Mount Sugarloaf
This is my second cache in the Pyrete Range area - the first being GC1DW7X.
The Pyrete Range (part of the Lerderderg State Park) is an area visited by so few. I think the main reason is because it’s a catchment area for the Merrimu Reservoir so naturally it’s walking and mountain bike only access. I’ve create this series of Caches to bring a few folks into the area.
If you like a nice relaxing bush walk or mtn. bike ride with some nice views and no one around this is the place for you. The Eastern Side of Melbourne is very densely populated now and you’ll be hard pressed to find a place as peaceful as this over east.. so come out west. This range has been on my back doorstep for ages and I’ve only just visited it, it’s unreal, so remote, yet so close and some great hill tops which are bare and you get great views from.
@GZ You’re looking for a black waterproof lunch box which some nice swaps inside.. we tried to make the swaps commensurate with the hike to get there.
: URL’s of Interest :
Getting to the cache..There are two routes to get to this cache from as follows..:
- Note that with the exception of the GZ co-ordinates the other waypoints listed here are taken from Google Earth so they’re not 100% spot on, just use them as a guide.
- Incorrect data on GoogleEarth and VicMaps : If you look on GoogleEarth or have VicMaps Topo you cannot see a linking of the tracks at vicinity S37°32.610' E144°31.299' - as of July 2008 I can assure you there is a good track all the way through this area. See "Route 1 + 2" below - this is quite a good track all the way from APARK to BPARK.
This is the easiest path and probably the one most people will take. Drive up Antimony Mine road which is off the CoimaDai-Diggers Rest Road, right until you get right to the end, park and walk from here. Quite a safe parking spot. Walking from here to GZ and back should take you around 2 hours - distance for the round trip is 7.5km. Mostly uphill on the way then all downhill on the way back. a Pretty easy ride on a mountain bike also, which will be quite a bit faster.
Use Waypoints as follows : APARK>AWP1>AWP2>AWP3>AWP4>AWP5>GZ and return.
With this Route I think you’re quite safe to go without maps, just make note of my waypoints and you’re good to go.
A route for the more adventurous. This is indeed the nicer of the two walks but it’s quite bit longer and very much more hilly. There are some VERY steep hills on this track. It is all well made 4WD tracks which are driven on by the range occasionally. This route is the 27km round trip. I’d allow 5-7 hours round trip time.
Use Waypoints as follows : BPARK>BWP1>BWP2>BWP3>BWP4>BWP5>BWP6>BWP7>BWP8>GZ and return.
With Route B I think you really should take some maps of the area. I’ve uploaded 4 x 1:30,000 Topo Maps to cover the area here 1 , 2, 3, 4, inf . Note that these maps are using the new VICMAP standard which is for all intensive purposed the same as WGS84.
Route 1 + 2.
This is my favorite.. all looking forwards, no backtracking. You need to obviously park a car at each end for this! Walk as follows.. BPARK>BWP1>BWP2>BWP3>BWP4>BWP5>BWP6>BWP7>BWP8>GZ :BREAK : GZ>AWP5>AWP4>AWP3>AWP2>AWP1>APARK. This is a trip total of 17.11 km. About a 4-5 hour walk. I did this on my mountain bike in around 3 hours.
