The following list of the Club's recently completed trips provides examples of the variety of activities undertaken by the Idlers 4WD Club.

Trip destinations and durations vary, ranging from one day events near Melbourne, mid week base camps in Victoria, to outback adventures across Australia spanning a number of weeks.

Idlers are active in community works for Parks Vic and participate in rural flood and fire reclamation work when needs arise.

A 4WD drive familiarisation camp is run regularly for the benefit of new members to four wheel driving and more advanced instruction sessions are designed to enhance trip leadership skills.

Members may also attend subsidised first aid courses (Level 2) which provide vital knowledge and practical learning in life support.

As well as these activities, Idlers enjoy monthly social outings to a variety of lunch spots and places of interest.

Trips History

Non members wishing more information should contact our Trip Co-ordinator.
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What Wombats

Depart: 26-Mar-2024 and
Return: 26-Mar-2024

Trip Type: Day trip
Rating: Difficult
Suitable For: Tents and High Clearance Vehicles only

Equipment

Regarding vehicle prep, bring standard recovery gear, tools and any necessary spares. Chainsaw if you have one.  AT or MT tyres only. 


Pre Christmas in the bush high country trip

Depart: 20-Nov-2023 and
Return: 26-Nov-2023

Trip Type: Short Touring Trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

High clearance (50mm lift) 4x4 vehicle , AT tyres, spare tyres for both vehicle and Camper trailer or off road caravan, standard recovery gear, first aid kit, & air compressor. Sufficient water and food for minimum 4 days and fuel for up to 300kms of driving.


Rudall River Ramble

Depart: 30-Jun-2023 and
Return: 26-Jul-2023

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Difficult
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers Only

Equipment

High clearance (50mm lift) 4x4 vehicle with / without offroad camper trailer with pre-trip inspection and service by an experienced 4WD workshop, AT tyres with min 70% tread, x2 spare tyres for both vehicle and trailer, standard recovery gear, first aid kit, sand flag & air compressor. Sufficient water and food for minimum 10 days and fuel for up to 800kms of driving on sandy / corrugated tracks.


Simpson Desert Quest 2023, In Memory Ian Lacey

Depart: 14-May-2023 and
Return: 02-Jun-2023

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Very Difficult
Suitable For: Tents and High Clearance Vehicles only

Equipment

High clearance (50mm lift) 4x4 vehicle with pre-trip inspection and service by an experienced 4WD workshop, x2 spare tyres, standard recovery gear, first aid kit, sand flag and SA Desert Parks pass & air compressor. The Simpson Desert section requires sufficient water (5Lpppd) and food for 5 days and fuel for 800kms of sand driving. No tray back campers!


Murray Meander (DVO)

Depart: 08-Feb-2022 and
Return: 12-Feb-2022

Trip Type: Long base camp trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

The camp will be in easy driving distance of Cobram for those who need to shop during the week. Otherwise bring everything you need for self sufficient camping.


Dinosaur Trail & Cooktown 250yrs Expo. Postponed until 2021.

Depart: 01-Jun-2021 and
Return: 22-Jun-2021

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

usual recovery gear sense of Adventure- Humour


PENINSULAS AND RANGES OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Depart: 26-Apr-2021 and
Return: 02-Jun-2021

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

Standard recovery equipment, additional spare, normal touring supplies


BIG DESERT: Sand & Wildflowers

Depart: 20-Oct-2019 and
Return: 25-Oct-2019

Trip Type: Short Touring Trip
Rating: Difficult
Suitable For: Tents and High Clearance Vehicles only

Equipment

High clearance vehicle properly prepared with a pre-trip service from an experienced 4WD workshop, 500kms of fuel calculated at 2.5-3 times normal road usage (no refuel point available enroute), food and water for 5 days. Definitely air compressor and gauge, recovery strap and two rated shackles, shovel and Matrix or equivalent if you have them.Tent/swag camping only. Flora guide.


ONE WAY TO TOWNSVILLE

Depart: 25-May-2019 and
Return: 22-Jun-2019

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

Standard recovery equipment, additional spare, normal touring supplies


CAMP HOSTING

Depart: 02-Nov-2018 and
Return: 06-Nov-2018

Trip Type: Community Service
Rating: Outdoor physical activity
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

As you will probably already be working during that week's working bee there will not be anything more to bring along.


Jerusalem Creek Campground Maintenance

Depart: 28-Oct-2018 and
Return: 02-Nov-2018

Trip Type: Community Service
Rating: Outdoor physical activity
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Drinking water is NOT available on site. If you have them, bring a shovel, rake, pruning shears and bow saw, hammer. Hi-Viz vests will be provided. Wear work boots, long trousers and long sleeve shirt. Some wet weather gear may be needed.


Spirit of the Murray 7, Base camp at Milang Lakeside Caravan Park.

Depart: 21-Oct-2018 and
Return: 28-Oct-2018

Trip Type: Long base camp trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Caravan, Camper or tent, Cabins available if required. Above ground cooking system eg Bailey gasbootle cooker, Cobb or SA cooker, Weber Baby Q or similar. notebook cooker (BCF), Thermal cookers would also be handy. Bush cook book eg. Roothy's Bush Cooking volume 1&2. Canoes, paddles and safety equipment. 4wd gear for a beach drive.


Silo Run

Depart: 14-Oct-2018 and
Return: 18-Oct-2018

Trip Type: Short Touring Trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Smiling Faces and good spirits and of course your camera


Riesling and Rattler Trails

Depart: 13-Oct-2018 and
Return: 21-Oct-2018

Trip Type: Short base camp trip
Rating: Outdoor physical activity
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Your bicycle and Helmet. If you would rather not carry your bike to South Australia bicycles can be hired in Clare.


Mt Ive Station, Gawler Ranges, Goog’s Track, Old Andado.

Depart: 27-Jul-2018 and
Return: 18-Aug-2018

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Difficult
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers Only

Equipment

TBA


Melbourne Water - Eastern Treatment Plant.

Depart: 25-Jun-2018 and
Return: 25-Jun-2018

Trip Type: Day trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Details of suitable clothing etc will be given prior to the trip starting.


Farina Dawn Service and SA station stays

Depart: 23-Apr-2018 and
Return: 07-May-2018

Trip Type: Short Touring Trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

Standard 4WD safety and recovery equipment. Accommodation not requiring power. Drinking and cooking water. Anything else obviously required for a safe, comfortable and happy trip.


Working with Parks Victoria

Depart: 08-Apr-2018 and
Return: 13-Apr-2018

Trip Type: Community Service
Rating: Outdoor physical activity
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

If you have them, bring a shovel, rake, pruning shears, bow saw, hammer. Wear safety boots, long trousers, long sleeved shirt. (Hi-Viz vest will be provided). Local water MAY require boiling.


Another Day In The Bush for Newbies

Depart: 28-Mar-2018 and
Return: 28-Mar-2018

Trip Type: Day trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Day food, tyre gauge, good footwear, uhf radio, recovery gear if available


Trip Leader Training

Depart: 10-Feb-2018 and
Return: 10-Feb-2018

Trip Type: Member Training
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Participants should familiarise themselves with the latest copy of the Trip Handbook and Trip Briefing Notes on the Club website, bring a copy along, together with notebook and pen. BYO lunch. Tea/coffee provided.


January lunch at the Mitcham Hotel

Depart: 24-Jan-2018 and
Return: 24-Jan-2018

Trip Type: Day trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Yourself and a happy disposition


Outback 4WD First Aid Course

Depart: 22-Jan-2018 and
Return: 23-Jan-2018

Trip Type: Member Training
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Wear comfortable clothing, bring a pen and paper. Please apply for a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and bring it on the day (only if you want a certificate). You may have one from previous years. You can apply here http://usi.gov.au.


NEW YEAR IN THE BUSH

Depart: 28-Dec-2017 and
Return: 02-Jan-2018

Trip Type: Short base camp trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Bring your own drinking water etc.


2017 Christmas Camp at Tolmie

Depart: 26-Nov-2017 and
Return: 01-Dec-2017

Trip Type: Short base camp trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Standard recovery gear for the 4WD day trips. Your own water (some non-drinking water available), suitable for luxurious caravans and lesser indulgent nomadic accommodation, your own drinks (incl alcohol) for Christmas dinner on site. Campfire cooking needs if you want to cook on the fire pits. Please also bring a $15 unisex (or otherwise marked) wrapped Kris Kringle. Out of consideration for your fellow Idlers and in the spirit of Christmas please make sure that this KK is worth $15 and something you would be pleased to receive yourself.


IVA (Induction and Vehicle Awareness)

Depart: 14-Nov-2017 and
Return: 17-Nov-2017

Trip Type: Member Training
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

TBA


Karte, Ngarkat, Big Desert, Calperum Station & Chowilla

Depart: 22-Oct-2017 and
Return: 05-Nov-2017

Trip Type: Short base camp trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

4WD recovery gear, air pump, sand flag, canoe/kayak & safety gear, dry bag for camera & food, camera, walk & reef shoes, water bottle, ample drinking water, fire wood, bush toilet or other if you have. (generators not permitted most sites).


Spirit of the Murray 6 , PS Marion Paddle steamer Cruise

Depart: 14-Oct-2017 and
Return: 20-Oct-2017

Trip Type: Non Vehicle Tour
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Casual comfortable clothing and flat soled shoes.


Ian and the Major's Trail Expressions of Interest

Depart: 12-Oct-2017 and
Return: 28-Oct-2017

Trip Type: Short Touring Trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

All our knowledge and adventure and have a great time remembering the work that the Major did in not only creating this path but for all the many places he named. Not forgetting Ian also as he would pleased that we are doing this.


Cairns to Ooldea (Transcontinental Railway Centenery) and beyond.

Depart: 20-Aug-2017 and
Return: 21-Oct-2017

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Difficult
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers Only

Equipment

As we will be very remote at times you will need to be well provisioned with food and ample water. Your vehicle will need to be in very good condition with any parts that maybe on the way out replaced. I will be inspecting all vehicles before we leave Melbourne and I may require evidence that the vehicle is up to an outback trip by a qualified 4wd mechanic. Recovery gear including a bridle, although a tree trunk protector will suffice. Your sense of humour, a bit tolerance, and a big happy face.


In The Steps of Burke and Wills

Depart: 23-Apr-2017 and
Return: 24-May-2017

Trip Type: Long Touring Trip
Rating: Medium
Suitable For: Tents / Off road Camper trailers / Off road Caravans only

Equipment

Any mandatory equipment as listed in the Idlers trip handbook plus anything you might need for a remote touring trip. You will also need a sense of humour and flexibility in case we have to vary the plan due to circumstances beyond our control.


Infamous J Ward & Aradale, Ararat

Depart: 30-Dec-2016 and
Return: 30-Dec-2016

Trip Type: Day trip
Rating: Easy
Suitable For: No Restrictions

Equipment

Lunch, which we can have in the local park after the morning tour or alternatively you can buy lunch at the park cafe or in town, only minutes away. Walking shoes and a water bottle would be advisable. Chairs if we eat in the park or if the weather isn't good, we can use the J Ward canteen to eat what food we bring ourselves.


  

Club Meetings

 

Held at 10.30am on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Eley Park Community Centre, Eley Road, Blackburn (Melway Ref. 61 H5)

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