We had heard so much about the Secret Swimming Hole from Tony Janbu that we decided to explore for ourself on the rest day. I also wanted to check the route out from camp along the Crocked River to see if it suited our Ultimate camper trailer as an alternative way out.
We had a egg and bacon sandwich for breakfast and then headed out in a clockwise direction mid morning. We took McMillans Road out of the camp and encountered an overheated vehicle with a camper trailer. It was decided that Helmut should hook up to the overheated vehicle and assist him to the top which worked out well. Then left onto High Plains Road, right onto Downey Road which then turns into Matherson Track and the quality of road quickly deteriorates into a good steep downhill 4WD track which would be prove a challenge for some to ascend. Turning left at the bottom into the Secret Swimming Hole.
After a swim and climb over the falls and a walk through the cutting, we had lunch and a chat with some other people who were doing the same as us.
We headed into Dargo along the Upper Dargo Road. All the camping spots were suprisingly empty except the ones closest to Dargo. We had a well earned icecream in Dargo before heading south, right onto Shortcut Road, right again onto Wonnangatta Road, right again before the bridge onto Talbotville Road and finally onto the Crooked RiverTrack. The first crossing was very rutted but I missed a chicken track around the first two river crossings which joins Randals Track. We filled some of the rutts with rocks and then had an uneventful drive back to camp before a cup of tea and another swim.
Australia Day 2021
By Paul Harris #1721