MURRAYVILLE   Victoria

a great place for an Adventure Ride . . . posted May 2010

Operation Sunset Track

A couple of weeks ago "we" recently did a "solo" run through 3 Deserts with the main center being The Murrayville Pub which is nicely situated between the Sunset Desert & The Big Desert.

The sign on the Barby Area at Pink Lakes reckoned she was out of order,

I reckon I made pretty good use of it, so it didn't go to waste.

First night in the Hammock for me, bit cool, but very comfy.

I stopped at this intersection to send mom a beep and also a drink,

the Track from Pink Lakes to here mostly pretty good but hard yakka in a couple of sandy spots.

Whilst at the intersection a fellow rocked up in a F Truck and blessed me with all his local knowledge,

( Leyland Bros style with 2 army Maps out on the bonnet ) recommending I head up to Mt Crozier for a look, but whatever I do, don't go North from there as it's DEEP sand.

Well I had to go North as It was my only way of looping around to get to the start of the Sunset Track, and yep he was right, DEEP SAND for about 12km's from memory, which wasn't functioning real good at this point.

As you can see the DR650 was fully loaded so I had a nicely toned up body by the end of this section.

The nice man in the F Truck also recommended I don't do the 45Km Sunset Track either, ( what a boring chappy ) as it has about 12 really big Bog Holes scattered across it, not to mention the light soft deep sand at the western end.

He didn't understand that the Sunset Track was indeed the reason for my being there.

The mighty DR at the Western end of the Sunset Track, completely out of fuel except for 5 Litres under me tarp, enough to get me to the Murrayville Pub :)

Nice man that bloke in the F Truck, he was right on all occasions, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world :)  Bloody lucky I had my favorite front Dunlop 742 the front and 606 on the rear instead of my usual more road orientated rubber.

Pine Plains Lodge on the eastern side of the Big Desert was an amazing place to stumble across, as I came to it via the desert, I was thinking who in their right mind would build such a place here..... built out of the local termite proof Pine. website

You can stay there for about 70.00 smackers per person, apparently all are welcome, but I can't imagine a heap of filthy Dirt Riders being welcome in this most sterile of looking places.

I preferred to settle for another night in the Hammock instead, this time with the eped inside the sleeping bag which was much warmer. It was here I did my "chat to the nice lady in the caravan routine", who had some boiling water for my noodles. After chatting for a while, her hubby joined in with a few bottles of wine also :)

Patchewollock is a very handy place with it's Rural Transaction Centre, the nice ladys there make great toasted sanga's, I was there most of the morning.

Ended up I had to bolt as they were talking me into staying a bit longer by buying the house up the road.

Never found this rider, might have to go back for another look.............

Some hopefully helpful info if ya planning on heading to the Murrayville area :

Murrayville Pub - Hotel / Motel 03 5095 2120

Motel rooms out the back and rooms upstairs, and VERY Cold Beer.

Murrayville Caravan Park

Up the top of the hill next to the Solar Heated Swimming Pool is a self serve style Caravan Park.

It has a well looked after shower / toilet / cooking block, good prices if ya looking to park a Van or Pitch a Tent on some nice soft grass etc, I believe the locals are looking to expand this area.

Murrayville Grocer   " John The Grocer "    03 5095 2130

( not sure but I think it's Monday to Friday, maybe Sat morning )

Pat's Craft Shop 03 5095 2004

( she might be able to do repairs of the stitching kind if you've had a woopsie on the Bike )

Murrayville Fuel

Murrayville   Jeff Yard   03 5095 2080

The 'ol fella ( Jeff Yard ) lives 200meters west of the Pub, " It's looks shut" catch him in the daytime, a gentle tap on the window next to the bowser might wake him from his nanna nap.

Unleaded & Diesel Fuel at my times of visit, but when ya in the Desert fuel is fuel.

Patchewollock Rural Transaction Center - 03 5084 1242

( Fuel & Munchies / Great Toasted Sanga's )

Warning > don't start talking to the Lady who used to be the School Teacher, you'll end up staying for the day :)

This is your closest Fuel / Food Supply if wandering through West to East of Wyperfeld National Park

Monday Wednesday & Friday 8.30 - 5.00

Tuesday & Thursday 8.30 - 1.00

Saturday & Sunday 10.00 - 12.00

Kaniva Midway Motel 03 5392 2515  " Harald & Ana "

On one of our Murrayville trips we were cut short of time and ended up in Kaniva watching the Sun Set.

Had a comfy stop over at the Midway Motel Western End of the Kaniva main drag

( was about 1 Dg outside in the Desert ).

Kaniva is good for Fuel, 2 Pubs, and a great takeaway.