MELBOURNE APUG OUTING No. 4: MARCH 2013

[LJH]

Okay. Time for an early Autumnal outing.

I've outlined a couple of options in the poll for location and dates. If you can choose one and then elaborate in a written response your rational, I think that we'll be able to shortlist options pretty quickly.

I have set this up so that multiple choice is permitted, to allow us to see options a little better.

Hope to go somewhere that actually affords me a chance to fire off at least one shot!

Lachlan.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

March 9-10th is my choice for a bush-bash someplace, but it's also the Labor Day long weekend which means we will have company wherever we go, no doubt. EXCEPT if we go into the deepest, darkest Otways (where at this time regrettably there is very little water for waterfalls and water bodies...)

 

[Mick Fagan]

My preference is for late March, this should allow for cooler weather and less people around, plus the sky should hopefully be clear of smoke from bush fires.

I'm assuming the closing date of the poll is an American date, if not then it is closing a tad too late!

Mick.

 

[munz6869]

I endorse Mick's sentiments...

Marc!

 

[Oxleyroad]

+1 to late March before Easter

 

[LJH]

What about some location suggestions?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

What about some location suggestions?

Not many would go where I love to venture, but I'll place a bet: the Otways!
You'd probably get filthy, sweaty, battered and bruised, so you don't go down in them thar myrtle glooms "just for a snapshot", but to create a lasting work of art to fully justify the effort. I do like to see a bit of suffering for art.

Other ideas...
If there's a quorum, we could do a weekend trip to Portland, and do studies of both the quirky "petrified forest" (along with the splendidly spectacular vertical black cliffs nearby) and the ruggedly 'out there' Cape Nelson Lightstation.

 

[LJH]

If there's a quorum, we could do a weekend trip to Portland, and do studies of both the quirky "petrified forest" (along with the splendidly spectacular vertical black cliffs nearby) and the ruggedly 'out there' Cape Nelson Lightstation.

Serendipitously, I'm running a recon trip down there this weekend.

Apart from these 2 places, I'm also going hunting for some sand dunes out past Bridgewater near Mt Richmond National Park.

Long way to go, though...

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Ja. You can find dunes and swales in Big Drift, just outside Wilsons Promontory National Park. A little chestnut project I have in the pipeworks...

 

[Mick Fagan]

One inland possibility is Melville Caves north west from Bendigo, about 180 klm's from Melbourne.

http://bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=215282&d=pics&cmd=sp

If you click on a picture you can then scroll through a fair assortment of scenes available to us.

Should help those who live north of Melbourne and those who may wish to camp or find a local bedsit.

Mick.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

One inland possibility is Melville Caves north west from Bendigo, about 180 klm's from Melbourne.

http://bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=215282&d=pics&cmd=sp

If you click on a picture you can then scroll through a fair assortment of scenes available to us.

Should help those who live north of Melbourne and those who may wish to camp or find a local bedsit.

Mick.

It's worthwhile. I would be making my 33rd visit to the place if I did go! It's ideal for camping, with the setting sun creating a striking golden hue on west-facing boulders on the summit (see below) and also, if you hang around long enough, for the extremely impressive 'fire in the boulders' show — a cherry red afterglow set deep in a granite fissure that looks like aflame is dancing. I have an Ilfochrome on the wall here of such a scene.

It's a 460km return trip for me from Geelong, probably a bit longer for Melbourne peeps. I'd make it an overnight trip if the weather is fine and clear, for the unmissable opportunities of working with sunset and sunrise light. I think my bushwalking group is planning an overnight camp there; I'll need to check dates.

• Rock of Ages, west summit, Melville Caves, Kooyoora State Park




sent from e732 | Lake Sambell CP, Beechworth

 

[LJH]

This seems to have died a slow, quiet death...

 

[munz6869]

Maybe we all got distracted by Australia Day? I am totally up for Melville Caves - I remember hating there on a family trip in the 80's - I am sure my perspective will have changed Google Maps says it's only a two hour and 43 minute trip from Hawthorn... That would make the mid-coffee stop Castlemaine, which ain't bad at all.

Marc!

 

[craigt]

Sorry to jump in on your 'Melbourne Outing' thread but as you are planning things around Easter, and you seem to be large format users, I thought you may want a suggestion.

Goldstreet Studios at Trentham is hosting the Australian Alternative Photographic Process Symposium at the start of April. Several very experienced people from around Australia and overseas are speaking and running workshops. The famed daguerreotypist Jerry Spagnoli from New York will be there for one. This will be the biggest event of its type to be hosted in Australia.

If you are at all interested then you can find some information on the Goldstreet Studios site:

http://www.goldstreetstudios.com.au/alternative-photographic-process-symposium-2013/

Have fun at your outing.

My best,

Craig

 

[hoffy]

Ohhh, such a shame guys - I'm in Melbourne on the 2nd and the 3rd. Would have been good to catch up.

Cheers

 

[mrsmiggins]

End of March should be OK for me too and the Melville Caves sound good. I'm still exploring Victoria so any suggestions you old-hands come up with will be OK with me.
Just have to make sure I've accumulated enough brownie-points with the boss for a weekend pass.

Recently discovered the Murchison Gap LO and Strath Creek Falls - worthy of a return visit when the sky's a little more angry.

/Frank...

 

[munz6869]

So are we in fact saying: March 23/24 at Melville Caves? Who's in?

Mick, LJH, mrsmiggins, poisson du jour, munz6869....??

Marc!

 

[LJH]

Is there actually much there? Google Images doesn't really sell a 500km round trip to me. More than happy to hear more about it (perhaps I'm just a bit gunshy after the Phillip Island shot-free trip...)

 

[wotalegend]

I have voted for March 16/17 Urban, but March 23/24 is equally good/not good. I feel guilty placing a vote because I have missed the last couple of outings due to other commitments, and it's just as likely I will have to miss this one also for the same reason. Long distance / overnight places it even further beyond my reach. So I guess I'm saying that you should discount my vote....if it had much value in the first place.

 

[LJH]

So I guess I'm saying that you should discount my vote....if it had much value in the first place.

Don't undersell yourself!!

If you've got some thoughts as to where/what urban location, they're just as valid (and likely to happen) as anyone else's here!!

Please, post your suggestion(s).

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Urban is easier for me too, so let's hear suggestions.

 

[LJH]

Urban is easier for me too, so let's hear suggestions.

Anyone here a member of the Cave Clan? I'm sure they have access to some pretty good locations!!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I favour Melville Caves along with a coffee stop at TOGS in Castlemaine.
Urban is not my scene.



Sent from Galaxy SII 4G / Tidal River

 

[munz6869]

Kevin: Togs in Castlemaine have some very delicious snacks...

Marc!

 

[Oxleyroad]

Having taken the family there 2 years ago, I can say it was great for the little'uns to run around for hours. I thought at the time there was not many photo opportunities. However this could have been due to having to chase the little'uns everywhere, and being there in the middle of the day 10 to 4. Could be great at sunrise and sunset however.

If Melville Caves are the destination the weekend before Easter then I will have to pass. It will be the weekend before school holidays and I'm off to Mildura for Easter and the first week of school holidays. On the other hand if we head out somewhere closer to town then I reckon I can make it.

Like other posts, I cannot think of an urban adventure location. Dohh!