Gembrook Mixed Naturist Walk & Opt Overnight at Helios Naturist Club

This event was originally scheduled to occur in 2019, but was re-scheduled to 1-2 February due to poor weather in November then a clash for HELIOS in January. Tickets purchased for November or January have been automatically transferred to February. If you're unable to attend in February, please contact the leaders for a refund.

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A very pleasant Medium Grade 10km (return) mixed naturist bushwalk in the Gembrook Forest 80 km east of Melbourne, followed by an optional evening, overnight and Sunday at the Helios Nudist Club nearby.

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Medium 10km circuit walk mostly through the open forest and on wide 4WD tracks with some narrower tracks in the dense green scrub along the creeks. The 4WD tracks and shrub tracks contain a number of small grading hills and slopes. An optional more challenging return track is available for those who wish to be challenged and be rewarded with splendid views of the open valley, or you may choose an alternative easier return walking track to be decided during the walk - we have two leaders for the return walk. 

MEETING TIME | LOCATION:
Saturday between 10:15am and 10:45am at the Helios Nudist Club for morning tea and coffee. (Morning tea contributions welcome). The Helios Nudist club is close to Gembrook. 

• The exact address will be emailed to everyone who has booked by 9pm on Wednesday 29th January.
• If you have bought a ticket on the Nomads website there are no difficulties for us to email the address to you. 
• If you have only RSVP'd on Meetup, please make sure your "Meetup" settings allow you to receive messages from the Organisers or you won't get the address from us.

At approximately 11am we will car pool and drive 3km on a good gravel road to the start of the walk. We expect to finish the walk between 4pm and 4:30pm. All walkers are invited back to Helios for clothes-free cool drinks, tea/coffee and nibbles after the walk. If you'd like to stay on after this and enjoy the facilities, dinner, overnight, breakfast and Sunday, please see the details below.

MAP REFERENCE: Melway map 310 grid G12 | Google map goo.gl/maps/MbtzhCrShmK1hvHS8. 

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 80 km. Allow 1 hour 20 minutes.

TRANSPORT: There is no public transport to our meeting place at Helios. You may be able to organise a lift with a fellow hiker, or alternatively contact the Leader by Tuesday 28th January. They can possibly assist to arrange a lift for you.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
This mixed event is for Naturists. Located a short distance east of Melbourne, the forest is in the Dandenong Ranges.

Saturday Walk: We have located a number of remote tracks in this area where we can enjoy the tranquil forest and varied landscape in complete privacy. Lunch will be enjoyed beside the picturesque river with an optional medium/hard return mixed trek with splendid views of deep valleys and farm land. There is an easier return route if you're getting a bit tired - we have two leaders.

During the walk you will experience the park’s varied landscape, from the Mountain Ash forest, open 4WD tracks, and a section of the walk where we will hike through some very lush and green areas, with many tree ferns. The area supports a rich flora and contain the rare plant Long Pink-bells, Tall Astelia and Brick makers Saw-sedge. The diversity of plant life attracts a range of wildlife including wombats, swamp wallabies, deer and echidnas. Birdlife includes lyrebirds, honeyeaters, parrots and kookaburras. 

Saturday Evening & Overnight Camping Option:
After afternoon tea, those staying overnight will need to put up their tents and can then enjoy the wonderful amenities of the Helios Nudist Club, which includes a spa, sauna, solar-heated pool, table tennis and tennis and a large grassed area for lawn and ball games. There is a large deck to relax on with views over the valley.

Sunday Morning Short Naturist Walk:
Meet at 10am for the short naturist walk. A leisurely easy-grade stroll of approximately 90 to 120 minutes around the camp site is scheduled for Sunday morning. This walk will highlight the many views of the rolling valleys that can be enjoyed around the camp site.

Sunday Afternoon:
Relax at Helios.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR:
For the Walk: Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses. Wear comfortable walking shoes/boots. Insect propellant would be ideal to bring just in case! Some tracks may be muddy/soft if it has been raining. A pair of shorts or similar as there is one house at the start of the walk. 
For the Overnight:

• 2 towels, one to dry yourself with and one to sit on.
• Easy to remove footwear.
• Maybe a robe for outdoors if it is a bit cool.

FOOD:
For the Walk: Carry lunch, snacks and plenty of water (1 to 2 litres) especially those wishing to take the optional harder return track. A 45-60 minute well deserved lunch will be enjoyed by the river located approximately half way through the walk.

Saturday Dinner: We are planning to have a shared dinner at around 6:30pm.

• There is a large commercial kitchen at Helios and if you need to heat food you can give it to Yetti (female) and her helpers to heat up for you. (Unclothed people are not allowed in the kitchen.)
• Plates, cups and cutlery are all supplied, as well as hot water, tea, coffee and milk. 
• There is also an outdoor food preparation area on the edge of the deck. It consists of a BBQ, 4 burner stove and oven.
• Food and Drinks for dinner can be left in the many fridges & freezers available to residents. 
• Besides main course a few desserts to share could be nice too.

Sunday Breakfast: We would like to have a cooked breakfast available at about 8.30am on Sunday morning, bacon, eggs etc.

• We will need five volunteers to help with breakfast. Please email Russell on leaderrussellw.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you can help.
• The cost for the cooked breakfast is $5 cash payable at the counter.
• Tea, coffee, toast and spreads will be supplied.

COST
Please click on GET TICKET then choose the type of ticket you require and pay (if necessary) to secure your booking. The number of overnight guests at Helios is limited to 50 attendees. If you have bought a ticket and then can't attend, please let us know in advance and we can arrange a refund for you. The costs are:

• Walk Only: $7 for visitors, free for Nomads financial members. 
• Walk + Saturday Evening & Overnight: $20 for visitors, $13 for Nomads financial members. This is for the use of Helios' facilities and overnight camping.

LEADER | BOOKING: Russell W. and Jason T. | by Wednesday 29th January.  Email the leaders if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website. If you have any questions, or would like to contact a leader for help with transport, you can email the leaders through the Nomads website, or send an email to Jason T. on leaderjasont.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com or Russell W. on leaderrussellw.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com.

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