Anyone familar with travelling to Omeo via Bairnsdale?

[Acco]

Looks like I've may have picked up a job to deliver some timber to Omeo and from looking at the map, it seems the best route from Warburton is via Bairnsdale.

Can anyone advise if this is the way to go as The Great Alpine Road may not be suitable at this time of the year. Would I be best to come from Bright instead, which is longer?

I will be driving a Crane Truck which will be be around 14,000 to 16,000 KG depending on load.

[Big Shed]

DJ if you go through Bright you will meet a lot of snow as you go up through Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain, through Bairnsdale would be a lot safer as the great Alpine Road up to Hotham is very windy and relatively narrow for such a truck.

Edit:

Just looked up the altitude of Mt Hotham - 1860m, Omeo is 680m.

Also going through Bright is about 45km longer.

The bit that is the steepest and windiest is between Harrietville and Mt Hotham, after that it is a pretty good road, but you will still have a fair bit of snow at that altitude.

[Acco]

Thanks for that Fred, never been up that way but looking forward to it, as it will be a change.

[Scott]

Go that way and you'll need chains Acco, I think they're compulsory. No easy way from Warburton.

[Acco]

Go that way and you'll need chains Acco, I think they're compulsory. No easy way from Warburton.

Which way do you mean?

I'll make further inquiry's regarding road conditions etc, but I didn't think trucks required chains?

[Scott]

Which way do you mean?

Via Bright. Be a bit dicey I think.

This way maybe?

[Acco]

This way maybe?

Via Bairnsdale is what I have in mind, as that seems to be the best route.

It is also the shorter route as well

Seeing that I've never been in that part of Victoria, I thought I'd ask and it is looking that the Via Bairnsdale is the way to go and I'll most likely end up staying for a night or two just to catch the local sights

[RETIRED]

Via Bairnsdale is the way to go DJ.

[springwater]

Definately go the Bainsdale way.

[Acco]

Thank you everyone, it seems the Bairnsdale route is it

[fubar]

as you go through bairnsdale stop and get one of the best burgers in vic at "georges"

coming from melb its on the right handside of the main drag virtually oppisite the worst burgers at maccas

[Kev Y.]

Acco, Warburton to Pakenham, then down the Highway to Bairnsdale

Dont be tempted to take the Powelltown road to warragul, it is narrow and winding.

Kev

[NCArcher]

It's a very picturesque drive up the Great Alpine Rd especially where it follows the Tambo river.
There is a particularly windey section where a lot of the corners and creek crossings have interesting (strange) names. You can get a pamphlet from the National Parks office that explains how each location got its name.
If you are staying for a look around. the Dinner Plane town area is worth a look although it will be busy this time of year.
I built the Omeo water treatment plant about this time of year and you will need to rug up.

[Acco]

Acco, Warburton to Pakenham, then down the Highway to Bairnsdale

Dont be tempted to take the Powelltown road to warragul, it is narrow and winding.

Kev

Cheers for the warning, but I do actually go that way regularly in the truck, in fact I reckon its a better road than the Healevilles Kooweerup road as all the quarry trucks use the Healeville Kooweerup rd and it is really getting run down whereas the Poweltown rd is quieter and my truck handles it pretty well.

[Acco]

and you will need to rug up.

Yeap expecting it to be very cold, when it snows up the back of my place, it's bloody freezing but I reckon Omeo will be colder

Gotta get the truck sorted first, either the soleniod or the starter has packed up, gunna do a pressure clean tomorrow so I can see what I'm looking at and if the starter has to come out, I'm not looking forward to it, as it is in bugger of a spot right next to the chassis and you need to be a contortionist to get at all the bolts and wiring