Days 7,8,9 - Tom Groggin Campsite

We broke camp at the Mountain Retreat, muscles still sore from yesterday.  Glad to be leaving this camp and heading up into the Park itself, since the day permit for the car allows for free camping so to speak, in reality that means $16 per night.

Checked out Thredbo Diggings, too busy, no good spots left, but there are two camps side by side (grey nomads had them) that are perfect, overlooking the Thredbo River and the river is good enough to canoe in here, bugger.

Checked out Leatherbarrel camp ground, and some others, none of these allowed for camper trailers, they were tent camp sites, if you had a caravan you could have parked up on the road, not good.

Headed for my preferred camp ground, Tom Groggin.  We were not disappointed.  One other camper in, we headed futher in than the main camping spot which had great fire pits, to a little offroad spot that just allowed for our two camper trailers, right on the edge of the headwaters to the Murray River.  The photo's below tell the story better, this was a great spot, sitting, relaxing overlooking to fast flowing pristine Murray River.

We spent three nights at Tom Groggin camping area, on the south western side of Mt Kosciouszko.  This was a relaxing time.  Here are some photo's with some captions.  Kids swam in the rather cool river, made a rock pool, we put the canoe's in, the river was flowing too fast for the kids.  I had wanted to cross the Murray here, and head into Alpine National Park (that is the adjoining Victorian National Park), but the river was a bit too high and too fast.

 Camping and cooking by the river, this was a fine night.

 Our campsite overlooking the Murray River

 Our travelling companions site beside us.

 A Photogenic River

 With about 30 Roos constantly arond us, they were very friendly, but wild, we could not get much closer, but they were curious of us and came up very often.

 Just down about 25m from camp was this rocky beach area, to enjoy a very crisp river.

 Tayla washing her hair in the River and enjoying the outdoors.

 After I canoed up the river against the current and enjoyed the ride down, our travelling companions went for a paddle.  Fun !

 Not so fun, about 45mins short of cooking time for a lovely roast lamb dinner in the camp oven and a storm came through, had to keep the coals hot, it was worth it, over a nice Red!

A Star shot, of a local Gum Tree beside the river.  Brilliant nights after the rain!  We did have a few showery storms roll through, the nature of the Australian High Country, the land of the Man from Snowy River.

Camp:  Tom Groggin  Cost - Free - part of the day permit for the car.

Weather:  Occassional Storms, temperatures were perfect, daytime about 25 degrees, evenings about 15 degrees.

Elevation:  600m
GPS 36 32'33.48"S
        148 07'42.19E