Date: Saturday 17 May – Sunday 18 May

Trip Leader: Gilbert (Toyota Prado)

Attendees:

• Byron – Toyota LandCruiser 105
• Andrew & Jo – Toyota Prado
• Zeljko – Toyota FJ Cruiser
• Sai – Toyota Prado
• Craig – Nissan GQ Patrol
• Graham – Toyota Prado
• Brad & Cherie – Toyota LandCruiser 76
• JP – Toyota Prado
• Greg – Land Rover Discovery
• Gilbert – Toyota Prado (Trip Leader)

 

Day 1 – Saturday 17 May

We kicked off our Brunswick Junction weekend adventure with a meet-up at Stirling Cottage in Harvey, a beautiful historic spot that turned out to be a hidden gem—well worth a return visit. The group gathered promptly, with the exception of Zeljko, who messaged in to say he was running late due to a bash plate issue. He planned to catch up with us later in the day.

Since the Brunswick area was new to most of us, the day was set for exploration and discovery. We began with a series of easy tracks to get everyone warmed up and comfortable in the terrain. Conditions were dry, and the early trails offered a relaxed start with scenic views and varied terrain.

By mid-morning, we reached an area filled with dried-up bog holes that, in wet conditions, would have posed a serious challenge. While most of us skirted through cautiously, Zeljko—having caught up—opted for a more adventurous line out. This resulted in him getting stuck and needing a winch recovery, which the group handled smoothly.

Zeljko trying to get out of the rust moments before he got stuck

After the recovery, we continued along the track which led us up a steep hill—and of course, what goes up must come down. The descent proved far more challenging than the climb, and a whole lot more fun. As this trip was intended to offer more technical and demanding terrain, this track certainly delivered.

Going downhill avoiding the ruts

Due to the large group size, it was hard to keep track of everyone’s progress on the descent, but I personally found myself in a tricky situation—my vehicle slid sideways into a rut, with a real risk of tipping onto its side. With the help of some well-placed Maxtrax and a secure winch line, we managed to recover the car without incident.

Gilbert getting secure to a winch line.

Meanwhile, Brad, Byron, and Zeljko decided to take on a bonus line nearby. From the sounds of it, there was plenty of action, but unfortunately, no one managed to get any photos.

After all the excitement, we stopped for lunch, then continued on to a dry dam where we set up camp for the night. We finished the day around a cracking campfire, sharing stories and laughs while reflecting on a fantastic first day on the tracks.

 

Day 2 – Sunday 18 May

We woke up to a crisp, cold morning at the dried dam campsite. The chill was enough to convince Sai to move his swag closer to the fire for a bit of extra warmth. With our last bits of firewood quickly burnt through, we had breakfast, packed up, and prepared for the second leg of the weekend adventure.

Our first destination for the day was an old mine site. On the way there, Sai and I accidentally took a wrong turn, which led us to a tight spot near the railway tracks. Just as we were turning our vehicles around, a huge iron ore train thundered past, adding a bit of unexpected drama to the morning.

Once we regrouped, we made it to the old quarry, where we took a group photo to mark the occasion. The location turned out to be a great find—perfect for a potential future campsite, with plenty of space and interesting terrain to explore.

From there, we made our way to the old church in Worsley, a fitting final stop that added a touch of local history to the trip. After a bit of discussion, we decided to wrap up the weekend adventure. Most of us headed back to Harvey, where we enjoyed a well-earned late lunch at the local bakery.

This marked the end of a great weekend—full of challenges, laughs, teamwork, and exploration. It was also a valuable learning experience for me as trip leader, and I’m already looking forward to planning another visit to this challenging and rewarding area.