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Craigs Hut

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 18:34

ND

Could someone please let me know what the road up to Craigs Hut is like from Circuit Road. What would you say is the degree of difficulty. I'm hoping to travel down there in Jan 05 with 2 kids. Is camping permitted anywhere near the Hut? Thank you kindly for your advice and tips.
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AnswerID: 61234   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 18:59

Wayne (NSW) replied:

ND,
Last time I was there, end of April, the road was graded. High range 2nd, could almost get a 2001 Pathfinder up with no worries.
We have always camped near King hut, so I don't know what it would be like camping near the Hut. The area is very exposed to the weather so camping there would be a lottery.
What the track would be like in Jan 05 I dont know but ask me again in December and I will be able to give you an up-date.

Wayne
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Reply 1 of 11
FollowupID: 323022   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 at 19:10

ND posted:

Thanks heaps Wayne. ( I recognise the signage on your vehicle. I did some driver training with GDT and then the 3 day tag-along Man from Snowy River Tour and a one dayer near Lithgow). As it's usually just me (the mum) and the kids going away in January, I don't want to do anything that would be risky for me, the kids or the car but this trip sounds pretty ok. I just hope it lives up to my expectations!
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 61243   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 19:46

Big Trev replied:

I am not sure you are allowed to camp up these days, I will stand corrected on that though.

There isn't that much room up there now that they have fenced to house and land off and just left a car park. Interesting that has happened, it isn't an historical site or anything, it was just a movie set that has been fixed by 4x4er's for 4x4er's, and now you can't drive naywhere near it.

I was there last year, and it will be my last. Just after it was used for the film was the best time up there.

As has already been stated it is a pretty easy drive, 1 sharp pinch, 2nd low sounds good to me.
Reply 2 of 11
AnswerID: 61264   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 21:42

Member - JohnR (Vic) replied:

ND is a good question but to quote Truckster in post 12928 on the trip to Craigs 15-16th of May

""DRY WEATHER TRACK ONLY"
yet in their pretty Hire Pajero, they have to bend it in 1/2 and destroy 99% of the track desperatly tryin not to look a loser infront of their mates..."

It was a winch job where the hire car driver tried to stuff it for everyone. How often will 4by drivers be welcome after such an idiot in the hire car?
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Reply 3 of 11
AnswerID: 61277   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 22:20

Peter McGuckian replied:

There are two tracks from the circuit road. Monument Track is hard - dry weather only and an interesting drive. The main track is fine, 4wd hardly necessary. There is good camping at many sites around the area. Only worth camping on top if fine weather.

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Reply 4 of 11
AnswerID: 61283   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 22:56

Tom replied:

ND,

It's a pretty easy track up from Circuit Road. I've been there a few times, the last being about a month ago when they had a fairly decent dump of snow - got some really good photos of the hut covered in snow, have a look at:

link text

Even in the snow it was fairly easy going, low range and not a single loss of traction in my 60 series with all-terrains.

Tom.
Reply 5 of 11
AnswerID: 61291   Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004 at 23:52

Truckster (Vic) replied:

You could get a car up there.
Reply 6 of 11
FollowupID: 325001   Submitted: Saturday, Jun 19, 2004 at 03:50

Bluegeorge posted:

Truckster is right, I got the missus and kid up there in a Rav4. Bit of common sense goes a long way... Think before you floor it and you should be OK.

Blue
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 61313   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 08:24

Member Eric replied:

I agree with truckster , I was there last year in July , snow everywere and still a easy drive

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Reply 7 of 11
AnswerID: 61336   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 13:04

Tim (VIC) replied:

Was up there at easter with every man dog and anything else you wanted to take.Quite easy like alot of the tracks up around there
Reply 8 of 11
AnswerID: 61356   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 16:30

floyd replied:

2 days ago I did it in 2 wheel drive. Today there is 10 cms of snow here so may have to select high 4. In Janurary you could do it in a shopping trolley. If you want to actually do a real 4WD trip there is plenty of better stuff than Craigs. The view there is good though.
Reply 9 of 11
AnswerID: 61414   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 20:43

Crackles replied:

You can camp on the side of the car park but in Jan it may be dusty with lots of flys (horse poo). A better more protected site is 500 m up the Stirling track in a saddle. Alternativly camp on the river where you can swim at Pineapple flat, King hut or Bindaree flat. Either way it's going to be crowded. 1st high in a Subaru will do it. Cheers Craig...............
Reply 10 of 11
FollowupID: 323024   Submitted: Thursday, Jun 03, 2004 at 19:19

Big Trev posted:

It is soooooo, busy up there at that time of the year.. Wouldn't get me within a 100 k's of the place over Xmas, Easter, sunny weekend or public holiday.
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 61425   Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004 at 21:19

Member - Toonfish replied:

monument track isnt hard by any 4wd experienced driver at all!

was there at 03 xmas camped at pinepple flat not far from king hut camps
give it a go recce closer to the date and recce now on maps and local knowledge

great spot around there
have many maps on the area and my personal notes .

river levels are low that time of year traditionally (we need a drought breaker still!)

have you done a search?
go on get out there!!!
Reply 11 of 11
FollowupID: 323081   Submitted: Friday, Jun 04, 2004 at 00:06

Leroy posted:

'monument track isnt hard by any 4wd experienced driver at all!'

True but coming down we met a GQ on it's roof who was on the way up!

Leroy
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FollowupID: 323175   Submitted: Friday, Jun 04, 2004 at 17:33

Crackles posted:

After rain monument track can be quite dangerous for anyone with highway tyres so it doesn't surprise me Leroy that someone has laid one over. Cheers Craig...................
FollowUp 2 of 2