Intro
Mount Arapiles (Djurite, is its Aboriginal name - Jardwadjali language group) is a rugged scarp that screams up surprisingly out of the dusty plains 350kms west of Melbourne in Victoria. It is one of the finest climbing areas in the world and for any aspiring Australian climber it is an essential inclusion in their future plans.
From a distance, its finely detailed surface appears as if is made of millions of orange, yellow and grey Lego blocks. Or perhaps a huge cowpat. Many climber on first sight has expressed grave doubts as to its quality. It is, admittedly, an unlikely looking super cliff. But anyone put off by its original appearance soon realises that this ungainly looking crag is absolutely wonderful to climb on, at all grades. The fact that good climbs, at ALL grades, exist here, makes Arapiles quite unique as cliffs go, most areas being good for easy rambling climbs or short hard desperates, but very rarely both!
History
The Djurite Balug clan of the Jardwadjali language group lived at the mountain until violently dispossessed by settlers. The latter had followed Major Sir Thomas Mitchell ,who visited the mountain on 23 July 1836, and who had taken back glowing reports of fine settling areas in Victoria. There is still a lot of archaeological evidence of Djurite Balug occupation at Arapiles, including extensive quarry sites.
Mitchell visited the summit on the 24th anniversary of a battle during the Peninsula War near Salamanca in Spain. Arapiles is names after another Los Arapiles near Salamanca.
There are rumours that three people climbed at Arapiles in the 50s and the three involved were subsequently killed in NZ. More verifiable is the 1963 visit by father and son Bob and Steve Craddock who had seen a photo of the lesser Mitre Rock in a RACV pamplet and found the hulking scarp on the other side of the road. Their visit unleashed a torrent on the mountain and many of Arapiles best climbed were done in the 60s.
Louise Shepherd's Guide to Arapiles has a very good history section written by local climber Keith 'Noddy' Lockwood. There is a pamphlet available at the Mountain on The Aboriginal Heritage of Djurite (Mt Arapiles). There is also a small historical brochure available in Natimuk that outlines the history of that town.
Where it is:
Mt Arapiles (Djurite) is 320km north west from Melbourne, 30km from the large town of Horsham on the main Highway from Melbourne to Adelaide. It is 8km west of the small town (pop.500 approx) of Natimuk.
Mitchell visited the summit on the 24th anniversary of a battle during the Peninsula War near Salamanca in Spain. Arapiles is names after another Los Arapiles near Salamanca.
There are rumours that three people climbed at Arapiles in the 50s and the three involved were subsequently killed in NZ. More verifiable is the 1963 visit by father and son Bob and Steve Craddock who had seen a photo of the lesser Mitre Rock in a RACV pamplet and found the hulking scarp on the other side of the road. Their visit unleashed a torrent on the mountain and many of Arapiles best climbed were done in the 60s.
Louise Shepherd's Guide to Arapiles has a very good history section written by local climber Keith 'Noddy' Lockwood. There is a pamphlet available at the Mountain on The Aboriginal Heritage of Djurite (Mt Arapiles). There is also a small historical brochure available in Natimuk that outlines the history of that town.
Where it is:
Mt Arapiles (Djurite) is 320km north west from Melbourne, 30km from the large town of Horsham on the main Highway from Melbourne to Adelaide. It is 8km west of the small town (pop.500 approx) of Natimuk.
How to get there:
The road from Horsham through Natimuk forks just out of the latter town, the left road going to Edenhope and into South Australia and the other to Goroke and then also into South Australia. These roads pass either side of the Mountain and can both be used to access the camping ground, which is signposted on both roads.
If you are coming by public transport the bus/train travels daily from Melbourne's Spencer Street Station (VicRail) and arrives in Horsham.
The bus arrives at the new bus station in Roberts street From here you can take a small local bus to Natimuk an the Mount. You can either catch it from the bus station of from a local bus stop (some concrete chairs and tables on the corner of Roberts Street and Ward Street, opposite the Coles Supermarket. This bus leaves 2pm and the fare to Natimuk is $4.60. From Horsham to Arapiles the fare is $5.50 (some concessions apply). It is also fairly easy to hitch from Horsham to Arapiles and from Natimuk to Arapiles, with most locals trusting climbers.
Shopping:
Horsham has three supermarkets and numerous other shops. Virtually anything you need can be bought here (except climbing gear). Natimuk has only one milkbar with limited supplies, a pharmacy, newsagent and hotel (pub) as well as a Post Office, cafe's, a hairdresser and accommodation.
There is a climbing shop in Natimuk for most your climbing needs including chalk.
Facilities: camping and other accommodation:
Natimuk and area have a lot of accommodation options. There is also the Natimuk Caravan Park at Natimuk Lake- take the road opposite the old garage and follow this road for 5kms. This has good showers and is a good option if you have a vehicle. When the lake is not dry (which it is currently) you can swim here.
There is camping available at the Mountain. It is in the State Park and therefore restrictions apply. No pets, firearms or fires except in fireplaces. There are toilets, water (not the most palatable- perhaps collect some in Natimuk), rubbish collection and fireplaces.
There is also a telephone.
There is a fee for this service although you may escape paying. It costs $6.00 a night but this allows up to 6 people per site. Firewood is pretty scarce around camp and should not be collected in the Park anyway. As with all National Parks a stove is a good option.
On total fire-ban days in summer no fires can be lit, this includes stoves. Listen to the radio and ask around. There are strict penalties for breaking this rule. The ultimate penalty could be the destruction of all your fellow campers and the cliff environment. In summer the area is extremely dry. Be extremely careful. This includes disposing of cigarettes and matches carefully. The Park is in the North-West Fire Ban District.
There are three campsites at the mountain, all adjacent; the 'Pines' (good for summer), the Gums (better for spring and winter) and the new North Campground. the last has no fireplaces and can be quieter than the others. One enterprising couple in the early 90s had there address, for social security reasons, as 'The Gums', Alfred Wright Lockwood Memorial Drive, Natimuk.
The road from Horsham through Natimuk forks just out of the latter town, the left road going to Edenhope and into South Australia and the other to Goroke and then also into South Australia. These roads pass either side of the Mountain and can both be used to access the camping ground, which is signposted on both roads.
If you are coming by public transport the bus/train travels daily from Melbourne's Spencer Street Station (VicRail) and arrives in Horsham.
The bus arrives at the new bus station in Roberts street From here you can take a small local bus to Natimuk an the Mount. You can either catch it from the bus station of from a local bus stop (some concrete chairs and tables on the corner of Roberts Street and Ward Street, opposite the Coles Supermarket. This bus leaves 2pm and the fare to Natimuk is $4.60. From Horsham to Arapiles the fare is $5.50 (some concessions apply). It is also fairly easy to hitch from Horsham to Arapiles and from Natimuk to Arapiles, with most locals trusting climbers.
Shopping:
Horsham has three supermarkets and numerous other shops. Virtually anything you need can be bought here (except climbing gear). Natimuk has only one milkbar with limited supplies, a pharmacy, newsagent and hotel (pub) as well as a Post Office, cafe's, a hairdresser and accommodation.
There is a climbing shop in Natimuk for most your climbing needs including chalk.
Facilities: camping and other accommodation:
Natimuk and area have a lot of accommodation options. There is also the Natimuk Caravan Park at Natimuk Lake- take the road opposite the old garage and follow this road for 5kms. This has good showers and is a good option if you have a vehicle. When the lake is not dry (which it is currently) you can swim here.
There is camping available at the Mountain. It is in the State Park and therefore restrictions apply. No pets, firearms or fires except in fireplaces. There are toilets, water (not the most palatable- perhaps collect some in Natimuk), rubbish collection and fireplaces.
There is also a telephone.
There is a fee for this service although you may escape paying. It costs $6.00 a night but this allows up to 6 people per site. Firewood is pretty scarce around camp and should not be collected in the Park anyway. As with all National Parks a stove is a good option.
On total fire-ban days in summer no fires can be lit, this includes stoves. Listen to the radio and ask around. There are strict penalties for breaking this rule. The ultimate penalty could be the destruction of all your fellow campers and the cliff environment. In summer the area is extremely dry. Be extremely careful. This includes disposing of cigarettes and matches carefully. The Park is in the North-West Fire Ban District.
There are three campsites at the mountain, all adjacent; the 'Pines' (good for summer), the Gums (better for spring and winter) and the new North Campground. the last has no fireplaces and can be quieter than the others. One enterprising couple in the early 90s had there address, for social security reasons, as 'The Gums', Alfred Wright Lockwood Memorial Drive, Natimuk.
