Mt Buffalo Weekend Walking - accommodation at Porepunkah

** There has been a last-minute cancellation, so there is a spot available for either a COUPLE or SINGLE. Please email leaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you're interested **

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 Nomads walking and social weekend in group accommodation in Victoria's North-East is now in its eighth year, and David R. will again head up the walk leaders' team. Bookings are limited and it always books out, so don't delay and risk missing out!

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Arriving Thursday for those joining the Friday and weekend walks, or arriving Friday for the weekend walks only.

• (Optional) Friday 24th February walk: Hard; approx 6-8 hrs;
• Saturday 25th February walk: Medium-Hard; approx 5-6 hrs; probable circuit walk. Booking includes the cost of evening communal BBQ dinner.
• Sunday 26th February walk: Easy; a walk in the Ovens Valley rather than on the mountain, thus shortening the drive back to Melbourne after lunch.

 

ACCOMMODATION: The weekend will follow the successful formula of previous years and will be based on accommodation at Restaway Holiday Units in Porepunkah. Accommodation is in shared holiday units, with each unit having: two bedrooms (one with a queen bed, the other with 2 single beds), a living area, a bathroom and kitchenette. 

Our booking is for the nights of Thursday (for those wishing to do the Friday walk), Friday and Saturday. 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 (e.g. local caravan park of your choice) for a maximum of 6 people who wish to walk. Confirmed bookings will be on a first booked basis, booking will be closed when capacity is reached, and a wait list will be available. Cancellations will be offered in the order of wait-listed bookings.

We expect to book out all of Restaway again, so we will have exclusive use of the swimming pool, large garden and BBQ area, within walking distance of Porepunkah village.

Some may want to stay at Restaway for Sunday evening or longer. If you remain in your weekend unit (no room service) the owners are giving you a "special rate" for the whole unit.  

Please email LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com for questions on accommodation, meals or booking.

 

THE WALKS: We will drive from our group accommodation in Porepunkah to Mt Buffalo on Friday and Saturday, enjoy the walk, and return in the late afternoon. On Sunday we will drive to a nearby walk in the Ovens Valley, after which most people will return home.

• FRIDAY: For those arriving Thursday night and wishing to do the optional Friday walk, it will be a relatively hard walk on Mt Buffalo, in an area to be decided depending on weather and park conditions. Alternatively, you can have a restful day at Restaway or visit local wineries, the brewery or the Bright region.
• SATURDAY: On Saturday there will be a day-walk on Mt Buffalo and the communal BBQ dinner at Restaway on Saturday evening.
• SUNDAY: On Sunday we will drive to a nearby walk in the Ovens Valley, after which most people will return home.

This schedule enables people to drive up after work on Friday (or on Thursday if they're able) and return home Sunday afternoon or evening.

 

FOOD & MEALS: Porepunkah village only has a pub and service station, and no food store so it is essential to bring all your food and drink needs with you. Bring your own breakfasts, lunches, drinks and snacks for all days. 

During the walks it is essential you carry your own lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water; no food is available on the mountain.

• Dinner Thursday and Friday night: Either bring your own dinner and eat in (BBQ available on-site, and each unit has a basic kitchenette), or eat out at the local hotel. A group booking will be made for 6.30pm on Friday night at the Porepunkah Pub for those who selected that option when getting tickets to the event.
• Dinner 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 volunteers to also bring pre-dinner nibbles or salad.
• Sunday: we won't drive up the mountain this year, so having lunch at a local eatery could be an option on Sunday (but it can get very crowded)!

 

BOOKING: To join this weekend you need to book and pay by Friday 16th December 2022 (if not booked out earlier):

• (i) This is a popular event; in every previous year the event has been fully booked.
• (ii) A booking can only be made through the Nomads website, and include full payment; if you find it is fully booked, please take out a WAITING LIST ticket and you will be contacted (in the order of ticketing) if there is a cancellation.
• (iii) Maximum walking group size is 30, limited to ensure a quality environmental experience and individual and group safety.
• (iv) The event is a mixed social and bushwalking event, based on accommodation at Restaway and walks on Mt Buffalo. 
• Visitors: This event is generally not open to Visitors. Please contact LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you are a Visitor and would like to attend.
• Roles: 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.

Booking Guide: Bookings are taken in the order of booking, and must be by Friday 16th December if not sold out prior. To book, click on Get Tickets. The Ticket includes participation in the walks, the cost of accommodation and Saturday night's BBQ dinner (meat or vegetarian BBQ). As noted above you may also be asked to bring pre-dinner nibbles or salads as an additional contribution towards dinner.

• NIGHTS? Firstly, decide if you will be arriving on Thursday or Friday.
• SHARED? Secondly, choose if you want 'Shared bedroom' accommodation, in which you will share the room with one other person (separate beds, or, share a queen bed with your partner or friend), OR, want a 'Single room' which gives you a room for your use only.
• GET TICKETS: Buy the ticket(s) you want. Note: if buying Shared accommodation, see the ROOM-MATE item below.
• PREFERENCES: When booking, indicate your preferences:
  * Do you need transport to the event? If you need, or can provide, transport, please indicate your postcode also.
  * Friday Dining Preference: Choose the 6.30pm Porepunkah Pub group booking or Own arrangements. 
  * Dietary Preference: for Saturday night: vegetarian, meat or other?
• ROOM-MATE?
  • If buying Shared accommodation and you book for two people, you and the person you book for will both be allocated into one room with a queen bed. Email the leader LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com when you book if you want a different arrangement.
  • If buying Shared accomodation and you only book for yourself, then you will be allocated a single bed in a 2 bed room - if you wish to share the room with a particular person (or share a queen bed) please email the leader  LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com when you book and we will try to arrange this.
  • If buying a Single accomodation you will be allocated a single bed or a queen bed, in a room that is not shared.

Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings.

 

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 either the Thursday or Friday at Restaway Holiday Units, 6852 Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah. Car pooling arrangements from Restaway to Mt Buffalo will be organised each day at the compulsory 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: 320 km, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes driving time, via Hume Hwy, Snow Road, Myrtleford to Porepunkah.

TRANSPORT: Car sharing or public transport is preferred - we'll try to avoid single-occupant car trips. There is a V/Line bus stop in Porepunkah, with connections to Wangaratta Station.

FOOD: See above. Bring your own food -  breakfasts, lunches, drinks and snacks for all days, there is no food store in Porepunkah, only a pub and service station. During the walks you must carry your own lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water. 

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots, walking poles (if you wish), 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 LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you have any questions or to advise on Shared accommodation preferences. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.

 

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