared room.

NOMADS COVIDSAFE CHECKLIST: Checklist 210218 Mt Buffalo Weekend Walking.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/mount-buffalo-national-park and www.restawayholidayunits.com.au.

MEETING TIME | LOCATION: Arrival time is from 3pm onwards on Friday 19th February at Restaway Holiday Units, 6852 Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah. For those taking the option of staying Thursday 18th February and joining the optional Friday walk, arrival time at Restaway is from 3pm onwards on Thursday 18th February.
Car pooling arrangements to Mt Buffalo will be organised and pre-walk briefings held at Restaway prior to leaving for each day's walk. 

MAP REFERENCE: Meeting point at Restaway Holiday Units: Melway map X922 grid F9 | Google map www.google.com.au/maps/place/Porepunkah+VIC+3740. 

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 320km, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes driving time, via Hume Hwy, Snow Road, Myrtleford to Porepunkah. 

TRANSPORT: Car sharing is preferred - we'll try to avoid single-occupant car trips (COVID-19 guidelines permitting). There is a V/Line bus stop in Porepunkah, with connections to Wangaratta Station.

FOOD: For all days bring your own breakfasts, lunches, drinks and snacks. During the walks carry your own lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water. Only very limited food was available in the nearby Porepunkah service station last year, so it is essential to bring all your food and drink needs with you.

• Friday night (and optional Thursday): Bring your own dinner (BBQ available on-site; limited kitchen in each Unit) or, eat out at the local hotel.
• Saturday night: Booking and payment includes the famous Nomads communal BBQ dinner (including meat or vegetarian option, plus dessert) on Saturday night, but BYO drinks. The organiser will ask you for a contribution to this dinner.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots, walking poles (if needed), sun hat / wool beany and rain/wind proof jacket. While weather forecasts are useful, cold, windy and wet weather can occur in any season, so walkers must be prepared even in February.

LEADER: Ian G. | Email the Leader if you have any questions or to advise on Shared acommodation preferences. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.

 

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