Thread: Mt St Gwinear

Originally Posted by Michael2

School Holidays in Melbourne from tomorrow, and I'm thinking of taking the kids to the snow for some tobogganing. They're only 4 & 6, so I only need a few hours of toboggan and snowman fun. The 3 week old will stay home with mum this time .

Normally we go to Lake Mountain, which is only 80km away and handy for a day trip. However it's going to be crowded, and I don't like the $30 carpark fee for what is essentially a sight seeing day.

I was thinking of going to Mt St Gwinear, but I've never been there before. It's 180km away, but only has a $9 entry fee and no trail fees, so I can take my XC skis and tow the toboggans without paying an extra fee.

I'm also taking my MIL & SIL along, who have recently moved from WA, so I'm thinking a stop over at Walhalla might add to the day.

Can anyone recommend one destination over the other, and what kind of crowds am I likely to find at St Gwinear mid week? If there's not much in it, I may as well pay the $30, leave the skis at home and go somewhere closer.

Thanks in advance.

I take the wife and kids to BAW BAW. Less crowded, carpark close to the action, if early you can drive right to the top carpark, get out and snow at your feet. Not rip off prices like Bulla etc. And close. Might not have all the bells and whistles, but has 2 tobogg areas, cross counrty, as well as down hill, and tows. Close enough to leave in the morning and be home in evening and not feel absolutely shagged after. Take the Prices hwy or go the scenic route via
Warbie, Gladesdale, Powelltown, Noogee.
Snow chain hire at Icy Creek, and at Tanjil.
But I got ****edorf with the Tanjil one trip as he was shut, bad when they sign posted that Snow Chain Hire ahead , they could have put a sign up closed, I had to make a 20 km backtrack to Icy creek. Now I don't take chances and get them Icy Creek.
http://www.mountbawbaw.com.au/news.aspx#21
but road closed at present.

Tourist Road Closed In Interest Of Public Saftey

June 27 2007

Vicroads are hard at work trying to clear the road from Willow Grove to Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort. Due to bad weather conditions and substantial rains the Mt Baw Baw Tourist road has been closed in the interest of public saftey. Vic Roads will be reassessing the situation and ensuring the road is safe before it is re opened to the public. For more information please phone 51651136

I went to Baw Baw 2 years ago and never again, its a bloody sh@t of a drive and might as well drive to Buller for the same travel time. I will be going to Lake Mountain unless we get a good fall at Donna Buang to make it worth while. Never been to Gwinear before though.

Thanks guys, I looked at Baw Baw as an option, but the recent rains seem to have washed away more than the snow. I'm not sure how the approach to St Gwinear might have been affected by the rains. I'll make some calls after deciding on a destination.

Originally Posted by Michael2

Thanks guys, I looked at Baw Baw as an option, but the recent rains seem to have washed away more than the snow. I'm not sure how the approach to St Gwinear might have been affected by the rains. I'll make some calls after deciding on a destination.

The road in is about 15-20kms of dirt... snow + heavy rainfalls + dirt + snowchains = massive churned up quagmire

Originally Posted by joel_nicholson

The road in is about 15-20kms of dirt... snow + heavy rainfalls + dirt + snowchains = massive churned up quagmire

I just checked the report, rd is closed. Would be worse than the Baw Baw drive i reckon 2/12- 3 hours with 2 kids ... not on your life.

Originally Posted by joel_nicholson

The road in is about 15-20kms of dirt... snow + heavy rainfalls + dirt + snowchains = massive churned up quagmire

are you a mind reader?