Great Alpine Road Cruise

[TheNOBBLER[RL]]

Well, hello all of you rollaclubers out there.

 

 

After cruising to albury over the weekend (a whole other story but what a weekend that was!) I drove past a bunch of Great Alpine Road signs and got thinking... We do the Great Ocean Road cruise yearly through summer but what about winter???

 

The GAR runs from wangarrrrrrata to bairnsdale through some brilliant mountans and towns, completely the inland version of the GOR and pretty special. From start to finish it's about 300km long.

 

I'm not sure of the interest this will generate, or if it's doable as yet. I have had it in the back of my mind for a while but now I'm ready to get it happening!

 

It would be very similar to the GOR trips ( very laid back and lots of cruising etc) but if done in winter wouldn't be a great camping trip... Unless you REALLY like snow :wub:

 

Anyhow, let's throw some ideas around and go from there. We could even end up doing a short version of the run this year over winter if were keen enough, just like the first GOR cruise.

 

Cheers,

JP

[kangaroosa]

I'm in. Sounds like a good drive. If we did it over a weekend, I'm not sure what type of accomodation would be available to (20-30 odd people) if camping wasnt an option.

[KEhendo]

i'd be keen but the heater in my ke20 don't work too well. :wub:

[TE278U]

i'm in :wub:

 

I think parts of the Alpine rd close during winter???

 

Spring or autumn would be spectacular.

 

must get convertible ready...

[78_7kRolla]

Id be up for this. I love winter... and driving on cold days gives me an extra 99 killerwasps!

[TheNOBBLER[RL]]

99 Killerwasps?!?!?!?!!!!!!

 

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHGGGHGGHHGHHHHHHH......!!!!!!!!

 

:wub:

[Raven]

I would be up for a whirlwind visit.

 

Someone is gonna have to pick me up from the airport though, and I need ample time to organise time off work if you're doing it over a weekend. :wub:

[BlindKidSeeks]

GAR is closed in winter.....

 

would need to be a springtime or autumn run...

 

EPIC roads though.

 

boring ass fark run home via the hwy... but sedate home is always manageable

 

keen to help organise this, TOCAU kids have been wanting to do this for a while

[TheNOBBLER[RL]]

Rang up tourism Vic who have informed me that the gar is not closed during winter except in extreme weather conditions, and even then it's only one section of it through the alps... So that's still a possibility.

 

Also, camp sites aren't open until summer (so I'm told) as the weather is to unpredictable through other time of the year, have been recomended to look at dorms for accomodation and lodges doing groups (most cater for 4x4 crews etc ) but I'm not sure of the cost, it could knock the idea on it's head. The off season starts in October so that's a possibility, but it's pretty busy then too apparently... Bloody skiers! :)

 

Sooooo... Any ideas? Don't want it to close to the gor run as it gets a bit hard to sort that out for everyone and have people doing Christmas etc as well. But it may work!

 

I'm thinking cruise up EARLY sat morning and have breakfast somewhere nice :lolcry: then do the your through the mountains then to our sleaping spot for drinks etc and a hot pub meal (to thaw kehendo out if it's cold!) then do some more driving the next day before a liesurly cruise home? The highway is boring but it's well equipt for the travelers.

 

Plenty to do all year round up there, snow fights or mountain biking, it's got it all.

 

JP

[kangaroosa]

I would be up for a whirlwind visit.

 

Someone is gonna have to pick me up from the airport though, and I need ample time to organise time off work if you're doing it over a weekend. :lolcry:

 

I'll pick you up. Make your arrival in Melb for peak hour. It'll make you appreciate SA all that much more. :)

[Teddy]

Hahahaha

 

Get Prepaired for an invasion of Canadian(s), Mexicans !!!!

 

:):D

[78_7kRolla]

If this goes ahead it shall be as EPIC as the roads!

[TheNOBBLER[RL]]

It's looking as though this will be a weekend trip over the last weekend of June this year. Being the first run a public holidays notneeded, the snow season hasn't cranked right up and the roads will be clear. Mind you, a bit of snow would be sweet! The only thing is you legally have to carry snow chains up on the high country but we may be able to let it go.

 

Sorting possible accom for us now. This is our scouting trip for following years, will stil be awesome but not as big :)

[parrot]

Haven't been there for a while, but this place is pretty good and reasonably priced.

 

http://www.coachhousebright.com.au/coach_house/accom.html

[silverra23]

Interesting idea... subscribing to see where it goes. Hopefully I am in!