Snow Business

A Mid-week High Country Escape With Some Of The Best Folks In The 4x4 Industry.

- Matt Raudonikis

THERE are a few things that make working for this magazine bearable; driving cool cars and visiting some awesome places are two of the obvious ones. But what makes it most interesting is working within an incredible industry that makes amazing off-road products considered the best in the world. Top gear with great people behind it is certainly a highlight of this game and, while most of the time it’s a business relationship, sometimes we like to get away for a bit of fun on the side. And fun for us means four-wheel driving. With spring upon us we took one last chance to experience the Victorian High Country in the colder months, and we invited a few of our friends in the industry along for a few days of off-roading. Alan and Michael from Piranha Off Road, Mark and Shannon from ARB 4x4, Jake from Narva, Adam, Kirstin and Samuel from Ironman 4x4, and Hayley and Ben from Hayman Reese joined us for a mid-week adventure.

With The Gap Getaway at McAdams Gap near Matlock as home base, we explored a few steep tracks as our little convoy wound its way up into the hills. The Getaway is a rustic pub atop the range above Woods Point. It has accommodation, a cosy bar and serves hearty home-style meals to groups that book there. It’s not a public hotel but is ideal for four-wheel drive or dirt-biking groups.

After a big feed and a few beverages at the pub – followed by a warm night’s sleep – we ventured towards Mount Skene which, at 1500 metres, is one of the highest places you can drive in the High Country during winter. The road is officially closed through the cold season, but you can get access permits via your 4WD club or association. It had been a bumper winter for snowfalls and we were told the top of Skene was near impassable, but figured we’d take a look anyway.