Tues, 22nd Dec, 2015 Plantation Campground, Grampian State Forest to Wannon Crossing Campground, Grampian State Park, Vic (Reed Lookout)

17 degrees this morning with beautiful blue sky. Put on a long-sleeved shirt today as it is a bit brisk. Headed back up the range to check out Reed Lookout and The Balconies.

The lookout was at the carpark so that was an easy walk. Still hazy in the distance but otherwise a clear day. Looking over Victoria Valley.

Zoomed in on the mountains in the distance.

Moora Moora Reservoir.

Reed Lookout Fire Tower.

Lake Wartook on the other side of the lookout carpark.

 Zoomed in.

One kilometre walk to The Balconies. Looks like Wonga Mick’s helpers have been having a wonderful time here.

Nice walk.

Trees by the path have been shaped into seats.

Out onto two rocky outcrops called The Balconies. A chap was posing for photo – the lady beside me couldn’t watch in case he fell.

Then he sat right on the edge!!

Another view over Victoria Valley.

Victoria Range in the distance.

The other Balcony.

Zoomed in on the rocks which look so little but having walked through them I know they are huge.

Walked back to the truck. I had put the laptop on charge but it hadn’t finished so we walked up to fire tower.

It used to be the lookout and has a direction cairn. We had just commented that The Balconies could do with some plaques to show what mountains are what.

Mt Difficult (10milies) at the back of Lake Wartook (5miles).

 Mt Difficult Range.

 The Sundial Peak (6miles), Mt Rosea (5miles) and Dalton Peak (7miles).

Mt Thackeray (12miles) – on the south end of Victoria Range. 

End of Victoria Range (10miles), Victoria Gap (9miles) and Black Range (22miles) in the distance. 

The Asses Ears (7miles) and Mt Arapiles (43miles) in the distance over the fields. 

Laptop charged so we headed back to the van. I uploaded 3 days on the blog while Steve made lunch. Packed up then we headed south through Halls Gap. Passed Lake Bellfield then the turn off to Mt William. Will come back and do that walk to the summit tomorrow. Slowly climbing to 390m elevation as we travel beside Serra Range on the right.

Pulled into Wannon Crossing Campground (290m elevation). It didn’t have a caravan symbol and we can see why now. It is State Park but they have made it for tents. As most people have roof top campers, campervans or caravans they need to change the campgrounds. We backed into the end of the carpark under a tree. Still only 24 degrees but making sure we keep the fridge cold.

I saw a plaque as we drove in – used to be a Tea House here.

Walked back to Knights Bridge named after the family of the Tea House. No water in Wannon River though.

Mt Burchell in the Serra Range.

We don’t have very good phone signal here and no TV – will watch another Game of Thrones!! Steve got the bushcooker going for dinner. Had lovely chats with Kaylene and Rick, then Wendy, Andrea and Steve Allard. Enjoyed sitting by the fire eating dinner. The sun just going down at 9pm. Getting cool so back into the van. Jon rang for a chat which was wonderful. So nice to hear his voice.