Mt Buffalo Weekend Walking - accommodation at Porepunkah

Accomodation at Restaway is now fully booked - any cancellations will be offered to those who have registerd on the WAITING LIST, and will be offered by date / time order of registration. Booking and payment by Friday 17th December is essential to participate in this popular February 2022 Nomads weekend of walking on Mt Buffalo, socialising and exclusive-use accommodation in Porepunkah.

Mt Buffalo National Park offers spectacular scenery, moderately challenging walks through varying terrain, and rich diversity of flora and fauna, as well as unique geological formations. This Nomads walking and social weekend in Victoria's North-East is now in its seventh year, and David R. will again head up the walk leaders' team. Bookings are limited and it always books out, so book early!  

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Each day we will drive from our group accommodation in Porepunkah to Mt Buffalo, enjoy the walk, and return in the late afternoon.

• (Optional) Friday 25th Feb walk: Hard; approx 6-8 hrs;
• Saturday 26th Feb walk: Medium-Hard; approx 5-6 hrs; probable circuit walk. Booking includes the communal BBQ dinner (you will be asked to bring something for dinner) at our accommodation.
• Sunday 27th Feb walk: Easy; approx 2 hrs; After departing Restaway, a circuit walk ending with lunch at Lake Catani and the opportunity for a swim. This enables a drive back to Melbourne after lunch on Sunday.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: The weekend will follow the successful model of previous years and will be based on accommodation at Restaway Holiday Units in Porepunkah. Accomodation is in shared holiday units, with each unit having: two bedrooms (one with a queen bed, the other with 2 single beds), a living area, a bathroom and kitchenette). 

Our booking is for the nights of Thursday 24th February (for those wishing to do the Friday walk), Friday 25th and Saturday 26th February. The maximum number of people for the walks is 30. Depending on room options selected, Restaway accommodates about 24 people, so there is only limited capacity for off-site campers who wish to walk. Those wanting the limited off-site camping places, before booking please email LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com - as they are managed on a first-come basis. Only book an OFFSITE ACCOMMODATION ticket if advised by the leader to do so.

For those arriving Thursday night and wishing to do the optional Friday walk, it will be a relatively hard walk, in an area to be decided depending on weather and park conditions. Alternativerly, you can have a restful day at Restaway or visit local wineries, brewery, or the Bright region.

On Saturday there will be a one-day walk on Mt Buffalo and the communal BBQ dinner at Restaway on Saturday evening. On Sunday there will be a shorter half-day walk on Mt Buffalo, followed by a BYO picnic lunch at Lake Catani (there are no shops on Mt Buffalo, so bring lunch) with the opportunity for a swim (bring towel) before you leave. This schedule enables people to drive up after work on Friday and return Sunday afternoon or evening.

Some people might want to stay at Restaway for Sunday evening or longer.  If you stay in your weekend room, the owners are giving you a "special rate of $137 per Unit" (i.e for two bedrooms, living area, bathroom and kitchenette) Please contact LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com for details of how to book.

We expect to book out all of Restaway again, so we will have exclusive use of the swimming pool, large garden and BBQ area. 

It is a big, big task organising this weekend, so the roles are being split again this year. David is organising leadership of the walks, and Ian Gould is organising the accommodation and communal Saturday dinner. Bookings can only be made through the Nomads website; if you find it is fully booked, please take out a 'wait list' ticket and you will be contacted (in the order of ticketing) if a place becomes available. 

To join this weekend you need to book and pay by Friday 17th December 2021 (if not booked out earlier) - enabling the Nomads to secure booking of all units. The Restaway owners have indicated that their cancellation policy is more flexible than normal, should you/we need to cancel due to COVID-19.

Please note:
(i) This is a popular event; in every previous year the event has been fully booked.
(ii) A booking must include full payment for accommodation and be via our website.
(iii) Maximum walking group size is 30, limited to ensure a quality environmental experience and individual and group safety.
(iv) The event is based on accommodation at Restaway and walks on Mt Buffalo. Please contact LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com to discuss staying elsewhere; only a small number can camp or stay off-site.

This event is generally not open to Visitors. Please contact LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you are a Visitor and would like to attend.

BOOKING: By Friday 17th December if not sold out prior. To register, click on Get Tickets. Your payment will be fully refunded if it becomes necessary to cancel due to COVID-19.

• Firstly, decide if you will be arriving on the afternoon/evening of Thursday 24th or Friday 25th February 2022.
• Secondly, choose if you want 'Shared bedroom' accommodation, in which you will share the room with one other person (separate beds, or, share a queen bed with your partner or friend), OR, want a 'Single room' which gives you a room for your use only, usually a single bed. The Ticket includes the cost of accommodation, Saturday night's BBQ dinner (you will also be asked to contribute some food too) and participation in the walks.
• Buy the ticket you want, noting: if you and your partner / friend wish to share a booking, you will need to buy two 'Shared room' tickets (see below);
• Indicate if you prefer vegetarian or non-vegetarian food for the communal BBQ; and, if you are wanting to 'hitch a ride' with a Nomad for the drive up.
• If buying Shared accommodation and you wish to share with a particular person, it is necessary to email LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com to advise him of the name of the person you will be sharing with, and preferred room sharing arrangements. i.e. (i) are you wanting to share a Queen bed with your partner or friend (who needs to buy a ticket too), OR (ii) have a preference to share a twin room with a particular person. If you buy Shared accommodation and do not send the Leader an email, he will allocate you with another person in a shared room.

Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings.

NOMADS COVIDSAFE CHECKLIST: Checklist 220224 Mt Buffalo Weekend Walking.

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/mount-buffalo-national-park and www.restawayholidayunits.com.au.

MEETING TIME | LOCATION: Arrival time is from 3pm onwards on either Thursday 24th or Friday 25th February at Restaway Holiday Units, 6852 Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah. 
Car pooling arrangements from Restaway to Mt Buffalo will be organised each day at the compulsory pre-walk briefings held at Restaway prior to leaving for each day's walk. 

MAP REFERENCE: Meeting point at Restaway Holiday Units: Melway map X922 grid F9 | Google map www.google.com.au/maps/place/Porepunkah+VIC+3740. 

DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 320 km, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes driving time, via Hume Hwy, Snow Road, Myrtleford to Porepunkah. 

TRANSPORT: Car sharing is preferred - we'll try to avoid single-occupant car trips (COVID-19 guidelines permitting). There is a V/Line bus stop in Porepunkah, with connections to Wangaratta Station.

FOOD: Bring your own breakfasts, lunches, drinks and snacks for all days. Bring you dinner for all evenings except Saturday, if you intend cooking at Restaway. During the walks carry your own lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water. Only very limited food was available in the nearby Porepunkah service station last year, so it is essential to bring all your food and drink needs with you.

• Dinner Thursday and Friday night: Bring your own dinner (BBQ available on-site; limited kitchen in each Unit) and eat in, or, eat out at the local hotel. If you wish to join a block booking for the Porepunkah Hotel please contact the leader.
• Saturday night: Booking and payment includes the famous Nomads communal BBQ dinner (including meat or vegetarian option, plus dessert) on Saturday night, but BYO drinks. The organiser will ask you for a contribution of a salad or pre-dinner nibbles to this dinner.

APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots, walking poles (if you wish), sun hat / wool beany and rain/wind proof jacket. While weather forecasts are useful, cold, windy and wet weather can occur in any season, so walkers must be prepared even in February.

LEADER: Ian G. | Email LeaderIanG.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you have any questions or to advise on Shared accommodation preferences. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.

 

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