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Chockstone Forum - Find Climbers

Find Climbers In Your Area

 Page 1 of 2. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 27
Author
Taiwanese to Arapiles
Nate_Ball
9-Mar-2016
7:51:10 PM
This trip has been a long time coming.

My wife and I have already arranged visas and flight plans into Melbourne on April 3rd at 7:45. As far as I can tell, the Sunday V/Line service only leaves for Horsham at 18:15, although we could take the 13:35 train, with transfer to coach at Ballarat, as far as Rupanyup. There is no way we could make the 8:15 train/coach. Either way, we will need to get to Arapiles from Horsham at 22:30, or from Rupanyup at 17:52. Unless there is someone leaving from Melbourne to Arapiles Sunday morning...?

We will be staying only until the 10th (girl's gotta work), at which point we will have to take the 15:45 coach/train from Horsham back to Melbourne.

We will be camping at the Pines (arrangements already made) and climbing every day the weather and body allows. I climb in the range of 19-22, and she climbs 15-20. We're more interested in beautiful lines, long pitches, and breathtaking exposure. It seems that this time is the high season for climbers in Arapiles, so we are hoping to meet folks to climb with, share inspiration, and hopefully bum rides from/into town for food, beer, laundry, and stories.

Our home country of Taiwan is one of natural beauty and hospitality. To boot, there is some of the greatest SE Asian climbing that has yet to really catch the traveler's eye: seaside sandstone at Long Dong, gripping limestone in Kaohsiung, and many more incredible climbing opportunities such as this: http://www.mountainproject.com/v/xiao-jian-shan/111618871 . We are seeking hospitable individuals to accommodate our travel plans to and from Arapiles and Horsham and Melbourne, to be bartered for in whatever currency your heart desires... including free guiding services if you come to visit us!

Looking forward to any replies to our query.
kieranl
9-Mar-2016
10:24:37 PM
Hi, Sunday is a bad day to be coming here but that's how it goes.

Hopefully someone can give you a lift from Melbourne.

You don't want to end up in Rupanyup on Sunday evening unless you can pre-arrange a lift.
One possible option with the 13:35 train is that if anyone is climbing near Halls Gap and returning to Natimuk/Arapiles they might be able to pick you up in Stawell - probably a long shot.

Late bus into Horsham would work - worst case you could taxi out (30 km) if no-one can pick you up.

Doug
10-Mar-2016
7:36:58 AM
Another option: hire a car.
It would cost you about $300 for the week that you have between arriving and leaving (I just did a quick search via Thrifty), which is a small fraction of the total cost of your trip. This allows you to maximise your week and avoids the hassle of getting in and out of Melbourne and making other transport connections.
You'd be climbing by mid-afternoon on the day you arrive and have transport to get you into Natimuk/Horsham to visit the cafe, buy food, get a shower, etc.
Well worth the relatively small additional outlay of cash.
johnpitcairn
10-Mar-2016
8:11:02 AM
I can recommend these folks for car hire. We use them every trip, cheaper than Thrifty, and they'll pick you up from the airport. Drive to Horsham, pick up supplies, on to Arapiles and get a climb or two in before dark.

http://www.spendlesscarrentals.com.au/

ajfclark
10-Mar-2016
8:32:29 AM
A hire car would also open up the option of ducking through the Grampians if you got bored at Arapiles.
lacto
10-Mar-2016
9:01:47 AM
On 10/03/2016 ajfclark wrote:
>A hire car would also open up the option of ducking through the Grampians
>if you got bored at Arapiles.

Tullamarine to southern cross $16. each each way , melb to Horsham probably $100 each return , car is a good alternative
patto
10-Mar-2016
12:30:26 PM
On 9/03/2016 Nate_Ball wrote:
>This trip has been a long time coming.
>
>My wife and I have already arranged visas and flight plans into Melbourne
>on April 3rd at 7:45.
Awesome you won't be dissapointed! (Except maybe by the public transport getting there!) As other have said getting a car is the most practical option. Swapping to driving on the LEFT isn't that hard and the drive is not challenging. Though that assumes you have a driver's license.

Closer to the date you might get some takers, local climbers don't always plan well ahead. I might even be persuaded to chauffeur you out and climb for Sun&Mon. (Depends on a bunch of factors, can't commit now.. I'll PM details.)

Once you get there you'll meet plenty of friendly climbers in the campsite. There is normally a moderate crowd of Australian and International climbers camping out. Getting a ride into town at some point should be achievable. (Easter Long Weekend on the week before you arrive the numbers swell to many hundreds but most have left by the Tuesday.)
Nate_Ball
10-Mar-2016
2:51:20 PM
On 10/03/2016 johnpitcairn wrote:
>I can recommend these folks for car hire. We use them every trip, cheaper
>than Thrifty, and they'll pick you up from the airport. Drive to Horsham,
>pick up supplies, on to Arapiles and get a climb or two in before dark.
>
>http://www.spendlesscarrentals.com.au/

Definitely looking into this. Would you recommend getting E-tag? Are there any tolls along the way?
patto
10-Mar-2016
3:05:16 PM
On 10/03/2016 Nate_Ball wrote:
>Definitely looking into this. Would you recommend getting E-tag? Are there
>any tolls along the way?

No. Not unless you get lost and head into centre city straight from the airport! If you leave straight from the airport then you can completely avoid Melbourne on the freeways and highways. (Which you might as well do since you are here to climb.) You'll be going 100kph for most of the drive.

You can do grocery/beer shopping in Ballarat/Ararat/Horsham they all have large grocery stores. The town local to Arapiles (Natimuk) is small and doesn't have proper shopping facilities, Horsham is the midweek place to resupply. Though Natimuk does have a nice pub, a great cafe and a climbing shop!
johnpitcairn
10-Mar-2016
3:59:59 PM
No tolls, the Spendless folks will show you how to get onto the Western Freeway from Tullamarine (not difficult) then it's a pretty easy run to Horsham. Gas and snacks can be had just off the higway in many places. We've found shopping in Horsham is fine, Safeway/Coles for food and supplies, K-Mart for tarps, camp chairs (essential!), poly rope, towels etc, the Wimmera outdoor shop if you need screw-in gas canisters or a bit of gear. Buy water and/or bring a filter if you have one, the bore water at the Pines is a tad piquant and the tank water in the Gums is worse.

Tell Spendless I sent you, you might just get a discount. Note the insurance excess and think about how comfortable you are with that. Pay it down if not. Your credit card or travel insurance may do that anyway.
patto
10-Mar-2016
4:29:53 PM
On 10/03/2016 johnpitcairn wrote:
>the tank water in the Gums is worse.

You mean the fresh rain water? It is great and fine to drink! In fact it is far better than what is piped to the houses in the local towns including Horsham!
johnpitcairn
10-Mar-2016
7:34:33 PM
Depends what's floating in it. Take the lid off and have a look after Easter...
Jayford4321
10-Mar-2016
8:30:12 PM
On 10/03/2016 johnpitcairn wrote:
>Depends what's floating in it. Take the lid off and have a look after Easter...

That'll only B the fresh stuff. The current stuff will have sunk by then, but still have a way 2 go B4 being total composted.
patto
10-Mar-2016
9:35:25 PM
On 10/03/2016 johnpitcairn wrote:
>Depends what's floating in it. Take the lid off and have a look after Easter...

No thanks! I'd prefer not to know! :-D
martym
11-Mar-2016
3:24:44 AM
On 10/03/2016 Doug wrote:
>Another option: hire a car.
>It would cost you about $300 for the week that you have between arriving
>and leaving (I just did a quick search via Thrifty), which is a small fraction
>of the total cost of your trip. This allows you to maximise your week
>and avoids the hassle of getting in and out of Melbourne and making other
>transport connections.
>You'd be climbing by mid-afternoon on the day you arrive and have transport
>to get you into Natimuk/Horsham to visit the cafe, buy food, get a shower,
>etc.
>Well worth the relatively small additional outlay of cash.

I definitely second (or fifth) renting a car - Australia is just not a great place for public transport if time is limited.
Add an extra $100-200 for petrol depending on how much travelling you do, easy to forget that cost.

For food, the Best option is to pull in to Woolworths or Coles at Horsham and pick up supplies - get a bag of ice and a cheap Esky/coolbox (May have to go to Kmart for that)
You can get some items in Natimuk but there's no big stores.
Nate_Ball
11-Mar-2016
1:38:37 PM
Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. We have rented a car through Spendless. Waiting on the book from Onsight to arrive. Three weeks can't pass fast enough. See y'all in the Pines!
Nate_Ball
11-Mar-2016
1:43:02 PM
Oh yeah! One last question... If we want to pass on all the camp supplies we buy (cooler, tarps, etc.), is there a place we can leave that in the hope that the next traveler doesn't have to buy it all again?

Or, better yet, is there some type of improv gear supply co-op, or am I living in a fantasy world?
Jayford4321
11-Mar-2016
5:14:22 PM
On 11/03/2016 Nate_Ball wrote:
>Oh yeah! One last question... If we want to pass on all the camp supplies
>we buy (cooler, tarps, etc.), is there a place we can leave that in the
>hope that the next traveler doesn't have to buy it all again?
>
>Or, better yet, is there some type of improv gear supply co-op, or am
>I living in a fantasy world?

Did someone mention fantasy world improv gear co-op?

Dalai edit - removed personal details.

gnaguts first and final warning. Settle down or I'm locking this and any new users you decide to open.
Nate_Ball
11-Mar-2016
8:39:52 PM
On 11/03/2016 gnaguts wrote:
>Did someone mention fantasy world improv gear co-op?

We could try to catch them at 6am on Monday morning.

Dalai edit: removed personal details
martym
11-Mar-2016
10:04:04 PM
There are usually a few long-term campers instantly recognizable
Once upon a time there was a permanent tee-pee equipped with old sofas and all manner of left over camping gear. The last time I was at the mount, it was gone without a trace.
Of course if you arrive after Easter there will likely be some kit lying around, you could check out the campsite before rushing in. There may well be some booty in the popular cracks too..

Sadly Kmart is so cheap there isn't much of a second hand market - try www.gumtree.com.au but time time...
Try Savlvation Army or St Vincent De Paul charity shops - they are often very well supplied!

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There are 27 messages in this topic.

 

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