On narrow, steep and winding mountain trails, trailers, even the "off-road" type, are not recommended. However they are convenient and more comfortable for camping in adverse weather conditions. So we have several types of trips on which they can be brought along:

1. Desert trips where the country is flatter and more open, can accommodate off-road camper trailers.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Day trips run in conjunction with our Gippsland 4WD Weekend package (detailed below) are suitable for caravans based at a caravan park.
   

• Two nights at Tandara Caravan Park.
  

• Mountain-Top Experience adventure tag-along day trip.
  

• Second day enjoying discounts on a PowerWorks industrial tour and lunch at Tarra Bulga Guest House.
  

Growing numbers of caravanners are finding the strength and security of a four wheel drive vehicle makes towing much easier. Recent figures indicate that around 50% of new rigs use this combination. The "Gippsland 4WD Weekend" package was launched at the 1999 Caravan, Camping 4WD and Destination Show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The package involves travelling down from Melbourne on a Friday evening, a trip which now takes only about 1½ hours from the eastern suburbs to the Latrobe Valley. The caravan then becomes home for two nights at Tandara Caravan Park, with all the facilities of a four star RACV-rated park. For visitors without a caravan, a standard or deluxe cabin is available as an optional extra.

One of the days is spent with the team from Mountain-Top Experience who will escort your vehicle on an exciting day of four wheel driving, exploring some of the mountains, rivers and historic sites in the region. The great advantage of this tag-along style of tour is that it is tailored to your needs, and assistance is at hand, ensuring an enjoyable day without the need to worry about getting stuck, or lost, or damaging your vehicle. For visitors without a 4WD vehicle, participation as passengers in one of our lead vehicles is available as an optional extra.

On the other day you are free to tour independently, but we give you discounts on a PowerWorks industrial tour and a Sunday roast dinner at Tarra Bulga Guest House. The PowerWorks tour takes about two hours, involving visits to a coal mine and power station, as well as viewing the interactive educational displays at the visitors centre. The dinner is a special roast at a picturesque guest house nestled in the Tarra Bulga National Park, a rain-forest area on the Grand Ridge Road. After looking around the National Park it's just a 40 minute drive back to the caravan park to hitch up the van for the return trip to Melbourne.

Links: Tandara Caravan Park
Bookings: Tandara Caravan Park phone (03) 5133 6206, Latrobe Visitor Information Centre 1800 621 409, or MOUNTAIN-TOP EXPERIENCE, phone (03) 5134 6876.