Walk Victoria's High Country

This is a walking trip so a good fitness level will help you enjoy all the included walks and activities. We suggest doing some training including some hills and taking on some uneven terrain. If you are able to get in some longer walks in your training, a safe and rewarding walking trip awaits you!

WALKING & TREKKING
This is a hiking trip. Please come physically prepared and with the right hiking gear in order to complete the hikes safely and comfortably. Please read the trip notes carefully and take note of the packing list.

START & END TIMES
This trip begins with a pick-up in Melbourne on day 1 at 8am and finishes in the late afternoon on the last day upon arrival back into Melbourne. Please keep this in mind when booking your arrival and departure arrangements.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. Due to the types of accommodation used on this tour a single supplement will not always mean a king/queen bed and own bathroom.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS
• Day-pack - with a thick waist strap to help take some weight off your shoulders. In wet weather, a waterproof cover or a bin bag to wrap your belongings in can be handy
• Shorts/long pants and shirts for walking - as many sets as you wish! Quick-dry material is best, especially for trousers. Don't wear jeans walking.
• Socks - whichever thickness you're comfortable walking in and as many pairs as you like
• Boots/shoes for walking (make sure you wear them in well)
• Windcheater or lightweight jumper for walking
• Waterproof jacket*
• Sun protection - hat (secure fitting and/or with chin strap), sun cream, sun glasses
• Casual clothes for evenings
• Torch/headlamp (can be handy when twin sharing for getting up at night)
• Any preferred first aid supplies - such as your favourite blister treatment! (Your guide will carry a full first-aid kit)
• Water bottle/s or camelback - 2 to 3 litre capacity
• A lunch container (with freezer brick if desired), so your sandwich won't get squashed and/or Bees wax wrap to use instead of the supplied cling wrap
*You have to expect some bad weather at any time of the year down here so bring wet weather gear even if the forecast is fine. Also, it can get cold at higher altitudes so you may want to consider bringing a beenie.

OPTIONAL ITEMS
• Waterproof pants. Some people love them and some hate them - personally, we don't wear them but there have been times when we have wished for a pair!
• Fly net (especially for walks in warmer weather)
• Camera and charger/batteries
• Gaiters for snake bite protection are recommended unless you are wearing long pants and long socks. They're also good for keeping sand out of your shoes.
• Sock protectors (to keep sand out of your boots)
• Robust sandals for wading/beach sections
• Bathers and towel
• Small towel to carry during the day
• Snacks and alcohol - there will be time to purchase more during the week if you need to. Some people like to have some muesli bars, nuts, lollies etc
• Walking poles (recommended for this tour)

While there are a couple of easier days on this tour, some of the others are quite challenging, with some decent hills to get up and down -- which can be hard on the knees, thighs and glutes. However, the walks are achievable to those of reasonable fitness. If you have done some training prior to the walk you will enjoy it all the more.You will be surprised just how your fitness improves over thecouple of days. A positive mental attitude is most important. If you focus on the scenery, the company and the moment, not on the kilometres, then you find yourself reaching your destination with little problem. If you have done some training prior to the walk you will enjoy it all the more.

The best way to prepare physically for the trip is to walk, walk and walk some more - preferably on broken and uneven surfaces. Try to walk frequently. Even walking around your suburb will get you walk-fit. By the start of our tour you should be able to comfortably walk 15km, and try and do a few 20km walks on rough tracks, as well as being comfortable walking steep hills. Include stepping up onto and over big steps, a random rock or bench on your walk would make a good candidate to add to your training regime. Many of the council provided outdoor gyms have blocks you can practice stepping up on to as well. Make sure to train both legs equally!

We know that this type of preparation is difficult to fit into a busy schedule. If you don't have the time to do long walks, we recommend doing regular stair walking sessions and lots and lots of glut exercises (squats and lunges). Walking small distances frequently helps a lot as well. For instance, walking 3 - 5km four times a week, and 8km once a week, is a great help. If you're doing short training sessions, make sure you get yourself puffed and sweaty. Otherwise you won't benefit from your efforts. And start walking in the shoes you will wear on the walk now!

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International), 180 St Kilda Road, In front of the main entrance to the NGV facing St Kilda Road, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point

Please meet your leader and the vehicle on the footpath outside the main entrance to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). There is a bus parking zone which is where the bus will be stopping to pick you up.

The National Gallery of Victoria is located about 500 metres south of Flinders Street Station and Federation Square (approx 10 minutes on foot). Alternatively multiple tram lines travel from the city along St Kilda Road. Please get off at tram stop 14 'Arts Precinct/St Kilda Road'. Please note that this stop is outside of the free tram zone.

From Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (airport code MEL), your best option is to take the Skybus to Southern Cross railway station. The bus journey takes about 25 minutes and departs frequently. Southern Cross railway station is located at the south-western corner of Melbourne's CBD, from where you can catch free trams within the CBD. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or Uber from the airport.

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International), 180 St Kilda Road, In front of the main entrance to the NGV facing St Kilda Road, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 4

Lunches included: 4

Dinners included: 4

Breakfast comprises of cereal, fruit and toast. Lunch is sometimes prepared and brought to you on the track when we can get vehicle access. On days you are walking in a remote section guests will pack their lunch in the morning which consists of cold meats and salad with sandwiches, rolls or wraps. Dinner is a 2 course meal, main and dessert. Each day on the track you will enjoy tea, coffee and morning tea carried by your leader, and fresh fruit is always available. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know when you book, we are happy to adapt our tasty, nutritious meals to suit a variety of dietary needs.

WEATHER IN VICTORIA
Victoria experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year. During the summer, daily temperatures are between 14C/57F and 27C/80F. During winter, daily temperatures are between 6C/42F and 13C/55F. Spring is the wettest time of year, with October’s average rainfall reaching 53mm. The weather at higher altitudes can be unpredictable and even in the height of summer can experience very cold weather. Please pack appropriate warm and waterproof clothing including a beanie, sturdy enclosed shoes and a rain jacket. Layering clothing can be beneficial. Please consider the time of year you are travelling.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164