Join us for a small group 4WD trip with a difference!
Guided 4WD trips enable you to travel in your own 4WD vehicle, but with the confidence of knowing you are being looked after. You don’t need to worry about getting lost, getting stuck or where to camp for the night. Experience beautiful campsites and scenery you didn’t know existed! A variety of day trips, weekends, and occasional extended trips are available, especially during school holidays. Our day trips are mostly around the Walhalla~Licola area, starting from our base in Morwell which is only a couple of hours down the highway from Melbourne. We have special tours planned for most long weekends and school holidays, exploring further into the Victorian high country and sometimes interstate. Convoy sizes are kept small, generally with only 3~8 tag-along vehicles, so people get to know each other well, our emphasis being on cooperation rather than competition. As a result probably the most enjoyable feature of our trips is the sense of community which develops. We tackle the challenges in easy stages, so less experienced four wheel drivers can complete the trip successfully. Standard vehicles with standard tyres are satisfactory. However more experienced, better-equipped drivers will still find a challenge. Seeing the enjoyment that this gives participants is what we really enjoy about these trips, and why they are so popular. [Note that these trips are no longer operated as commercial tours, but are offered to past customers as club-style trips using our existing booking system.]
- See how teamwork can overcome obstacles.
- Gain confidence in exploring the unknown.
- Safely tackle some of Australia’s toughest 4WD trails.
- Find your own secluded campsite by a fresh mountain stream.
- Thrill to the spectacular mountain-top scenery of the alpine high plains.
- Follow the footsteps of the pioneering cattlemen and gold miners.
- Enjoy yarns and games around a cosy campfire.
- Discover how simple bush cooking always tastes better.
- Really get to know your family and meet new friends too.
- Marvel at creation and maybe find your place in it.
Upcoming Trip dates and details:
Trip details and bookings can be accessed through the BOOK NOW button. The MTE Club also has a private Facebook group for members (new members are only admitted by successfully answering a question about their previous MTE involvement). For newcomers we recommend starting with our Driver Training Certificate Course.
Location:
Meeting place for most trips: Morwell Town Common (with picnic area, playground and toilets), corner Elgin and Chapel Streets, Morwell Vic, 3840
Frequently Asked Questions
When are they on?
Most are on on our booking system, accessed through the BOOK NOW button. Discussion of other possible upcoming trips, and posts about past ones are on our Facebook page.
How do I book?
Through the BOOK NOW button. Your booking is then confirmed (with deposit). Later we then send a letter confirming details.
How long are they?
Most trips are either day trips, weekends or public holiday long weekends, usually starting from Morwell. Occasionally we run extended trips to more remote areas, often interstate and mostly during school holidays.
Where do they go?
There is always a balance to be found between rushing to see a lot and having time to really relax. Day trips usually visit the rugged gold-mining country north of the Latrobe Valley. Weekend trips often venture into the alpine high country beyond Licola and Dargo. Longer trips can visit more remote parts of east Gippsland, the spectacular mountains of north-eastern Victoria or the deserts of western Victoria and South Australia. Actual itineraries are continually modified during the trip to suit timing, participants' interests and prevailing weather conditions.
What times do they start and finish?
Since most customers come from Melbourne (eastern suburbs 1½ hours from Morwell) we usually aim to get started by about 9:15am, and be back onto a major highway and heading for home by 5:30~6:30pm on the last day.
Will they be suitable for tag-along beginners?
We look after people and their vehicles. As well as adjusting the itinerary, we provide guidance as necessary. Our leaders are equipped for just about any contingency.
What about people with special interests?
We can make the tour as adventurous as you would like. We've sometimes assisted people wanting to visit special destinations, or for photography, historic sites, gold-fossicking or ski-touring in remote areas. For families we have various activities for kids to have fun. On longer trips (eg. 5-day) we usually include a "rest day" for bushwalking, swimming, campfire cooking etc.
Is food and camping gear supplied?
Tag-along trips are priced on the basis that customers supply their own, however we can provide equipment hire at additional cost. For some suggestions on self-catering see the "Camping Food" page.
What accommodation options are there?
We prefer camping because it gives greatest flexibility with places to go, and because things such as campfire cooking can be a unique attraction of 4WD trips. However sometimes accommodation in cabins or country pubs is possible.
What about toilets and showers?
We call in at toilets where possible, some campsites have a "long-drop", but in the bush it's mostly taking the shovel for a walk (with a "Royal Throne" as an option)! Sometimes people set up a hand-shower cubicle, or there's a river to swim in. Also using "baby wipes" in your tent between showers is a popular option.
How are our trips different from other 4WD clubs?
We care for you and your vehicle. Our first priority is to look after your interests and enjoyment. Our leaders are experienced professionals with an intimate knowledge of the areas we visit. We believe a good tour is more than just driving, it's the great people that come and the sense of "community" that develops. Having an admin/booking system from our former commercial tour operation avoids the hassle of getting members to volunteer for various tasks. Our trip costs are a bit higher to cover all of this.
Can I bring a camper trailer?
Camper trailers are becoming more popular, being convenient and more comfortable for camping in adverse weather conditions. However, on narrow, steep and winding mountain trails, even the "off-road" type, are not recommended. So we have several types of trips on which they can be brought along: Desert trips where the country is flatter and more open, sometimes can accommodate off-road camper trailers. Base camp trips where we set up at bush cabins or national parks-type camping areas are also OK for off-road camper trailers. These trips are run usually during school holidays.
